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✧ 𝟎𝟏𝟓. ❝love at first sight❞ ✧🦋
irl, instagram...

IRL

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The plane had landed, and as the engines powered down, Sophia's excitement grew by the second. Her heart pounded in her chest, and she couldn't wait to disembark and head to the baggage claim.

Stepping into the airport terminal, she felt like a child on Christmas morning, brimming with giddy anticipation.

Each step she took seemed to send a wave of energy coursing through her. As she walked towards the baggage claim area, her hands were trembling with excitement, and she clung to the handle of her suitcase, trying to steady herself.

Her knees felt a bit wobbly, and she couldn't help but keep her eyes fixed on the carousel, hoping to catch a glimpse of her luggage any moment now.

Amidst all this, her eyes darted around the terminal, scanning the crowd for any sign of the triplets. The instant her plane landed, she had quickly sent a text to Matt, informing him that she had arrived safely.

Just as she was about to retrieve her phone to call Matt and inquire about their whereabouts, an unexpected darkness suddenly enveloped her vision.

A gasp of surprise escaped her lips, and she whirled around to see who had blocked her sight. To her delight, it was Nick, a wide grin on his face. Without a second thought, she threw her arms around him, hugging him tightly.

Nick let out a chuckle and, after a moment, shared that Matt was waiting in the car while Chris had decided to stay at home. A faint frown etched across her face. She had been looking forward to seeing Chris.

Accompanied by Nick, she made her way to the car, where Matt was leaning against it, waiting. Their eyes met, and with an inviting gesture, Matt opened his arms, welcoming her into a warm embrace.

Now all three of them were in the car, creating an atmosphere of warmth, excitement, and familiarity. Nick, bursting with curiosity, began to fire questions at Sophia, his enthusiasm palpable.

"So when's the new album coming out?" Nick asked eagerly, leaning over the passenger seat to catch a better glimpse of Sophia.

Sophia couldn't help but smirk. This question had become Nick's trademark, and she had learned to handle it with a touch of playful evasion. "I don't know, Nick. You'll just have to wait," she responded, leaning halfway across the seats, engaged in the conversation.

However, as the car smoothly made its way towards the triplets' house, her thoughts kept drifting back to Chris, who was noticeably absent.

She couldn't help but recall that Chris had asked her to call him when she reached Boston, but since she felt a hint of tension in their last interaction she decided to call Matt instead.

With a furrowed brow, she mustered the courage to ask the question that had been nagging at her.

"So, why isn't Chris with you guys?" she whispered, her curiosity piqued.

Matt sported a sly smirk, and Nick swiftly turned around from the front seat to face her. "Don't text him, Sophia. We didn't tell him we were coming to get you. We said we were going to grab McDonald's," Nick explained with a mischievous grin.

Matt chimed in, "Yeah, once you called me and not Chris, we figured he didn't know. So we thought we'd surprise him. What do you think, Soph?" he asked, glancing at her through the rearview mirror. She gave a nod, feeling excited about the prospect of surprising Chris.

The car ride continued with the cheerful banter of friends who had been apart for a while, making it feel like no time had passed.

Nick's overflowing enthusiasm was infectious, and the journey towards the triplets' house was filled with laughter and conversation.

When they arrived at the triplets' house, the anticipation hung in the air. Matt kindly took her luggage, and together they walked to the front door. Sophia couldn't help but gawk at the house as if it were a celebrity itself, admiring its grandeur and the sense of familiarity she'd gained from seeing it in countless videos.

Stepping inside, her jaw dropped. This was the very house she had watched in their videos countless times, and now, she was actually standing inside it. She knew she'd be staying here for three full days before the tour began. It was like stepping into a dream, an experience she never thought would come true.

She was snapped out of her thoughts when Matt gently tapped her shoulder and whispered, "Come on, Chris's room is over here." Before she knew it, she was standing in front of a door with a little whiteboard, a whiteboard she recognized from the videos, where they'd written messages and doodles.

She raised her hand to knock but found herself hesitating. The realization hit her like a ton of bricks – she was seconds away from seeing Chris in real life, not through Facetime or snaps. This was as real as it got.

Gathering her courage, she turned around, seeing Matt smiling softly at her, and Nick, who was practically bubbling with excitement. She inhaled deeply and gently knocked on the door.

From the other side, she heard shuffling, and her heart raced at an astonishing pace, thudding so loud in her chest that she wondered if it might just leap out.

The doorknob turned, and she held her breath, her entire being focused on the moment that was about to unfold. This was it. She was going to see Chris.

The door swung open, and there he stood, in all his glory. Chris was dressed casually, wearing a white t-shirt and grey sweatpants. His hair was disheveled, and yet, she couldn't help but see the undeniable beauty that radiated from him.

Chris's face looked like it belonged in a movie. His jaw seemed to drop to the floor, and his eyes were as wide as daisies. It was as if she could see all the confusion passing through them.

"Hi," she eventually breathed out after what felt like an eternity, a breath that finally broke the silence. Chris, however, didn't answer. He simply let his hand fall from the doorknob and took a step closer.

Without warning, his arms found their way around her, enveloping her in an embrace. One of his arms encircled her waist, while the other rested in her hair. His face was nestled in her neck, and she could feel his hot breath on her skin.

Sophia returned the embrace, her arms around his neck, and she felt those familiar butterflies dancing in her stomach, as if they were trying to escape. Her heart was pounding so fiercely that she was afraid he could hear it.

The world around her seemed to become clearer, the lights shone brighter, and she could swear she heard the birds chirping. Her vision was blurred, and it felt as if she couldn't catch her breath.

As she stood there, she couldn't help but wonder if a reaction like this was normal when meeting a friend. She certainly hadn't felt this way while hugging Matt.

Chris's voice, barely above a whisper, reached her ear, and she heard him say, "I'm so glad you're here, gorgeous. You have no idea how much I've thought about this moment." The words hung in the air, sinking deep into her heart. She smiled, trying to make sense of why his words affected her more profoundly than any other boy she'd ever liked.

"Liked?" She questioned herself. She couldn't like Chris, she kept telling herself. She shook her head to clear her thoughts, breaking the hug. She pulled back and looked into his eyes, her smile soft and genuine. She playfully ruffled his hair.

"Your voice is deeper in real life," she remarked, and Chris smiled back at her.

Their eyes locked, neither of them daring to look away. Chris playfully bopped her nose and planted a gentle kiss on her cheek. "You're so much cuter in real life," he whispered, and he lingered a bit too close after the kiss.

Gratitude and appreciation swelled within her, but she found herself struggling to express it. She couldn't form the words, all that came out was a small breath. Her trance was broken when she heard Nick's voice, a soft cough to get their attention.

Sophia looked back and saw both Matt and Nick standing there, wearing knowing smiles. She rolled her eyes, feeling a blush creep onto her cheeks, and saw them both burst into laughter.

"We're going to watch some TV. I'm sure Chris will help you unpack your things," Matt said as he descended the stairs, with Nick trailing close behind.

As Matt and Nick descended the stairs, Sophia and Chris found themselves alone in the room. The air seemed charged with anticipation and unspoken words. Their gazes locked, and neither of them made a move to break the connection.

Finally, Chris couldn't resist a playful comment, a mischievous glint in his eyes. "You know, you really look even better in person than I ever imagined," he said with a sly grin.

Sophia blushed, feeling her heart race as she returned the compliment, "Oh, and you're not so bad yourself, Chris. Video screens don't do you justice."

The chemistry was undeniable, and it felt like they had been in the same room countless times before.

After a while, Chris playfully suggested, "Hey, how about we take a mirror pic to commemorate this moment? You know, proof that it's not all a dream."

Sophia couldn't help but laugh at the idea, "Sure, why not? I need some evidence that I actually met you."

They moved to a large mirror on the wall, standing side by side, their smiles reflecting genuine happiness.

Sophia raised her phone and extended her arm to capture the moment. As they posed, Chris playfully leaned closer, their faces almost touching, his hand in her hair. And her hand around his waist.

With a click, the photo was taken, and they both burst into laughter. It was a captured moment of joy, shared between friends who had finally crossed the line between a virtual and real-world connection.

Little did they know that this was just the beginning of their unforgettable adventure together.

INSTAGRAM

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AND THEY FINALLY MEET
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