Two weeks after Avery's last day, life had become a blur of alarms, commutes, and deadlines. Her new office was nothing like the mall here, people barely looked up from their screens. The rhythm was sharp, mechanical, and it left Avery bone tired every evening.
Her phone, though, never stopped buzzing.
Summer.
Kara.
At first, Avery answered instantly. Their messages still carried the warmth of that first lunch date jokes, little updates, flirty nudges Kara slipped in like pebbles tossed into still water. But lately, every vibration in her pocket made her stomach twist.
Phoebe's voice haunted her. "I miss you."
Avery had never cheated. Not once. Not even thought about it. But now, with one hand typing to Kara and her mind wandering back to Phoebe, guilt sank in like lead.
That afternoon, Riley leaned over the edge of Avery's desk, a coffee mug in one hand and a sharp, curious smile on her face
"You're doing it again," she said.
Avery blinked. "Doing what?"
"Staring at your phone like it's a live grenade." Riley tilted her head, eyes playful. "What's got you so jumpy? Secret boyfriend? Or girlfriend?"
Avery coughed, nearly knocking her pen off the desk. "N-no. Just… a friend."
"Uh-huh." Riley didn't look convinced, but she laughed and walked back to her desk. "Well, tell your friend to stop stressing you out. You look like you're about to pass out."
Avery forced a smile, but her hands were shaking as she slipped the phone back into her drawer.
***
Meanwhile, Kara sat outside the café, cigarette smoke curling in lazy spirals above her. Ivan lounged across from her, laughter spilling easily from his throat as he finished another story. His friends had joined them earlier, filling the table with loud voices and careless jokes. For a while, Kara let herself be carried along in their noise, sipping her coffee, nodding, even laughing at the right beats.
But then the crowd thinned. His friends left one by one until it was just her and Ivan under the orange glow of the café lights.
"You're quiet today," Ivan said, tipping his chair back, his gaze fixed on her like he was trying to read between her silences.
Kara stubbed out her cigarette, watching the ember fade. "Just tired."
It wasn't untrue, but it wasn't the whole story either. Her phone sat heavy in her pocket, a weight that tugged at her attention. The unread thread from Avery, still hanging in the air between them, was louder than the hum of motorbikes passing the street.
Ivan's eyes flicked to her pocket, then back to her. "That the 'new friend' you've been texting all the time?" His tone was light, but edged.
Kara forced a laugh, shrugging. "Something like that."
He leaned forward, resting his forearms on the table, smile just a shade too deliberate. "Must be special. You've never ignored me this much before."
Kara smirked faintly. "Don't sound so jealous."
"Maybe I am," he said easily, but there was a glint in his eyes that wasn't just joking. He reached across the table, close enough that his hand almost brushed hers. "I mean, if you're still… figuring things out, maybe you don't need to look too far. I'm right here."
Kara stilled. The flirtation in his tone wasn't subtle anymore. She let her gaze linger on him for a moment, really looking his easy smile, the comfort of his presence, the fact that he was here, not a name on a screen. Maybe it would be simple to let him in. Maybe it was fine to keep him around, to blur the lines, to choose convenience over complication.
But even as the thought flickered, another face pushed through.. the way Avery had laughed over the ginger salad, the earnest way she said not a chance when Kara teased about being ghosted. Kara could almost hear her laugh, almost feel the warmth of her shoulder brushing hers.
Ivan's smile deepened, waiting for her answer.
Kara leaned back, forcing her own grin. "Careful, Ivan. You flirt too much, people are gonna think you mean it."
He laughed, not catching the deflection, but Kara's chest twisted. Because the truth was simple: no matter how much she tried to convince herself otherwise, she still wanted Avery. And in the back of her mind, she was already planning how to make that second date happen.
***
At noon, Avery sat slumped at her desk, staring at the invitation glowing on her phone screen.
Birthday drinks this weekend! Bring your partner.
Her friend's message mocked her. Her friends have their own girlfriend and Luke was bringing his girlfriend. Everyone would show up hand-in-hand, and Avery? She pictured herself walking in alone, her scars spotlighted by neon bar lights, Phoebe's ghost trailing behind her.
Her chest squeezed. She didn't know who she was allowed to bring. Who she wanted to bring.
And then her phone buzzed again.
A notification slid down. Kara.
Avery… can we go on a second date tonight?
Avery's heart stopped. Her pen dropped from her fingers, clattering onto the desk. She stared at the message until her pulse thundered in her ears.
"Oh, shit," she whispered.
Riley glanced over. "What? Bad email?"
"No," Avery breathed, fumbling to lock her phone, but her hands were shaking. "Worse. Or better. I don't know."
Riley leaned closer, catching a glimpse of the notification before Avery could hide it. Their grin spread wide. "Ohhh. That just friend strikes again."
"Don't..." Avery hissed, cheeks burning.
"So? Are you going?" Riley pressed.
"I don't know," Avery admitted, pressing her palms to her face. "I feel like… like it's wrong. Like I shouldn't. But I want to. God, I want to."
Riley's voice softened. "Then maybe that's your answer."
***
At the Cafe, Kara's smirk lingered, but only on the surface. Ivan kept talking, his voice a steady hum about some upcoming gig, but her mind was already somewhere else. Her fingers itched for her phone, the same way her chest ached with the pull she'd been trying to ignore.
As Ivan leaned back, stretching with that same too confident smile, Kara slipped her phone out under the table. She unlocked it with muscle memory, and there it was the quiet thread with Avery, their last exchange sitting unanswered like a weight.
Her thumb hovered. She could hear Ivan still talking, still here, offering himself up like an option. Easy. Present. But he wasn't the one who had made her laugh so hard she snorted into her drink. He wasn't the one who looked at her like scars and chipped teeth didn't matter.
Before she could talk herself out of it, Kara typed.
Kara:Can we go on a second date tonight?
Her heart kicked against her ribs as she hit send.
For a moment, all she could do was stare at the message, waiting, terrified of silence, terrified of the read receipt without a reply.
"Kara," Ivan's voice cut in, pulling her back. He was watching her closely now, suspicion flickering in his eyes. "Who's got you smiling like that?"
She tucked her phone face down on the table, forcing a casual shrug. "Just… someone worth talking to."
Ivan's smirk faltered, but Kara didn't care. Her pulse was too busy racing for another reason entirely. Because right now, across the city, Avery's phone was about to buzz and Kara knew, one way or another, the night wasn't going to stay ordinary.
Minutes ticked by. No reply.
Kara's stomach twisted. She lit another cigarette, opening her window to let the smoke drift out. Maybe she shouldn't have sent it. Maybe Ivan was right, maybe Avery wasn't interested. Maybe...
Her phone buzzed.
Avery.
Kara's breath caught as she opened it.
***
Avery typed with trembling fingers:
I thought you'd never ask.
She deleted it. Too much.
Are you sure? she tried. Deleted that too.
Finally, she whispered out loud, "Don't overthink this."
Her thumbs moved before her nerves could catch up.
Avery:Actually… there's a birthday party tonight. A friend's, at my usual bar. Would you… want to come with me?
Avery:My treat again. I'll pick you up. Be ready around 7?
She hit send, her pulse pounding like she'd just leapt off a cliff.
"Whoa." Riley leaned over, eyebrows raised. "That's not your work face. Spill."
Avery flushed, hugging her phone to her chest. "It's… nothing. Just plans."
But the truth was written all over her grin, the one she couldn't shake. For the first time all week, the guilt tugging at her heart loosened, replaced by something lighter.
Her phone buzzed again.
Kara:7 works. Can't wait.
Avery pressed her lips together to hide the stupid smile spreading across her face, but Riley caught it anyway. "Uh huh," she teased, "definitely not nothing."
Then, heart pounding, she set her phone down like it was about to bite her, staring at Riley with wide, panicked eyes.
"I just agreed to a date," she said.
Riley grinned. "Correction: you just agreed to hope."
***
Meanwhile, across the city, Kara was still sitting at the café table when her phone chimed with Avery's reply. She read it once, twice, her chest swelling at the words. A party. Avery was asking her to be her plus-one.
Her gaze flicked instinctively to her watch. 3 PM. Four hours to transform her nerves into something presentable.
She stood abruptly, gathering her bag, her half-smoked pack of cigarettes, her lighter. Ivan blinked up at her, caught off guard.
"You leaving?" he asked.
"Yeah." She couldn't hold back the smile creeping across her face. "Got somewhere to be."
"Where?" His tone was too casual, but his eyes searched her, waiting for something more.
Kara just shook her head, already stepping back. "Don't worry about it."
By the time she pushed out of the café, the grin had broken free completely. She felt lighter, like her feet barely touched the ground. Ivan's puzzled expression was still etched in her mind, but it didn't matter.
All that mattered was the clock ticking down to 7 PM and the thought of Avery waiting for her.
***
Avery stumbled into the apartment at 5 PM sharp, tossing her work bag onto the couch. Her body was exhausted, but her mind? Buzzing. She darted straight for her closet, fingers rifling through hangers, muttering to herself about colors, fits, and whether this or that looked too much like office Avery instead of date Avery.
Luke leaned against her doorway, arms crossed, watching her with amusement. "You know," he drawled, "it's kinda funny seeing you stress over clothes when ninety percent of your wardrobe is just… shirts"
"Shut up, Luke." Avery glared at him in the mirror, holding a navy blouse to her chest before tossing it onto the bed. "This is important."
"Uh huh." He smirked, stepping closer. "Important like a meeting? Or important like a date?"
Avery froze, caught, then sighed. "Both?"
Luke smiling "So you find a date for tonite?! We are just joking about bring your partner, its Isaac's idea"
Avery ignore it and just keep digging into her wardrobe, and reallize maybe Luke is right, all of her clothes mostly just shirts.
Luke softened. He'd seen his sister crumble, seen her spiral after Phoebe left, seen her scars.. both the visible ones and the hidden ones she tried so hard to cover. Tonight, though, there was something new in her: a spark. She looked alive. Hopeful.
He sat on the edge of her bed, his teasing dimming into something protective. "You know, Ave… whoever she is, I hope she's good to you. You deserve someone who sticks. Someone who sees you the way you really are."
Avery swallowed hard, blinking back a rush of emotion. "I hope so too."
Finally, after much fussing, she chose light blue trousers, a crisp white shirt, and a boxy jacket that made her look effortlessly put together. Her favorite Vans' shoes grounded hers. She studied herself in the mirror, brushing her hair down and running fingers over her scars. The jacket sleeves covered most of her arm, but the faint line near her mouth still showed. She smiled experimentally, chipped tooth and all.
Luke nudged her shoulder gently. "You look like you. And that's enough, I need to pick up Emily, We will meet you and your date at the Moist Bar, Isaac and the others gonna be there first"
For the first time in a long while, Avery almost believed him.
***
Across the city, Kara was pacing her guesthouse room, phone pressed to her ear. "Carmen, come on, just help me out. What should I wear?"
On the other end, Carmen's sigh was sharp, frustrated. "For who? That girl from your app? Seriously, Kara? You've known her for what, two weeks? She's just a stranger."
Kara winced, pulling her hair into a messy bun only to undo it again. "She's not just..."
"She is," Carmen snapped. "You barely know her. What if she hurts you? What if she's another Willow? You're just setting yourself up again."
The words stung, sharp as glass. Kara clutched the phone tighter. "Don't. Don't compare her to Willow."
Silence. Then Carmen's voice, lower, almost trembling. "Why her, Kara? Why not… someone who's already here? Someone who actually cares about you?"
Kara froze, the meaning heavy between them. "Carmen…"
But before she could untangle it, Carmen muttered something under her breath and hung up.
The room was quiet, heavy with unsaid things. Kara dropped her phone onto the bed, her chest tight. She could feel Carmen's anger, her jealousy but she couldn't let it drown this moment. Not tonight.
She grabbed her speaker, queued up Lana Del Rey, and let the dreamy haze of her voice fill the room. It loosened the knot in her chest, reminded her of who she was. Of why she wanted this second date so badly.
Pulling open her closet, Kara sifted through blouses and jeans until her hand landed on a striped satin shirt she loved, paired with black trousers that felt sharp without trying too hard. She slipped them on, adjusting the cuffs, then dabbed her favorite perfume on her wrists.
For a moment, she caught her reflection in the mirror, long hair falling soft around her shoulders, eyeliner just sharp enough to make her eyes glow under the dim lamp. She smiled at herself, a little shaky but real.
"Second date," she whispered, steadying her breath. "I can do this."
The music swelled behind her, Lana's voice carrying like a promise.
And somewhere across Bali, Avery was tugging on her Vans, heart hammering just as hard.
***
The sharp purr of her Vespa cut through the quiet street as she pulled up in front of Kara's guesthouse. Sleek, glossy black with silver trim, it gleamed beneath the moon, Avery's pride and joy. She killed the engine, exhaled, and tried not to look like her stomach was tying itself into knots.
She smoothed her jacket, willing herself to look casual, not like someone whose pulse was currently sprinting.
And then the door opened.
Kara stepped out, striped satin shirt brushing against her waist, black trousers hugging her frame. Even under the pale glow of dusk, she looked… luminous. Avery's chest clenched. Damn. She's beautiful.
Avery's throat tightened. She almost forgot to breathe.
Kara grinned, nervous but warm. "Wow. That's yours? Not bad at all."
Avery laughed a little too quickly. "Yeah. She's not fancy, but she's reliable." She reached behind her, fumbling with the extra helmet. "This one's for you."
Kara stared at the Vespa like she'd walked into some cinematic scene. Sleek, modern, a little intimidating and Avery beside it made the whole picture unfairly perfect.
She took the helmet, fumbling like she'd forgotten how hands worked. "Thanks."
"Here... let me." Avery stepped closer, and with quick, careful fingers, she fastened the chin strap beneath Kara's jaw. Her knuckles brushed Kara's skin, feather-light.
Kara swore she could hear her own pulse in her ears.
"There," Avery said softly, pulling back.
Kara nodded, swallowing. "Perfect."
Avery slid back onto the Vespa, adjusting her jacket. Kara climbed on, hesitating. Avery felt it—the pause, the nervousness.
"Oh yeah, um…" Avery half-turned, cheeks heating. "There's no passenger handle on this model. So, you'll have to… hold onto me. Just my jacket, it's fine."
She prayed her voice sounded casual.
Kara's stomach flipped. Her hands hovered awkwardly before she finally slid them inside Avery's boxy jacket, fingers brushing against the warmth of her sides.
"Sorry," she muttered quickly. "Just for safety, I promise."
Avery laughed softly, low in her throat, and Kara felt it vibrate through her palms.
"Not awkward," Avery said. "Really."
The weight of Kara's hands gentle, nervous, but real settled against Avery's back. Avery grinned to herself as she twisted the key, the Vespa coming alive in a smooth purr.
"Ready?" she asked, voice barely steady.
"Yeah," Kara breathed.
And as they pulled out of the lane, the evening air rushing past, Avery swore she'd never forget the way it felt Kara holding onto her, closer than either of them had ever dared to imagine.
Kara bit her lip beneath the helmet. She couldn't tell if the Vespa was about to start moving, or if it was just her heartbeat making everything hum.
***
The Vespa purred to life beneath them, its new engine humming smooth as Avery steered them out of the narrow guesthouse lane and toward the main road. The early evening air was thick with the scent of grilled satay, exhaust fumes, and the faint salt of the ocean drifting from Jimbaran Bay. Kara adjusted her grip inside Avery's jacket, trying not to notice how warm Avery felt, how steady.
The road stretched ahead, but it didn't take long for them to hit traffic. Bumper to bumper, scooters weaving between cars, horns blaring in quick bursts, it was the usual chaos of Bali evenings. Avery slowed, slipping the Vespa between a taxi and a delivery truck, then stopped at the red light near the bypass.
"Sorry," Avery called over her shoulder, her voice raised against the din of engines. "It's always like this when you're trying to get to Seminyak from Jimbaran."
Kara leaned closer, helmet nearly touching Avery's shoulder. "It's fine," she said. "Gives us more time to talk."
Avery smiled at that, though Kara couldn't see it.
They rolled forward slowly, stop and go, and conversation found its way into the spaces between. Kara pointed toward a side street. "That way leads to the shortcut I used to take when I stayed at a hotel for family's holiday in Seminyak last year. There's this little foodstall probably serve the best foods I've ever had."
Avery chuckled. "You'll have to show me sometime. I know Seminyak mostly for their Seminyak Village Mall and the bars, not the food. My friends drag me to the same spots every time."
"Typical," Kara teased, her voice playful. "Mall girl."
"Guilty," Avery admitted. "But hey, I do know one place I've been dying to try. Have you heard of Revolver? The coffee shop?"
Kara's eyes lit up even though Avery couldn't see them. "Of course. Everyone keeps telling me about it, but somehow I've never been."
"Same," Avery said, easing the Vespa forward as the light changed. "Maybe we should fix that. Go together. First time for both of us."
Kara tightened her hold just slightly, heart thudding. "Deal. That's a date."
Avery's laugh was caught in the traffic noise, but Kara felt the vibration of it through her jacket, soft and contagious.
The ride stretched on, past glowing billboards and temple walls adorned with offerings. Sometimes they fell into silence, the hum of the Vespa filling the air, Kara leaning closer when Avery swerved around a car or bumped over uneven asphalt. Other times, they traded snapshots of memories, Avery confessing how she once got hopelessly lost near Petitenget trying to find a client's dinner, Kara recalling the night she and Alec wandered into a hidden bar in Canggu and ended up singing karaoke with strangers until sunrise.
The stop and go rhythm of traffic should have been frustrating, but somehow, with Kara's hands tucked securely at her waist and her voice lilting close to her ear, Avery didn't mind. For Kara, pressed against Avery's back, it felt less like being stuck and more like being suspended caught between the rush of the evening streets and the quiet thrill of where this was heading.
By the time they reached Seminyak, the neon glow of signs flickering overhead and the scent of coffee and clove cigarettes filling the air, both of them were carrying not just the weight of the evening ahead, but a new, fragile promise of dates yet to come, of stories still waiting to be shared.
***
The Vespa finally rolled into Seminyak just as the sky deepened into indigo. Neon lights bled against the night, music from beach clubs pulsing through the humid air. Avery parked near a row of bikes outside Moist Bar, the familiar hum of chatter spilling onto the street. She cut the engine, pulled off her helmet, and ran a quick hand through her hair.
Kara climbed down, still adjusting the strap of her helmet as Avery turned toward her. For a second, Avery forgot how to breathe. The street glow caught the angles of Kara's jaw, the soft fall of her black hair over her striped blouse, and Avery felt that same stunned awe she'd had when first spotting her walking through the mall.
"Ready?" Avery asked, her voice softer than she meant.
Kara smiled nervously, handing back the helmet. "Lead the way, Mall Girl."
Inside, the bar was buzzing dim lights strung across the ceiling, bodies pressed together near the counter, music loud enough to thrum in their chests but low enough that laughter carried. The scent of cocktails and fried food mingled with the faint tang of spilt beer.
At a long table in the back, Avery spotted them Isaac, Luke, and Andrew, all clustered with their girlfriends, already raising their glasses. Familiar faces, familiar laughter.
Her stomach tightened. This was the moment. She reached back, lightly brushing Kara's wrist. "Come on. You're with me."
Kara's eyes flickered to the table, the crowd of people already comfortable with each other. She took a breath, squared her shoulders, and followed.
"Hey!" Luke was the first to spot them, his grin wide. "Aves! You made it." Then his gaze dropped to Kara, brows lifting with curiosity.
Avery cleared her throat, every nerve jangling. "Everyone, this is Kara. She's..." she paused, just enough to feel Kara shift beside her, "my plus one tonight."
The words hung in the air just long enough for Isaac to smirk knowingly and Andrew to give a slow, approving nod. The girlfriends exchanged quick, subtle looks curiosity, maybe a hint of judgment but smiles followed soon after.
"Welcome," Isaac said, raising his glass toward Kara. "Anyone who shows up with Aves is family."
Kara exhaled, easing into a polite smile. "Thanks. Happy birthday."
They squeezed onto the bench seats, Kara beside Avery, the hum of chatter folding around them. Kara could feel the weight of being new here, each laugh, each inside joke she didn't yet know but she noticed the way Avery kept leaning toward her, including her in conversations, brushing her hand against Kara's under the table like a silent anchor.
Luke, ever the teasing brother, leaned across. "So Kara, how'd you get roped into hanging out with us loud idiots?"
Kara glanced at Avery, then back to Luke, smirking. "She invited me. Hard to say no."
That earned a round of laughter, Avery flushing red but smiling despite herself.
And as drinks arrived, as the night spun into stories and laughter, Kara realized something: being in Avery's world was both overwhelming and grounding at once. It wasn't just Avery's smile or the way her friends welcomed her, it was the sense that maybe, just maybe, she could belong here too.