𝓔𝓽𝓮𝓻𝓷𝓪𝓵 𝓼𝓾𝓷𝓼𝓱𝓲𝓷𝓮
ᵇᵉ ᵐy ᵇᵃᵇʸ

Elena woke up with a rush of energy, feeling lighter than she had in weeks.

The sunlight poured through her bedroom window, casting a soft glow on her room.

Her mind immediately went to last night—the visit from Mason, the kiss, the warmth, the butterflies. She smiled just thinking about it.

She jumped out of bed and immediately reached for her phone, hitting play on her favorite 80s playlist.

The familiar beat of "Be My Baby" by The Ronettes filled the room, and without thinking, Elena danced around as she got ready.

She let herself get lost in the rhythm, singing along and twirling as she brushed her hair and slipped into a casual outfit.

The upbeat tempo made her feel alive, and the thoughts of Mason only made her smile wider.

As she danced in front of the mirror, catching glimpses of herself in the reflection, she heard a familiar voice from the hallway.

Aaron peeked his head around the corner and watched her for a second. "Weirdo," he muttered under his breath, watching his sister fully embrace the moment.

Elena stuck her tongue out at him, but she couldn't help the grin on her face. He shook his head and disappeared down the hallway.

She kept dancing for a bit longer, feeling carefree and happy as she finished getting ready for the day.

The upbeat song filled her ears, and she sang louder, not caring who heard her.

When she finally went downstairs, the smell of pancakes greeted her.

Soli was standing at the stove, flipping them with one hand while sipping her coffee with the other.

Elena couldn't help but smile as she entered the kitchen.

"Well, someone's in a cheery mood today," Soli commented, watching Elena's energy. Elena simply shrugged and grabbed a plate, taking a seat at the table.

"Nothing, just feeling good," Elena replied, trying to sound casual as she dug into the pancakes her mom had made.

Her mom raised an eyebrow, clearly not buying it. "Oh really?" she said with a playful tone. "You're in this good of a mood for no reason?"

Before Elena could come up with a clever response, Aaron came in, standing in the doorway with a grin on his face.

"Mom," he said, "Elena's in a good mood because Mason kissed her last night."

Elena froze. The pancake halfway to her mouth, she sputtered, "Aaron!" Her face immediately flushed red as her brother continued to grin like the cat who caught the canary.

Soli's eyes widened in surprise, and she gasped. "What?!" Her voice was a mixture of disbelief and pure excitement. "Mason kissed you?"

"Mom! I—" Elena started, but Soli was already pulling her into a tight hug.

"Oh my gosh!" Soli squealed, hugging her daughter tightly. "I'm so happy for you, sweetheart! I can't believe Mason kissed you!"

Elena laughed awkwardly, but there was a huge grin on her face. "It's not that big of a deal, Mom." She felt giddy, despite trying to downplay it.

Aaron rolled his eyes, crossing his arms. "It totally is, though. You're acting all shy about it, but I saw you two last night—"

"Stop it, Aaron," Elena cut him off, though there was no hiding her smile.

Soli pulled back, still holding Elena's shoulders and looking her over with an excited smile. "You two are perfect for each other. I've been waiting for this." She beamed at her daughter, "I'm so happy for you, honey!"

Elena shifted awkwardly, but she couldn't stop the warmth in her chest. "Yeah, well... we'll see where it goes. But, you know, I'm just happy."

"Are you kidding?" Soli replied, grinning. "Mason is perfect for you. I just know it."

Elena could feel the joy radiating from her mom. "I'm glad you're happy, Mom."

Aaron, still hovering in the doorway, shook his head in mock disapproval. "You should be thanking me, though. I gave you some good advice, remember?"

Elena shot him a look but couldn't help but laugh. "Whatever, Aaron. You just want credit for everything."

Soli let out a dramatic sigh. "Oh, you two. This is such a big moment, and all you do is fight."

Aaron rolled his eyes and chuckled. "Yeah, yeah. I'll let you have this moment, Elena. But don't forget—you owe me."

Elena just smiled, her heart light, knowing that whatever was going to happen next with Mason, she was ready.

For now, she was just happy, surrounded by family who was more than excited for her. She had no idea where things would go, but for the first time in a while, she was just looking forward to everything.

— ETERNAL SUNSHINE —