CHAPTER 3 — The Girls’ Night Promise
466 Words
The airport was already a mistake.
Lila dragged her suitcase through the terminal, mentally listing all the reasons this trip was a terrible idea. Crowds. Noise. People breathing too close. The general existence of humanity.
But Maya had insisted. And Maya was… persistent. Like a golden retriever with eyeliner.
She kept her head down, hoodie up, doing her best impression of a socially anxious ninja. The security line moved at the speed of death, but eventually she made it onto the plane.
Her phone buzzed the second she sat down.
Maya: ARE YOU IN THE AIR? ANSWER ME OR I’M CALLING THE PILOT.
Lila sighed.
Lila: Yes. Alive. Breathing. Not falling out of the sky.
Maya: Good. I cleaned my whole apartment for you. I even bought snacks. This is love.
Lila: I’m honored.
Maya: You should be.
Lila shook her head, a reluctant smile tugging at her lips. Maya’s energy was exhausting. And contagious. And… needed.
The plane took off. Lila stared out the window, pretending she wasn’t internally screaming.
London — Maya’s Apartment
The moment Lila stepped inside, she was tackled by a blur of perfume and chaos.
“YOU’RE HERE!” Maya shrieked, squeezing her like she was trying to pop her spine.
Lila wheezed. “Oxygen is… nice.”
Maya pulled back, eyes shining. “You look good! Tired. But good. Like a raccoon who moisturizes.”
“Thanks,” Lila deadpanned. “I try.”
Maya grabbed her suitcase and dragged it inside like a woman possessed. “Unpack later. We have IMPORTANT THINGS to do.”
Lila blinked. “Such as?”
Maya grinned like a villain. “Getting ready to go out.”
Lila stared at her. “Out… where?”
“A club.”
“No.”
“Yes.”
“No.”
“Yes.”
Lila sighed. “I didn’t survive the last three years to die in a room full of sweaty strangers.”
Maya pointed a hanger at her like a weapon. “You promised one night. One drink. One dance.”
“I promised none of those things.”
“You will,” Maya said, tossing a dress onto the bed with the confidence of a woman who had already won.
Lila stared at the dress like it had personally offended her.
Maya shoved her into a chair. “Sit. We’re doing makeup.”
Lila obeyed — mostly because resistance was futile and she didn’t have the energy to fight a glitter‑covered hurricane.
Maya brushed her hair, humming happily. “You’re safe here,” she said softly. “I’ve got you.”
Lila closed her eyes.
She wanted to believe that. She really did.
But safety wasn’t something she trusted anymore.
And somewhere in London, someone else was already moving toward her.
- Writer
