As evening settled in, the group migrated to the living room, my sanctuary now left slightly messier than before but still intact. The boys sprawled out across the couch and floor, debating the ultimate question of the night—what movie to watch. Béatrice, of course, had her own ideas. "We should watch something classy," she declared, flipping her hair over her shoulder as she lounged on the armrest. "A French indie film, maybe. Something with substance." Caleb let out an exaggerated groan. "No offense, Béa, but if it's in black and white and has subtitles, I'm out." "Seconded," Rory added, tossing a piece of popcorn into the air and catching it in his mouth. "We need action, explosions, and at least one car chase. That's non-negotiable." Béatrice rolled her eyes, clearly unimpressed. "Ugh, you boys are so predictable. Maya, back me up here." I held up my hands defensively, not wanting to get caught in the crossfire. "Don't look at me. I'm fine with whatever." "Cop-out," Béatrice muttered, but her lips quirked into a small smile. Xander, who'd been scrolling through options on the TV, finally spoke up. "How about a compromise? Something with action and some depth. A thriller, maybe?" "Fine," Béatrice said with a dramatic sigh, though I caught the glimmer of approval in her eyes. "But if it's terrible, I reserve the right to say 'I told you so.'" "Deal," Xander replied, his easy grin diffusing the tension. He selected a movie and hit play, the opening scene filling the room with dramatic music and suspenseful visuals.
The movie was surprisingly captivating, and for a while, the group fell into an uncharacteristic silence, fully absorbed. Even Béatrice seemed impressed, her usual commentary replaced by quiet gasps at the plot twists. By the time the credits rolled, the room buzzed with energy again as everyone started dissecting the film. Caleb and Rory argued over whether the protagonist had made the right decisions, while Béatrice offered her own "expert" analysis of the cinematography. Xander, ever the mediator, chimed in with thoughtful observations that somehow managed to satisfy everyone. I watched it all unfold with a quiet smile, a warm sense of contentment settling over me. Despite the chaos, this was exactly what I loved about my friends—their ability to turn even the most ordinary moments into something memorable. As the night stretched on, the group began to wind down. Caleb and Rory dozed off first, sprawled out on the couch in awkward positions that would definitely leave them sore in the morning. Béatrice, much to my surprise, had claimed the recliner and was softly humming to herself, her earlier theatrics replaced by a rare moment of calm. Xander and I were the last ones awake, sitting side by side on the floor with the glow of the TV casting soft shadows across the room. He nudged me gently with his shoulder, his voice low so as not to wake the others. "See? Told you we'd survive Béatrice." I chuckled, glancing over at her peaceful form. "Barely. But yeah, you were right."
He grinned, leaning his head back against the couch. "She's not so bad once you get past the dramatics. And hey, you've got us to balance her out." "True," I said, my smile softening. "Thanks for that, by the way. I don't think I could've handled today without you guys." "Anytime," he replied, his tone easy but genuine. For a moment, we sat in comfortable silence, the quiet hum of the TV filling the space. I glanced around at my friends, my heart swelling with gratitude. Béatrice might be a storm, but surrounded by this group, I felt like we could weather anything together. Tomorrow would bring new challenges, new laughs, and undoubtedly more chaos. But for now, I let myself bask in the stillness of the moment, knowing I was exactly where I was meant to be.