Aviannah, Raven, and Thomas stumbled into their shared apartment, laughter echoing through the dimly lit space. The night had been a blur of neon lights, pulsing music, and a few too many cocktails. Their college days were winding down, but nights like these made them feel invincible.
Aviannah kicked off her heels, collapsing onto the couch with an exaggerated sigh. “I swear, my feet are going to fall off,” she groaned, stretching her legs out across the coffee table.
Raven, still giddy from the night, flopped down beside her. “Worth it, though! That DJ was fire tonight.”
Thomas, ever the responsible one, locked the door behind them and tossed his jacket over a chair. “And you two were reckless. How many shots did you even have?”
Aviannah smirked, flicking her hair over her shoulder. “Enough to make questionable decisions, but not enough to forget them.” She winked at Thomas, who just rolled his eyes with a small smile.
Raven leaned against Aviannah, her head resting on her friend’s shoulder. “I’m starving. We should’ve grabbed some late-night food.”
Thomas nodded. “I can whip something up. How about grilled cheese?” He walked into the kitchen, rolling up his sleeves.
“You’re a saint, Tommy,” Raven called after him, closing her eyes for a moment.
Aviannah glanced at her, a mischievous glint in her eyes. “Sooo… you and Thomas, huh?” she teased.
Raven scoffed, eyes fluttering open. “What? No. He’s like… our responsible big brother.”
“Uh-huh, sure,” Aviannah drawled. “But you were totally checking him out tonight.”
Raven blushed, shoving Aviannah playfully. “Stop. You’re ridiculous.”
Thomas returned with a plate of golden, crispy sandwiches, setting them down on the coffee table. “What are you two whispering about?”
Aviannah grinned innocently. “Nothing at all.”
He eyed them suspiciously but let it go, instead plopping onto the couch beside them. They ate in comfortable silence, the warmth of the apartment wrapping around them like a soft blanket.
“I’m gonna miss this,” Raven murmured, staring at the flickering TV screen.
Aviannah sighed, her smile bittersweet. “Yeah… college won’t last forever. But nights like these? We’ll always have them.”
Thomas raised his glass of water. “To nights like these.”
They clinked imaginary glasses in the air and, for a moment, everything felt just right. The night outside stretched on, but inside, they were safe, warm, and together—three friends savoring the fleeting magic of youth.