As soon as Mira opened the door, all three of them toppled over like dominoes.
It was very clear—they'd been eavesdropping.
"Seriously?" she stared down at them.
"We weren't listening exactly," Nina muttered from the floor, brushing hair out of her face. "More like… making sure you didn't faint or something."
Zoya nodded solemnly. "For your safety."
"I heard like... three words," Tasha added, sitting upright and adjusting her perfectly ironed shirt.
"So... about the scholarship? You got in right ?" Nina asked, trying to sound casual but failing miserably.
"Well, if they didn't pick you, it's their loss," Tasha jumped in before Mira could reply. "I could still ask Eve—you know, the girl with short hair and glasses who used to study in Lakemont. She did a full pivot from the uni pressure to fashion rebellion. She might have tips. Maybe even a backdoor route. Worst case, we fake a new identity for you-"
"I got in," Mira said, grinning.
There was a moment of stunned silence, and then-chaos.
A high-pitched group scream that probably scared the Elliot's cat echoed down the hallway, followed by a group hug. Well, almost.
"I am not joining," Tasha held up both hands. "This is silk, people."
"Don't be a drama queen," Nina said, and unceremoniously pulled her in.
Once the shrieking subsided, the four of them collapsed onto Tasha's bed.
"So what's the plan now?" Nina asked.
"Well, the scholarship covers tuition," Mira began, already pulling out her phone to show them the email. "But it starts in three months. I'll need to work more hours, maybe take up weekend shifts too. I've got some savings, but travel and living costs... it's going to be tight. I'll probably have to drop a few freelance gigs. And obviously, full-time studies will mean less side hustle. I-"
"Okay, wow, pause," Zoya interrupted. "Not that much of the planning. Let's focus on the main event—you got in. Can we celebrate first before turning this into a budget spreadsheet?"
"Let's call Diya!" Tasha said.
In like an hour, the girls climbed up the cranky staircase to the rooftop and laid out the rugs and arranged the lights. This has been their unofficial hangout long before Mira joined the team.
They dumped bags of takeout in the center, plopped down cross-legged, and immediately began claiming their favorite dishes.
"I'm calling dibs on the spring rolls before Barry eats them all," Zoya declared.
"Wait Barry?" Mira asked, mid-unpacking.
Right on cue, heavy footsteps sounded on the stairs.
"Hope there's still food left!" came a familiar voice.
Elliot emerged, hoodie unzipped, hair a bit wind-mussed, carrying a plastic bag filled with sodas and what looked suspiciously like extra chili sauce.
Behind him was a tall, lanky guy in dark joggers, hoodie pulled up, and sunglasses still on despite the dying light. He was carrying two more takeout bags and a grin. "Hi, I brought reinforcements."
"Elliot?" Mira blinked. "Wait—how did you even—"
"I called him!" Diya said cheerfully, squeezing onto the rooftop with a backpack of plastic cups and paper plates like she was hosting a picnic.
Mira stared at her, betrayed. "How do you have his number?!" and then whispered to her, "I've been talking to him for like a month and I don't even have his number!" while nudging her.
Diya just grinned. "I have ways."
"Did you steal his phone? Hack the university database?"
"I bribed his roommate with banana bread," she said, casually opening a soda.
Barry, sunglasses still on, gave a solemn nod. "Best banana bread I've had. Worth selling out my contact list."
Mira blinked. "Do you even know who I am?"
"Nope," Barry said brightly. "I just came for the free food."
"...Fair," Mira muttered, scooting over to make room.
The rooftop echoed with laughter, clinks of cans, and the clatter of takeout containers. It wasn't glamorous -but it was home.
"So," Mira said between bites, turning to Barry. "What's your story, hoodie guy?"
Barry swallowed a mouthful of rice, then said with theatrical calm, "I'm a researcher."
The table collectively paused.
"You're what?" Nina asked, eyes narrowing like she'd just found a plot twist.
"Microfluidics. I design devices that manipulate tiny droplets to mimic complex biological systems. Basically, I can make fake blood vessels dance on a slide.Or at least that's what I am trying."
Zoya leaned back, visibly impressed. "Okay, that sounds either genius or like the first step in creating a clone army."
"Both are valid career paths," Barry nodded.
"He talks to his pipettes," Elliot added, grinning.
"They're more competent than most interns," Barry deadpanned.
Mira laughed. "And you just tagged along for spring rolls?"
"And Diya's banana bread," Barry added. "I'd follow that into a fire."
"You never made banana bread for me," Mira pouted.
"You never asked," Diya shrugged.
Mira shook her head, laughing as she leaned back and looked around.
Elliot was handing out sodas like a vending machine. Diya was rearranging food so everyone had what they liked. Tasha was still checking her reflection in her phone screen, horrified that soy sauce might've touched her scarf. Zoya was recounting a story about how her last crush turned out to be dating his own cousin ("It was a lot"). Nina was trying to keep track of who ordered what and failing miserably.
And Barry? Barry was now passionately explaining how he once kept a lizard in his dorm sink for a week and named him Greg. "Why are you looking at me like that ? He helped with my thesis."
"You're banned, and Greg is too " Tasha said, holding up a hand. "Banned."
"You wish," Barry replied as he leaned back .
The sun dipped lower, casting orange streaks across the rooftops.It was beautiful.
Mira looked around at the group again—unfiltered, unexpected, and entirely hers in that moment.
"You okay?" Diya asked, nudging her.
Mira nodded. "I guess I thought starting college would feel like everything was changing."
"It is," Nina said. "But you're not leaving us. You're just leveling up."
"Yeah," Mira smiled.
Barry raised a can. "To short train rides and long friendships."
They all clinked their drinks together.
Mira turned to her right to find Elliot already staring at her.He mouthed the words "Congrats. We can do this" and then gave a smile . Mira was sure he had no idea about how he looked . He was drunk and looked flushed in his cheeks and when he said these words with that face she felt her heart leap out of her chest. She smiled back with a "Yeah. I am sure we will".
Diya, watching the little moment unfold, leaned over and whispered, "You should totally ask for his number."
Except-she whispered it into Barry's ear instead of Mira's. She was that level of drunk.
Barry blinked. "Wait, whose number am I asking for and why would I ask a 'his' number and not a 'her' number?" he asked, confused and mildly alarmed.
Diya frowned, looked at him, and said, "You? No. Not you. Wrong person." Then she turned to Mira and pointed—very seriously—at Elliot. "You ask him. Before I do something embarrassing."
Barry just shrugged and reached for another spring roll. "Too late, I think."
Elliot gave her a piece of her paper with his number . Mira took it and saw that it had Room4B written on it. Mira laughed till her ribs hurt . "I am so making fun of him tomorrow",she thought to herself.
She didn't know exactly what the future held. But tonight? Tonight she felt like maybe she could handle it.
One ridiculous friend at a time.