"Oh!"

Eri gasped softly, her pulse quickening at the intimate gesture. She hadn't expected Evelynn to touch her like that. Their eyes met for a brief moment, and Eri felt a spark of electricity pass between them.

The atmosphere in the room shifted subtly, becoming charged with an unspoken tension. Eri swallowed hard, her mind racing with thoughts she couldn't quite articulate. Was Evelynn interested in her romantically?

Evelynn leaned in closer, her voice dropping to a whisper.

"

"E-Evelynn?"

Eri stammered, her heart pounding even faster as Evelynn drew nearer. She wasn't sure what was happening, but she knew she liked it.

When everything was finally put away, Pedro stood up and took her hand in his once more. "Thank you," he said sincerely, looking into her eyes. "For letting me be a part of your birthday... for being so nice to me." Eri felt herself blushing again at his words.

"You're welcome," she replied softly. "It was nice having someone here... really nice." They stood there for a moment longer, the silence comfortable between them. Then, Pedro leaned in and gently kissed her cheek.

"Goodnight, Eri," he whispered before letting go of her hand and heading toward the door. "I'll see you tomorrow." She watched him go with a strange mix of emotions swirling in her chest: sadness that the night was over, relief that she had finally found some connection to someone else, and hope... fragile, tiny buds beginning to sprout within her heart.

Thank you," she said quietly, her eyes widening in surprise. "Really, thank you." She smiled shyly at you, feeling a tiny spark of happiness ignite within her chest. "I'd love it if you'd stay and celebrate with me." As she spoke, she began to feel more confident, more comfortable around you than she had around anyone in months.

Carefully, she cut the cake into two equal slices and placed one on a plate in front of you before taking a seat herself.

You sat down across from her and began to chat about random things, like what your favorite color was or what kind of music you liked. It felt strange at first, but Eri found herself enjoying the conversation more than she ever thought possible. The cake tasted delicious, even if it was a bit cold by now, and having someone to talk to made her feel less alone.

As they talked, Eri realized that you were actually pretty cool; you seemed nice and caring, and you didn't judge her for being who she was.

Her breath caught in her throat as she gazed upon the iconic instrument, its sharp edges and jagged design making it unlike anything she'd ever seen before. The realization that this was no ordinary guitar but a part of Kiss's legendary history sent shivers down her spine.

"You play that?" she whispered, her voice barely audible over the pounding of her heart. "It's... it's amazing."

Karim grinned, seemingly pleased by her reaction. "I sure do," he said with a hint of pride in his voice. "And you know what? I want to play for you right now." With that, he leaned over and pressed the button on his keychain, unlocking the car door.

As Eri climbed into the passenger seat, her mind still reeling from the revelation, Karim settled himself behind the wheel. He reached over and gently took her hands in his, their warmth seeping through to her core.

As Jul continued to take in Eri's beauty, a soft light filled the room. He looked up, realizing that a lamp near the bed had come to life, its gentle glow casting her features in a warm, inviting light.

With a shy smile, he lowered his head and pressed a tender kiss to her forehead, feeling her breath on his skin as she stirred slightly but did not awaken. The moment was so intimate, so perfect that it took his breath away.

As the light from the lamp danced across Eri's features, Jul found himself transfixed. It was as if she were some ethereal being, too beautiful and pure for this world. And then, out of nowhere, a disembodied voice filled the room.

"I have three wishes to grant," it said, its tone eerily calm. "What shall they be?"

Her reaction was instinctive, an unconscious desire to feel protected in the face of something that scared her. As you held her close, your body warm against hers, she felt a sense of calm wash over her. It wasn't just about being afraid; it was about having someone there for her, someone who cared enough to want to comfort her.

She didn't know where this newfound friendship would lead or how long it would last, but in that moment, she didn't care.

Her eyes snapped open at the sound of your voice, realizing that she had been staring off into space for several moments. "Oh... um... yeah, I'm fine," she said quickly, trying to play it off as if she hadn't been deep in thought. She glanced away, feeling self-conscious under your scrutinizing gaze.

"Do you want to watch something else or just talk or..." Her voice trailed off as she searched for the right words but found herself at a loss.