Chapter 15

Zoya's POV

I plopped onto the couch, ensuring that the popcorn in the bowl remained intact. I preferred lying down while watching a movie while Sebastian occupied one of the two chairs. , just as I was about to settle in, Olivia surprised me by sitting beside me and helping herself to a handful of my popcorn.

Confused, I glanced at her, and she responded with one of her cheerful grins. "I thought you said you didn't want any popcorn," I remarked, rolling my eyes.

"I may not want any, but that doesn't mean I won't share yours," she chuckled, explaining her actions.

"So, you're one of those people," I playfully teased.

"One of what people, precisely?" she feigned offense.

"Food thieves," I deadpanned.

"This is hardly theft," she defended herself, snatching the bowl from my hand. "What would you call this, then?" she asked mischievously, helping herself to another handful.

"Grand theft!" I exclaimed, attempting to grab the popcorn back. However, she playfully rested her palm against my forehead, forcing me to futilely wave my hands in the air, trying to reach it.

Suddenly, Sebastian's voice interrupted our comical struggle. "What's going on here?" he inquired, causing both Olivia and me to startle. In her moment of surprise, Olivia removed her hand from my forehead, causing me to fall forward and inadvertently plant my face into her neck.

Her skin felt warm and soft against my face, its intoxicating scent overpowering my senses. Startled by the intensity of the moment, I quickly jolted back into my seat, feeling heat rush to my face, turning it crimson.

"Zoya wants to steal my popcorn," Olivia responded nonchalantly, completely unaffected by the whirlwind of emotions that almost overwhelmed me. I couldn't deny it any longer; it was painfully clear that she only saw me as a friend. She didn't even flinch.

As disappointment washed over me, I'm certain my emotions showed on my face, for Sebastian gave me a sympathetic look before making his way over. He handed me his popcorn, offering comfort in the simplest of gestures.

"There, I'll make myself have another," he said kindly, patting my head.

"Nooo, but I wanted to share!" Olivia protested, pouting playfully, unaware of the turmoil within me.

"Have you ever watched the show 'Friends'?" Sebastian asked Olivia, and she nodded enthusiastically.

"Zoya is just like Joey, she doesn't share food," he chuckled.

"Ah, so you're one of those people," Olivia responded teasingly. I managed to muster a small smile in return, but deep inside, I was still struggling to move on from the disappointment.

"So, what are we watching?" Olivia turned her attention towards the TV.

"Finding Nemo," I said, grabbing the remote. In response, I heard Sebastian groan in frustration.

Olivia burst into laughter, but then quickly realized that I wasn't joking. "Really?" she asked, clearly confused.

"Really," I affirmed.

"Did you invite me over just to watch a Disney movie?" she asked, continuing to be perplexed.

"Pixar, actually," I rolled my eyes, clarifying the distinction.

"I thought it was Disney?" she asked, still confused.

"Produced by Pixar, released by Disney. There is a difference," I defended.

"What difference does it make? It's still a cartoon," Sebastian chimed in, opening a bag of Cheetos.

"It's an animated movie," I corrected, throwing a pillow playfully at him.

"Fine, it's her turn. Let her pick what she wants, but next time it's my turn," she deadpanned.

Next time? Did she just invite herself to future movie nights with us? Just how friend-zoned am I?

Olivia's POV

I felt her body tense up as she fell into my arms, her breath catching against my neck. My cheeks flushed red, surprised by her reaction. I wasn't accustomed to this type of response from others, especially from men. Zoya's response to me was something entirely new, and I couldn't help but feel a twinge of guilt for not hating it. It made me feel conflicted, not wanting her to pull away so quickly, but she jumped away before I could react.

I made a conscious effort to avoid looking her way, hoping she wouldn't notice my flushed cheeks. It was becoming increasingly clear that Zoya's feelings for me extended beyond that of a simple fan's admiration. However, considering how recently we had met, I couldn't determine the depth of her emotions. Perhaps it was just a mere crush, a passing infatuation. After all, Zoya was still young, and these kinds of things happen.

We sat in comfortable silence, completely engrossed in the movie. It seemed like she was seeing it for the first time, but I could tell that wasn't the case when she started reciting a few lines from memory. It amused me, and I couldn't help but chuckle. Surprisingly, this time she wasn't stealing glances at me, which I found slightly intriguing. Curiosity got the better of me, and I subtly looked at her from the corner of my eye, but her gaze remained fixed on the screen.

As the movie progressed, I ended up finishing my popcorn before she did. Setting my bowl aside, I crossed my arms and settled back. After a few minutes, I felt her shifting closer to me, as if silently inviting me to share her remaining popcorn.

Though I was already full, a part of me felt compelled to take some popcorn. Sebastian said she never really shared, but she was willing to share with me. As I reached for the bowl, our hands coincidentally met, causing a sudden surge of electricity to course through my body. Startled, I involuntarily jumped in my seat. I looked at her, confusion etched on my face, fearing that she might have misinterpreted my reaction.

"Did you feel that?" I asked, my tone perplexed, trying to rationalize the inexplicable sensation. Perhaps it was just one of those instances where someone's touch triggers an electric charge due to the movement of electrons.

"Feel what?" she replied, her voice sounding somewhat hurt.

"Nothing, sorry," I quickly brushed it off, unsure of what to say. If she hadn't felt it, there was no point in confessing that I had been jolted.

I couldn't shake off the bewildering encounter from my mind. Maybe it was a sign of something deeper, something beyond my comprehension. The thought of seeking medical advice crossed my mind—I had heard that nerve inflammation could sometimes cause such sensations. I glanced ahead, and for a few more seconds, she continued to stare at me, as if trying to decipher my thoughts before she averted her gaze.

Her hand remained frozen in the popcorn bowl. I observed her hand for a moment before deciding to reach into the bowl once more. This time, as our hands lightly brushed against each other, I heard her let out a deep sigh.

"I can't believe Sebastian fell asleep. That's so insulting," I overheard her whisper.

"It's a cute movie," I whispered back, unsure why we were even whispering.

"It's a masterpiece," she exclaimed, her head snapping at me in horror.

"It's not a masterpiece, but it's a cute and entertaining movie," I chuckled, amused by her unwavering dedication to Disney.

"Well, you're clearly missing the bigger picture of this amazing movie," she declared, turning to face me.

"Oh really? And what's the bigger picture?" I asked, resting my face on my palm, giving her my full attention.

"To teach us humans about important themes like father-son relationships, friendship, fear, trust, courage, memories, love and that fish are friends not food," she replied quickly. "Oh, and there's this theory that Nemo's mother actually ate the eggs out of fear of losing them, causing Marlin to hallucinate from traumatic grief, and Nemo never even existed," she deadpanned, leaving my jaw hanging.

"That's...dark!" I gasped. "Why would someone ruin a children's movie with such a theory?" I shook my head in disapproval.

"It's not just a children's movie. It's a fan theory based on the nature of clownfish," she defended herself.

"Why are there even fan theories for a movie like Finding Nemo? Can't you just enjoy the movie for what it is?" I questioned, smiling. Her eyebrows furrowed as she passionately defended the entire plot.

"And what it is?" she demanded, raising her eyebrows.

"It's a child's mo—" I barely got the words out before a pillow smacked me in the face, causing me to burst into laughter.

"Enough fooling around. Let's just enjoy the movie," I told her, trying to suppress my laughter as she continued to look at me with puffed cheeks.

"Yes, ma'am," she said with a mischievous glint in her eye. She bit down on her lip, suppressing a smile. Feeling my cheek flush with embarrassment, I quickly averted my gaze back to the screen. What was wrong with me?

She redirected her gaze back to the screen, effortlessly reciting the lines as she immersed herself in the movie. The way she lovingly embodied every character made it impossible not to be charmed by her, until I heard her say, "I shall name him Squishy, and he shall be mine," in a cute voice, impersonating Dory and her way of cuddling a jellyfish

Unable to contain my amusement, I let out a hearty laugh. Her cuteness had a magnetic effect on me, and I couldn't help but be drawn to her infectious joy.

"I think I've just found the perfect nickname for you," I managed to say in between giggles. She met my gaze with a warm smile that reached her eyes, making my heart skip a beat.

"And what might that be?" she playfully rolled her eyes, clearly enjoying our light-hearted banter.

"Squishy," I replied, my grin widening.

Her smile bloomed even further before her eyes flickered from my gaze to my lips. My pulse quickened, feeling an electric charge in the air. It was as if time stood still in that moment.

"And I shall be yours?" she whispered, her voice barely audible, yet it struck a chord deep within me.

Caught off guard, I held my breath. The vulnerability and desire in her eyes was overwhelming me.

"This is the second time today you've managed to flirt with me," I whispered back, my voice betraying me with a subtle tremor.

She let out a soft chuckle, a playful glint in her eyes. "What can I say? Sometimes, I can't help but let my bold side take over," she replied, her gaze momentarily returning to the screen. "Or maybe I'm just a little foolish," she added, her voice laced with a hint of self-doubt.

Pretending not to hear the latter remark, I shifted my gaze back to the screen. This was all too much, happening too fast. It felt like I was outside of my own body, watching everything unfold. She was behaving differently today, and I didn't mind it. It stirred emotions in me that I couldn't quite comprehend, even compared to my past experiences with Elijah. I felt nervous and my body reacted in strange ways—perhaps because she was a woman.

Ever since I met her she seemed unable to keep her thoughts to herself, and now those thoughts were stirring something inside me. Something I wasn't quite ready to explore, yet I couldn't deny that I didn't want her to stop.

***

Cast in scene : Olivia Lopez as Amelia Nilson

Zoya Eldeeb as Aurora

Place : Juliane's café

Scene description: The café buzzes with the sound of conversations and clinking dishes. A sense of anticipation fills the air as Aurora sits at a table near the window. Her fingers tap anxiously on the smooth wooden surface. She gazes out onto the street, checking her phone occasionally.

As the café door swings open, Amelia enters, balancing Lana on her hip. Amelia exchanges a brief conversation with the Juliane, who nods and points towards Aurora's table. Aurora's eyes widen in surprise as she quickly sits up, her curiosity piqued.

Amelia walks towards Aurora, her warm smile illuminating her face. Aurora's heartbeat quickens, her nerves mixing with a glimmer of hope.

1,2,3 and... Action!

[Amelia]

(apologetic)

Hey, I'm Amelia. Sorry to keep you waiting. Thanks for agreeing to meet me here.

Amelia settles Lana onto her lap and extends her hand to shake Aurora's.

[Aurora]

(nervously)

No problem at all, Amelia. Nice to officially meet you. This café is quite the unexpected location for an interview, isn't it?

Aurora maintains a cautious demeanor.

[Amelia]

(sincere)

I understand your hesitations, Aurora. Meeting here might not be the most conventional, but it seemed like a neutral place to get to know each other without feeling too formal. I hope that's okay with you.

Amelia's genuine explanation begins to soften Aurora's scepticism.

[Aurora]

(relieved)

I must admit, I was a bit taken aback by the entire situation, but I appreciate you taking the time to meet me. I know it's vital for you to be comfortable in finding the right match for Lana's care.

Aurora's guarded expression gradually softens as she gives Lana a loving smile.

[Amelia]

(grateful)

Thank you for understanding, Aurora. I want you to know that I'm seeking someone who will genuinely connect with Lana, prioritize her well-being, and help her thrive. It's not a decision I take lightly.

Aurora nods, acknowledging Amelia's commitment as her initial reservations fade away.

[Aurora]

(reassured)

I completely understand, Amelia. I, too, take this responsibility seriously. It's not just about being a babysitter; it's about being a positive influence in a child's life. I want to create a nurturing and loving environment for Lana.

Amelia begins to feel a glimmer of hope, realizing that Aurora's values align with her own.

[Amelia]

(encouraged)

That's exactly what I'm looking for, Aurora. A caregiver who will not only provide a secure environment but also encourage Lana's curiosity and create meaningful experiences for her. I can sense your dedication towards fostering that kind of environment.

[Aurora]

(emphatic)

I promise you that I am committed to being that person for Lana. I will ensure her safety, nurture her growth, and make her happiness my top priority.

Amelia smiles, a mixture of relief and gratitude.

[Amelia]

(sincere)

Thank you, Aurora. Your words deeply resonate with me. Lana deserves someone who truly understands the profound impact they can have on her life.

FADE OUT.