*Chapter 7: Thermal Dreams đ*
Ava woke up feeling like she'd slept for days. The hostel was quiet, except for the soft snoring of her bunkmate. She slipped out of bed, careful not to disturb anyone, and checked her phone.
A message from Max was waiting: "Meet you at the baths at 10? đ"
Ava's heart skipped a beat. She quickly typed out a response: "Sounds perfect! đ"
She spent the next hour getting ready, trying on three different outfits before settling on a bright yellow sundress. As she walked to the Széchenyi Thermal Baths, the sun was shining, and the city was alive with the sounds of laughter and music.
Max was waiting by the entrance, looking adorable in his swim tranks and sunglasses. "Hey, gorgeous!" he said, grinning.
Ava rolled her eyes, feeling a flutter in her chest. "Hey, yourself."
They paid the entrance fee and headed into the baths. The warm water enveloped Ava, and she let out a sigh of contentment.
Max chuckled. "Told you it'd be good, didn't I?"
As they floated on their backs, Ava felt a sense of freedom she'd never experienced before. The warm water, the sunshine, and Max's easy company made her feel like she was exactly where she was meant to be.
After a while, Max suggested they grab some lunch. They dried off and headed to a nearby cafĂ©, where they devoured huge sandwiches and talked about everything from music to movies to their shared love of pineapple pizza (Ava was scandalized â who doesn't like pineapple on pizza?).
As they sat in the sun, Ava realized she was having the best time she'd had in months. Maybe even years.
Suddenly, Max's phone beeped. He glanced at the screen and frowned. "My friend's got us tickets to a concert tonight. Want to come?"
Ava's heart was racing. A concert? In Budapest? With Max?
"Um, yeah!" she said, trying to sound casual. "That sounds awesome."
Max grinned, relief written all over his face. "Awesome! I'll send you the details."
As they parted ways, Ava felt like she was walking on air. This trip was turning out to be the best adventure ever.