The weekend after their first day back at school, Maya suggested they all meet at Purrfect Haeven, the new cat cafe downtown.
"It has the best lavender lattes and like twenty cats," she had texted the group chat.
"No excuses. We need to celebrate surviving the island trip without anyone getting sunburned or lost."
Jade and Rose arrived together, walking side by side from the bus stop.
The cafe was warm and softly lit, filled with the low hum of purring and the occasional jingle of a bell on a cat collar.
Cats lounged on shelves, windowsills, and plush cushions scattered around low tables.
Maya and Noah were already there, claiming a corner booth near a big window.
Maya waved them over enthusiastically, a fluffy orange cat draped across her shoulders like a scarf.
"You made it!" Maya said.
"Sit, sit.
The gray one by the window is named Toast.
He's a professional cuddler."
Noah gave a small wave, sketchbook already open on the table.
"Hey.
I ordered drinks for everyone.
Lavender latte for Rose, mint chocolate for Jade."
Rose's eyes softened as she slid into the booth beside Jade.
"You remembered."
Noah shrugged with a small smile.
"I pay attention."
They settled in, the conversation flowing easily as cats wandered over to investigate the new arrivals.
A sleek black cat jumped into Maya's lap; another curled up near Noah's feet.
Rose gently stroked a shy tabby that had approached her cautiously, her fingers slow and patient.
Maya leaned forward, grinning.
"Okay, real talk.
What's everyone's cat personality?
I'm obviously a chaotic orange cat.
Noah is clearly a judgmental void cat who judges everyone but secretly loves belly rubs."
Noah didn't even look up from his sketch.
"And you're a kitten who never learned boundaries."
Maya laughed.
"Fair."
Rose smiled softly, still petting the tabby.
"I think I'd be a quiet one.
The kind that sits in the sun and watches everything."
Jade watched Rose's gentle hands for a moment before speaking.
"You'd be the one everyone wants to adopt but who only trusts a few people."
Rose glanced at her, something warm flickering in her eyes.
"Maybe."
The group continued chatting—favourite books, worst school stories, silly dreams for the future.
Maya dramatically declared she wanted to open her own cat cafe one day.
Noah admitted he wanted to illustrate children's books.
Rose quietly said she liked the idea of working somewhere peaceful, maybe a bookstore or a small garden centre.
Jade listened more than she spoke, content to watch Rose relax in the cozy space.
Then a girl from another table stood up and walked over.
She looked about their age, with bright eyes and a confident smile.
"Excuse me," she said, looking directly at Jade.
"Aren't you Jade Anderson?
The one who sang at the winter showcase last year?
Your voice was incredible.
Could I… maybe get your number?
I'd love to hear you sing sometime."
The table went still for a beat.
Jade smiled politely but shook her head.
"Thanks, that's really nice of you.
But I'm not really taking requests right now."
The girl laughed lightly.
"No pressure.
Here's mine anyway, just in case."
She slid a small piece of paper across the table with her number written on it before walking back to her friends.
Maya whistled low.
"Damn, Jade.
You're famous."
Noah raised an eyebrow.
"Professional artist vibes."
Jade tucked the paper away without looking at it, clearly uninterested.
She turned to Rose instead.
"You okay?" she asked softly, noticing how quiet Rose had become.
Rose nodded, but her smile was a little smaller than before.
"Yeah.
Just… thinking."
Under the table, Jade's hand found Rose's and gave it a gentle squeeze.
Rose didn't pull away.
Instead she squeezed back, her thumb brushing once over Jade's knuckles.
Maya, ever observant, changed the subject smoothly.
"So, who wants to try and get Toast to sit on their lap?
He's very picky."
The conversation picked up again, light and easy, but the small moment lingered in the air between Jade and Rose.
Rose stayed quieter for the next few minutes, her fingers still linked with Jade's beneath the table.
Later, as they were leaving the cafe, Rose walked closer to Jade than usual.
She didn't say anything about the girl who had asked for Jade's number.
But when Jade held the door open for her, Rose looked up with a soft, grateful expression.
"Thanks for today," she said quietly.
"For… everything."
Jade smiled.
"Anytime."
They walked out together into the warm afternoon, Maya and Noah a few steps ahead.
Rose's shoulder stayed pressed against Jade's the whole way to the bus stop.
Neither of them mentioned the girl again.
But the quiet understanding between them had grown a little deeper, a little more certain.