Settling in

​It was a long drive, and Liana spent the time catching up with Nina while Ava slept peacefully in the back. They talked like old friends who hadn’t seen each other in a while—because they were.

​As the miles stretched on, memories of their younger days began to resurf. They laughed about that disaster of a road trip years ago when Nina misread the map and ended up leading them down a muddy dirt road in the middle of nowhere.

​"I still blame your terrible sense of direction," Liana teased, glancing sideways at her.

​"Hey, we made it back alive, didn't we? That counts as a success in my book!" Nina replied with a grin, tapping the steering wheel.

​"You know," Liana started, sitting up slightly while cradling Ava perfectly, "Berlin has this fun place, Legoland. Like an indoor Lego playground." She paused while Nina kept driving, the headlights cutting through the darkening highway. "I took Ava there once, and she wanted to go every day," Liana signed while Nina giggled.

​"And did you take her there again?"

​"Yes, though after six months." Liana looked down at Ava on her lap, tucked a strand of hair behind the girl's ear, and smiled softly. "She’s very energetic and pretty smart too—sometimes too smart. I wonder where she gets it from."

​"Probably her father."

​"What?" Liana looked up, feigning offense. "Nina, this is the part where you say she got it from me."

​"But you’re not smart."

​"Hey!" Liana swatted Nina’s hand playfully.

​"What?" Nina said defensively as she laughed, dodging the light hit.

​rounded a bend, the quiet suburban streets welcoming them with warm, glowing streetlights. The banter in the car remained light and playful until Nina finally pulled into the driveway of her home.

​The house was a spacious, two-story build with a clean, modern design. It had a neatly landscaped front yard, a paved driveway, and a covered entrance with a small porch. Nina wasn’t rich, but she was comfortable, and the cozy aesthetic of the exterior immediately made Liana feel at ease.

​They unbuckled and got out, the cool night air hitting them instantly. Nina popped the trunk and began wrestling with the heavy suitcases, groaning under the weight of Liana’s massive rolling bag.

​"What did you pack in here, bricks?" Nina muttered, hauling it onto the driveway.

​"Just the essentials!" Liana replied innocently, carefully gathering the sleeping Ava into her arms.

​They made their way up the paved walkway. Liana carried Ava into the house while Nina lugged the bags through the front door, setting them down in the hallway with a heavy sigh. The interior was warm and inviting, with simple, elegant decor and framed photos lining the walls—including a few old, embarrassing photos of the two of them from their school days that made Liana smile.

​"Show me to Ava’s room—she’s getting heavy," Liana called out as they headed inward.

​"Sure thing." Nina started walking up the stairs, expecting Liana to follow, which she did, taking careful steps so as not to wake the child.

​The room was cozy, bright, and cheerful, with soft-colored walls and plenty of natural light coming through a large window. It was obvious Nina had carefully prepared it—a small stuffed bear sat on the neatly made bed, and a soft nightlight was already plugged into the corner outlet.

​Liana set Ava down carefully on the bed, untied her shoes, tucked her in, and stepped back with a faint sigh of relief.

​"We can wake her later for dinner," she said to Nina as they walked back out into the hallway.

​"Right, dinner... I didn't think about that," Nina admitted, rubbing the back of her neck. "My fridge is basically empty except for water and a leftover slice of cake."

​"We can just order takeout. I still have to unpack anyway."

​"Yeah, that works," Nina nodded as they started moving Liana’s luggage into another guest room down the hall.

​Nina pulled out her phone and opened a food delivery app, swiping through the local options. "Alright, what are we feeling? Chinese, pizza, or the burger place down the street?"

​"Definitely pizza," Liana said instantly, dropping a suitcase onto the floor. "And don't even think about putting pineapples on it."

​"Pineapple belongs on pizza, Liana, don't start!" Nina shot back, fake-glaring at her.

​"If you order pineapple, I’m sleeping in the car," Liana warned with a laugh.

​"Fine, fine. Pepperoni it is." Nina placed the order and set her phone on the nightstand.

​With dinner settled and Ava resting peacefully, Liana unzipped her main bag and finally let out a long breath. It had been a exhausting journey, but sitting here in her friend's home, the familiar warmth of their friendship restored every bit of energy she’d lost along the way