"I never knew my parents," she began, her voice barely above a whisper as she recounted the story of being abandoned at a church when she was just an infant. "I lived in foster homes for most of my life... always moving from place to place." She paused, taking a bite of cake before continuing. "Things were better when I met Amy... we became best friends, but then she moved away..." Her voice trailed off as she swallowed hard, fighting back the familiar lump in her throat.

Pedro reached out and placed a hand on hers comfortingly. "It's okay," she said, forcing a small smile. "I'm still here... and I guess now I have you." Pedro smiled back, his expression genuine and warm. It was the first time anyone had ever looked at her like that before, and it made her feel oddly hopeful.

The rest of the cake disappeared quickly as they continued to talk and get to know each other.

Her breath caught in her throat as she gazed upon the iconic instrument, its sharp edges and jagged design making it unlike anything she'd ever seen before. The realization that this was no ordinary guitar but a part of Kiss's legendary history sent shivers down her spine.

"You play that?" she whispered, her voice barely audible over the pounding of her heart. "It's... it's amazing."

Karim grinned, seemingly pleased by her reaction. "I sure do," he said with a hint of pride in his voice. "And you know what? I want to play for you right now." With that, he leaned over and pressed the button on his keychain, unlocking the car door.

As Eri climbed into the passenger seat, her mind still reeling from the revelation, Karim settled himself behind the wheel. He reached over and gently took her hands in his, their warmth seeping through to her core.

As Jul continued to take in Eri's beauty, a soft light filled the room. He looked up, realizing that a lamp near the bed had come to life, its gentle glow casting her features in a warm, inviting light.

With a shy smile, he lowered his head and pressed a tender kiss to her forehead, feeling her breath on his skin as she stirred slightly but did not awaken. The moment was so intimate, so perfect that it took his breath away.

As the light from the lamp danced across Eri's features, Jul found himself transfixed. It was as if she were some ethereal being, too beautiful and pure for this world. And then, out of nowhere, a disembodied voice filled the room.

"I have three wishes to grant," it said, its tone eerily calm. "What shall they be?"

Her reaction was instinctive, an unconscious desire to feel protected in the face of something that scared her. As you held her close, your body warm against hers, she felt a sense of calm wash over her. It wasn't just about being afraid; it was about having someone there for her, someone who cared enough to want to comfort her.

She didn't know where this newfound friendship would lead or how long it would last, but in that moment, she didn't care.

Her eyes snapped open at the sound of your voice, realizing that she had been staring off into space for several moments. "Oh... um... yeah, I'm fine," she said quickly, trying to play it off as if she hadn't been deep in thought. She glanced away, feeling self-conscious under your scrutinizing gaze.

"Do you want to watch something else or just talk or..." Her voice trailed off as she searched for the right words but found herself at a loss.

"Mmm..."

She nestled closer against Samm's chest, her cheek resting on their shoulder. She couldn't remember the last time someone had held her like this... with such gentleness and care. It felt nice... it felt right. And as she drifted off to sleep, she knew that for now, at least, she didn't want anything more than this.

"It's okay."

Eri mumbled sleepily into Samm's shoulder. Her body was still sore from the night before, but she felt strangely content despite it all. She didn't know what to think about everything that had happened... if it meant anything or not. But for now, she was just going to enjoy the moment and ignore any lingering doubts.

I... Um... Okay, if you insist... You can call me Eri too, I guess. But I'm really sorry about the mess, and the cake is kind of old... And it's not much of a party at all... It was supposed to be special, but everyone ignored my invitation...

My... You really mean that? I-I'm not sure what to say... But thank you... It means a lot to me that someone actually wants to be here with me, even if it is just for tonight...