Stella's heart hammered against her ribs as she looked at Flora, her best friend's encouraging smile a beacon in the otherwise tense atmosphere. "I will ask Theo's permission first!" she declared, the words slightly breathless. The weight of her request pressed down on her, a mixture of anticipation and apprehension.

Flora, ever the pragmatist, offered a reassuring nod. "Yeah, you should do that!" she said, her voice calm but laced with a hint of understanding.

Stella's own nod was a small, ...