0029|| its you

ARABELLA ARMANI

The morning sun streamed through my bedroom window, warming my face as I stretched lazily beneath the covers. It was my first day to myself since getting back from the Bahamas, and the air felt fresh with possibility. I decided it was time to do something simple, something for me.

After a quick shower, I pulled on my favorite pair of jeans, a loose sweater, and my trusty white sneakers. My hair fell in soft waves down my back, and as I grabbed my tote bag, I smiled at the thought of a slow day exploring the shops downtown.

The streets were alive with the hum of everyday life—street musicians playing soft melodies, people chatting on benches, and storefronts displaying their best goods in the windows. I wandered in and out of boutiques, picking up a few things: a new notebook for sketching, a candle that smelled like the sea, and a vintage scarf that reminded me of the colors of the Bahamas.

By the time I made my way to the little café on the corner, my feet were beginning to ache, and I craved the comfort of a good cappuccino. The café was small and inviting, with mismatched furniture and the faint scent of roasted coffee beans mingling with something sweet, like vanilla.

I ordered my drink and found a seat by the window, pulling out my notebook. The world outside blurred as I started sketching a scene from the beach—the waves crashing against the shore, the palms swaying in the wind.

"Arabella?"

I froze mid-sketch, my pencil hovering above the page. That voice. Soft, uncertain, but unmistakable.

Looking up, I saw him. The boy from the Bahamas. The one I'd barely noticed at first, but whose presence had lingered in the back of my mind like a melody I couldn't forget. He stood a few feet away, holding a cup of coffee, his sandy blond hair slightly tousled and his cheeks tinged pink.

"It is you," he said, his lips curving into a shy smile.

For a moment, I just stared, my heart skipping a beat. "Hi," I managed, setting my pencil down. "It's...you."

He chuckled softly, shifting his weight awkwardly. "Yeah, it's me. Theo. From the Bahamas. I wasn't sure if you'd remember."

I smiled, warmth creeping into my chest. "Of course, I remember. Theo, right? What are you doing here?"

"I live here, actually," he said, his hand brushing the back of his neck. "I just got back a few days ago. I didn't think I'd run into you again, though."

"Small world," I said, gesturing to the seat across from me. "Want to sit?"

He hesitated for only a second before nodding and sliding into the chair. Up close, I noticed the way his blue eyes seemed to hold a quiet depth, like he was always thinking but rarely spoke his thoughts aloud.

We talked for a while, the conversation flowing easier than I expected. Theo told me about how he'd been visiting family in the Bahamas, his passion for photography, and his favorite spots in the city. I told him about my trip, about Sarah and Carter, and even mentioned how I'd started painting again.

"You paint?" he asked, his eyes lighting up.

"Yeah," I said, smiling. "I just got back into it. It's been a while, but it feels good. Like I'm finding a part of myself I'd forgotten."

"That's cool," he said, his voice soft. "I'd love to see your work sometime. If that's not weird."

I felt a blush creep up my neck. "It's not weird," I said quickly, then added, "Maybe."

There was a pause, and I caught him glancing down at the table, his fingers tapping lightly against his coffee cup.

"Can I—uh—can I have your number?" he asked, his voice quieter now, his gaze flicking up to meet mine. "Only if you're okay with it. No pressure."

For a moment, I just stared at him, caught off guard by the unexpected sweetness of his request. Then I smiled, pulling my phone from my bag. "Sure."

His face brightened as I handed him my phone, and he quickly typed in his number before handing it back.

"There," he said, his lips quirking into a small, almost bashful smile. "Now we're officially connected."

I couldn't help but laugh at how adorably nervous he seemed. "Guess we are."

We ended up staying at the café for another hour, talking about everything and nothing. He showed me some of his photos—a mix of landscapes, candid portraits, and small details most people wouldn't notice, like the texture of a weathered door or the way sunlight hit a cobblestone street.

"You've got an eye for beauty," I told him, and the way his ears turned pink made me smile.

Eventually, the café started to clear out, and I realized how much time had passed.

"I should probably get going," I said, standing up and slinging my tote bag over my shoulder.

"Yeah, me too," Theo said, standing as well. He hesitated for a moment before adding, "It was really nice seeing you again, Arabella."

"You too," I said, smiling up at him. "Text me sometime, okay?"

He nodded, his smile shy but genuine. "I will."

As I walked out of the café and onto the bustling street, I felt a lightness in my step that hadn't been there before. Maybe it was the coffee, or the sunshine, or maybe—just maybe—it was Theo.

When I got home, the afternoon light was streaming through the windows of my bedroom, casting soft golden patches across the walls. I placed my tote bag on the floor, still replaying the encounter with Theo at the café. His soft smile, the way he fidgeted when he asked for my number, the easy way we talked—it all felt surreal.

I flopped onto my bed, grabbing my phone. There was only one thing to do: call Sarah and Carter.

The phone barely rang before Sarah picked up.

"Finally!" she said, her voice teasing. "I was starting to think you'd dropped off the face of the earth. How's your solo day out going?"

"Great, actually," I said, trying to keep my tone casual but failing miserably. I could feel the grin spreading across my face.

"Okay, spill," she demanded. "What happened?"

Carter's voice came through in the background, muffled but audible. "Is that Bella? Put her on speaker!"

"You're on speaker," Sarah announced. "Now, talk."

I laughed. "So, I went shopping, stopped at this little café to sketch, and guess who I ran into?"

"Alessio?" Carter deadpanned, his tone dripping with fake dread.

"No!" I said, rolling my eyes, though I couldn't stop smiling. "Theo."

There was a beat of silence before Sarah gasped. "Wait, Theo? The boy from the Bahamas Theo?"

"Yeah," I said, sitting up and hugging a pillow to my chest. "He lives here. Can you believe it?"

"Fate," Sarah said dramatically. "It's fate! Okay, tell us everything. Did he talk to you? Did you talk to him? Details, Bella!"

I launched into the whole story, from the moment he said my name to him nervously asking for my number. By the time I finished, Sarah was practically squealing.

"Oh my gosh," she said. "This is like something out of a rom-com. He's totally into you!"

"Or," Carter interjected, "he's a shy guy who thinks Arabella is cool. But either way, you gave him your number, right?"

"Of course I did," I said, my cheeks warming.

Carter whistled. "Look at you, making moves. So, did he text you yet?"

I glanced at my phone, the screen still blank. "Not yet, but it hasn't been that long."

"Don't worry," Sarah said confidently. "He'll text. And when he does, you'll keep us updated. Right?"

"Right," I said with a laugh. "You two are the first to know, I promise."

We talked for a little while longer before hanging up, and I found myself pacing my room, checking my phone every few minutes.

Then, just as I was starting to doubt, my phone buzzed.

Unknown number

Hey, it's Theo. I hope this isn't too soon to text, but I wanted to say thanks again for letting me sit with you earlier. It was nice seeing you.

I couldn't stop the grin that spread across my face. I quickly typed back.

pretty girl

Not too soon at all! It was nice seeing you too. I had fun.

A few seconds later, his reply came in.

Theo

Me too. I've been thinking about what you said about painting—I'd really like to see some of your work sometime. No pressure, though!

I hesitated for a moment, then decided to be bold.

pretty girl

I'd like that. And maybe you could show me some of your photos? They were incredible.

His response came almost immediately.

Theo

Deal. Maybe we could grab coffee again sometime?

pretty girl I'd like that. Let me know when you're free.

As I set my phone down, a strange but wonderful warmth spread through me. This wasn't some grand, sweeping romance like the ones in the movies—it was something quiet, something real. And for the first time in a long time, I felt like maybe, just maybe, I was ready for it.

I curled up on my bed, hugging my pillow and smiling at the ceiling. Life had a funny way of surprising me, but this? This felt like the kind of surprise I could get used to.