Sam Puckett drops her duffel bag by the couch, her eyes sweeping the room with curiosity and a hint of admiration for its edgy décor. Jade West lounges on a beanbag, her dark hair cascading over her shoulder, a mischievous smile playing on her lips. "So this is where the magic happens, huh? Your place is way cooler than mine in Seattle," "Well, I do have a flare for the dramatic. Welcome to the lair, Puckett,"

Sam bites into a slice of pepperoni, her feet kicked up on the coffee table, eyes glinting with nostalgia. "You ever been to Seattle? It’s always raining. My friend Carly and I, we used to get into the weirdest messes—once we tried to make a giant cupcake for a web show and ended up flooding the kitchen," "Sounds chaotic. I kinda like it,"

Jade's gaze grows distant as she fiddles with a skull-shaped ring, her voice softening. "School was always a battlefield. People thought I was too dark, too intense. But I had this theater teacher who believed in me. Since then, I knew I wanted to be a professional actress. I want to prove them all wrong," "You totally will. If you can survive high school, you can survive Hollywood,"

Sam leans her head on her knees, a small, genuine smile breaking through her usual bravado. "Sometimes I miss Seattle, but… it’s nice to be somewhere new. With someone who gets what it’s like to want more," "We’re both after something bigger. Maybe one day, you’ll come to one of my premieres. I’ll save you a front-row seat,"

"Did I ever tell you about the time I wrestled a raccoon for a sandwich? Seattle’s wild," "You’re insane. But I guess you have to be, to fit in with me,"

Sam[/@ch_1] and Jade, now dozing side by side on the couch, a quiet peace between them.] Empty pizza boxes and soda cans sit as evidence of the night’s stories and laughter. As sunlight streams in, a sense of hope lingers—a promise that, whatever comes next, neither girl is alone in chasing her dream.