Jack was the first to wake up that morning. The house was quiet, save for the faint hum of the refrigerator and the soft ticking of the kitchen clock. He stretched and yawned, heading straight for the coffee maker. It was a routine he'd come to enjoy—being the one to make the first pot of coffee, letting the rich, warm aroma fill the kitchen. As he poured the water and scooped the coffee grounds, he thought about the day ahead. Today was the day he'd finally take his driving test.
As the coffee brewed, Jack rummaged through the cabinets for some mugs, setting them out on the counter just as he heard the shuffle of feet behind him. Turning, he saw Samantha and Lena walking into the kitchen, still half-asleep.
Samantha was dressed in a pair of loose shorts and a camisole, her hair a bit tousled but still framing her face in that effortlessly elegant way she always had. Lena, on the other hand, was wearing her usual pajama shirt and pants, her blond hair sticking up in all directions, as if she had fought a pillow and lost.
"Morning," Jack greeted with a grin, holding up the coffee pot as an offering. "Coffee?"
"God, yes," Samantha muttered, rubbing her eyes and making her way to the counter. "You're a lifesaver."
Lena yawned, scratching the back of her head. "I don't know how you wake up so early, Jack. It's unnatural."
Jack laughed as he poured coffee into the mugs. "You get used to it."
Samantha took a sip of her coffee, her eyes fluttering shut as she savored the warmth. "Mmm, I needed this. You always make it just right."
"Practice," Jack said with a shrug, taking a sip from his own mug before leaning against the counter. "So, I'm heading out to take my driving test today."
That seemed to wake Lena up a bit more. She blinked, setting her mug down. "Wait, really? No way! I'm going there today too. I have to retake my test. Failed it last time."
Jack raised an eyebrow, amused. "Let me guess—you weren't paying attention?"
Lena pouted, crossing her arms over her chest. "I was paying attention! I just... I dunno, maybe I got distracted at the stop sign or something. But I'm gonna pass this time for sure!"
Samantha chuckled softly into her mug, then looked over at Jack. "I was actually planning to take Lena there myself. If you're going, we might as well all go together."
"Yeah, that makes sense," Jack agreed, nodding. "No point in taking separate trips."
Samantha smiled and set her mug down. "Great. I'll go grab a quick shower, then."
"As for us... Then are you going first or I should go?" Lena asked.
"I go first," Jack said.
Jack quickly headed toward the bathroom, giving them both a casual wave. As he showered, the hot water helped wake him up fully, his mind wandering back to the driving test. He felt confident, but there was always that little bit of nervous energy right before any test. Still, it wasn't anything he couldn't handle.
He finished his shower in a few minutes and stepped out, toweling off his hair as he made his way back into the hallway.
Lena popped her head out of her room as Jack passed. "Wow, you're fast! Samantha's probably gonna take forever."
"Looks like."
Lena grabbing her clothes said, "Well, I'll be next. I'm gonna take my time too, so don't wait up!" With a playful wink, she disappeared into the bathroom.
Jack shook his head, amused, and plopped down on the couch, scrolling through his phone to kill time while he waited. A few minutes later, the bathroom door opened, and Samantha stepped out.
She was dressed in a pair of form-fitting leggings that hugged her legs perfectly and a long, oversized hoodie that reached her knees. The hoodie, though casual, gave her an effortlessly chic look. But what really caught Jack's attention was her lipstick. A soft pink shade, subtle yet noticeable, perfectly complementing her natural beauty. He found himself staring just a little longer than he should have.
Samantha caught him looking and smirked. "What do you think?" she asked, striking a playful pose. "How do I look?"
Jack snapped out of it and grinned. "You look... one of the most beautiful I've ever seen."
"One of the most?" Samantha teased, raising an eyebrow. "Who's the other?"
Jack chuckled, rubbing the back of his neck. "Lena."
Samantha laughed, nodding. "Alright, fair enough." She walked over to the kitchen, grabbing her water bottle. "Good save."
Just as they were about to continue talking, Lena emerged from the bathroom, fully dressed in a pair of jeans and a casual T-shirt. She hadn't bothered with any makeup, but her natural beauty shone through in her simplicity.
"Ready to go!" Lena announced, her energy levels noticeably higher now that she was fully awake. "How do I look?"
"You look great, Lena," Jack said with a smile. "Let's get going."
Samantha grabbed her keys, and the three of them headed out the door. They walked toward Samantha's car.
They climbed into Samantha's car, with her in the driver's seat, Jack in the front passenger side, and Lena in the back, already chatting away about how she was definitely going to pass her test this time.
Jack leaned back, smiling to himself as they pulled out of the driveway. Today was going to be a good day.