The first rays of the Sunday morning sun peeked through the thin curtains of their shared apartment, casting a warm golden glow over the room. Silence lay heavy in the air, broken only by the faint ticking of the clock and the occasional groan from somewhere on the bed.
Kathy stirred slowly, her head pounding as if a marching band had set up camp inside her skull. The previous night's party, the endless music, the laughter, the drinks, had taken its toll on her. She groaned softly, slowly pushing herself up on her elbows, trying to recall the chaotic blur of the night before. The throbbing in her temples was a brutal reminder of just how much she had overindulged.
Swallowing hard, she swung her legs over the side of the bed and stumbled toward the kitchen, craving something to ease her pounding head. A glass of lemon water was just the thing she needed to flush out the lingering effects of the party. The tart, refreshing taste cooled her burning throat and brought some relief. After a quick shower to wash away the remnants of the night, Kathy began to prepare breakfast for both herself and Bella, who was still fast asleep in her room.
The aroma of frying eggs and freshly brewed coffee soon filled the apartment, a comforting contrast to the dull ache she still felt. Kathy moved slowly, careful not to make too much noise. She didn't want to disturb Bella just yet. But soon enough, Bella's sleepy voice floated into the kitchen.
"How are you feeling?" Bella asked groggily, rubbing her eyes as she shuffled toward the breakfast table. Her voice was soft, still thick with sleep but laced with curiosity.
Kathy managed a weak smile. "Like I got hit by a truck," she admitted, sitting down and taking a sip of coffee. "But lemon water and eggs are making me feel better already."
Bella plopped down across from her, yawned, and reached for a slice of toast. "Same here," she said, munching thoughtfully. "You know, I was thinking about last night… What a crazy party."
Kathy chuckled, a little bitter as she recalled the wild night. "Yeah, that was something else."
There was a moment of silence, then Bella leaned forward, a mischievous glint in her eyes. "Okay, guess what happened?"
Kathy looked at her skeptically. "What?"
Bella smirked and lowered her voice as if sharing a secret. "Justin walked up to me."
Kathy raised an eyebrow, amused. "What? For a kiss?" she teased, leaning back in her chair with a knowing grin.
Bella scrunched her nose. "Ew, no! Just that he… uh… collected my number."
Kathy burst out laughing. "Seriously? And you let him?"
Bella rolled her eyes, taking another bite of her toast. "I was kind of busy taking care of you, you were practically passed out drunk, so I didn't really pay attention. He was shy though, and honestly, I was tipsy."
Kathy shook her head, still laughing. "Oh, Bella, you never cease to amaze me. So, what did you say?"
"I gave him my WhatsApp," Bella admitted, her cheeks flushing slightly. "Don't judge me! He seemed nice, and I didn't want to be rude."
Kathy smiled warmly, suddenly feeling a pang of something soft and hopeful for her best friend. "He is nice," she said quietly. "I remember when he found your phone at Amor's restaurant. That was so sweet of him."
Bella nodded thoughtfully, her mind drifting back to that moment. "Yeah, and then bumping into him again at the party? What are the odds?"
They both sat quietly for a moment, letting the memory hang between them like a delicate thread.
Breaking the silence, Kathy nudged Bella playfully. "So, are you falling for him or what?"
Bella blinked, caught off guard by the question. She avoided eye contact, looking down at her coffee cup instead. "Maybe," she whispered, voice barely audible. "He's really cute… and he's got this shy, sweet side."
Kathy grinned knowingly. "I told you! You've got a crush."
Bella's cheeks flushed deeper, but a small smile tugged at the corner of her lips. "Okay, maybe."
They both laughed, the weight of the hangover momentarily forgotten as the warmth of their friendship filled the room.
"So, what now?" Kathy asked, sipping her coffee.
Bella shrugged. "I guess we wait and see if he messages me. I'm not even sure what I want yet, but it's exciting."
"Just don't get your hopes up too high," Kathy cautioned, though her voice was gentle, understanding.
Bella nodded, feeling comforted by her friend's presence. "Yeah, I'll try."
After they finished their breakfast, Kathy and Bella were scrolling through their phones, still feeling the afterglow of the night before. Suddenly, Kathy let out a surprised scream that made Bella jump.
"What? What's wrong?" Bella asked, eyes wide with concern.
Kathy barely managed to point at her phone screen, her voice shaking with excitement. "Your dance video with Justin … it's everywhere!"
Bella leaned over to look, and sure enough, their dance from the party was trending on every social media platform. Instagram, TikTok, Twitter , all buzzing with clips of their slow, graceful moves on stage with Justin. Several popular blogs had picked it up, posting it with headlines like "Lifetime College Freshmen Steal the Spotlight with Stunning Dance" and "The Glitz and Afterglow Party's Most Breathtaking Duo."
Comments flooded in by the thousands. People were praising Bella's elegance, and even Justin's cool, shy presence during the dance. Bella's phone was blowing up with new followers, hearts, and messages.
"This is so cute!" Kathy said, laughing as she scrolled. "Look, someone commented, 'Bella is a queen!' 'That dance was everything, those two should be stars!'"
Bella blushed but smiled, feeling warm inside. "I can't believe this is happening," she whispered, "I've never had my social media blow up like this before."
Hours passed as they laughed and replied to comments, sharing the video and soaking in the love from strangers and friends alike. Then, just as the afternoon sun filtered through the window, Bella's phone beeped with a new message notification.
She glanced at it and immediately called Kathy over, her voice tinged with excitement. "Kathy, he just messaged me!"
Kathy peered over Bella's shoulder and smiled knowingly. "Ooo, Justin?"
Bella tapped the message open. The screen read simply: "Hi pretty."
Bella's cheeks flushed, and she showed Kathy the message with a shy smile. "What should I say?"
Kathy grinned. "Just be yourself."
Bella typed back, "Hey! Didn't expect to hear from you so soon."
Justin replied quickly, "I just wanted to say you looked really pretty last night."
Bella's heart fluttered. She replied, "Thank you, that's sweet of you."
What started as casual pleasantries soon turned into a deeper conversation. They talked about the party, classes, and their favorite music. The messages grew longer, more personal, and filled with laughter and teasing.
For Bella, it was thrilling, the shy guy from the party suddenly seemed warm and funny behind the screen. For Justin, every message felt like a small victory, a chance to connect with someone who had captured his attention.
As the chat went on, both felt a spark building something that promised more than just friendship or a casual text exchange.