Friday started like any other day.
Aria was in the shop early, placing fresh sunflowers in the window and sipping on her second cup of iced coffee. The weather outside had a lazy golden warmth to it — the kind that made people slow down just a little, linger in the park, hum under their breath.
She didn't expect anything unusual. And she definitely didn't expect Kaelira to walk in wearing a bucket hat, oversized sunglasses, and carrying two duffel bags.
Aria blinked. "Are we running away?"
Kaelira grinned and pulled down her sunglasses. "Close. You're coming with me for the weekend."
Aria stared. "Like... a getaway?"
"A surprise getaway," Kaelira confirmed, stepping inside. "You've been working nonstop. I missed you. I want 48 hours of you, me, trees, no paparazzi, and a thousand stars."
Aria's heart flipped. "You're insane."
"Only for you," Kaelira said, already grabbing her hand. "Let's go before you start listing excuses."
"But I haven't even packed!"
"I already did." Kaelira looked way too smug. "Niña helped. I even remembered your hair clips."
Aria blinked again, and then burst into laughter. "What if I'd said no?"
Kaelira gave her the most devastating pout. "Would you really say no to me, flower girl?"
"…You play dirty."
"I play smart."
⤹ ❀
The drive was quiet in the best way. Kaelira played old acoustic playlists on low volume while Aria leaned her head against the window, watching the city fade into forest.
They passed long stretches of pine trees, roadside stalls selling strawberry jam, and sleepy lakes that sparkled like they were hiding stories. Kaelira reached over to squeeze Aria's hand at red lights, always smiling like she couldn't believe this was real.
And Aria — well, Aria kept sneaking glances, wondering how she got lucky enough to fall for a girl who looked like a star but loved like soft sunshine.
⤹ ❀
By late afternoon, they reached the cabin.
It wasn't big, but it was beautiful. Nestled between tall trees, with a porch swing and a roof dusted in moss, the place looked like it belonged in a movie about two people learning how to fall in love again.
There were fairy lights strung around the porch. A fireplace. A basket of board games. A kitchen stocked with snacks Karina had remembered Aria loved — mango gummies, ginger tea, and seaweed chips.
Aria stood there in the doorway, jaw slack. "You planned all this?"
Kaelira smiled. "I wanted to give you something quiet. Something just ours."
Aria turned and hugged her. Tightly. "You're ridiculous. And I love you so much."
Kaelira kissed the top of her head. "Good. Because there's more."
⤹ ❀
The rest of the evening felt like a dream.
They cooked ramen together, poorly — Kaelira accidentally dropped an egg in the sink, Aria spilled noodles trying to flip them. They laughed the entire time. At one point, Kaelira dramatically said, "I should've just DoorDashed from three towns away," and Winter hit her with a lettuce leaf.
After dinner, they changed into sweats and sat on the cabin porch with hot chocolate, wrapped in matching fleece blankets Kaelira had somehow packed too.
The stars came out slowly.
Dozens at first.
Then hundreds.
Aria looked up and felt the kind of calm that didn't come often. Her head rested on Kaelira's shoulder, their hands laced under the blanket.
"You can't see this many stars back home," she whispered.
Kaelira nodded. "I missed this kind of quiet."
Aria smiled. "You miss a lot of things, don't you?"
Kaelira looked down. "Yeah."
"Like?"
There was a pause. The only sounds were crickets and the faint rustle of the trees.
"I miss being able to just… walk down the street holding your hand without worrying," Kaelira said softly. "I miss being a person, not a profile."
Aria turned and brushed Kaelira's hair gently out of her face. "You'll always be a person to me. Not an idol. Not a headline. Just... you."
Kaelira's eyes shimmered.
Then she leaned in and kissed Aria, slow and sweet — the kind of kiss that says thank you without words.
⤹ ❀
They didn't talk much after that. They didn't need to.
They lay down on the porch swing, the blanket half-tangled between them, the stars above glowing like lanterns.
Aria yawned, and Kaelira chuckled softly.
"Sleepy already?"
Aria pouted. "You kidnapped me."
"Romantically kidnapped."
"Still counts."
Kaelira kissed her cheek. "Then I guess you'll need to rest. Big day of being adored tomorrow."
Aria snorted. "You're so full of yourself."
Kaelira smirked. "You adore me."
"Unfortunately."
"Admit it."
Aria sighed dramatically and curled closer. "Fine. I adore you. Happy now?"
"Very," Kaelira whispered, pulling her close. "Sleep, my little plant gremlin."
"Excuse me?!"
"Shh. Sleep."
⤹ ❀
Later, sometime after midnight, Aria woke up just enough to feel Kaelira's fingers tracing soft circles against her back, hear her whisper something that almost sounded like "forever," and then feel herself drift off again — wrapped in a world that finally, blissfully, felt like home.