In the pre-dawn hours, the world remained shrouded in a tranquil darkness, a stark contrast to the turmoil churning within Altair. The memory of that kiss with Theresa lingered, a ghostly echo that haunted his thoughts. It was more than just a fleeting touch of lips; it was imbued with layers of emotions, each replay in his mind uncovering new depths. Could it have been a mere impulsive act, or did Theresa harbor deeper feelings? The mere thought of calling Theresa his girlfriend sent his heart into a frenetic dance. Yet, as dawn's first light began to pierce the night, reality beckoned, pulling him from his reverie. His phone, a relentless reminder of the day ahead, buzzed with a flurry of messages.
The soothing aroma of freshly brewed coffee welcomed Altair's senses as he descended the stairs. His inner turmoil temporarily subsided when he saw Cassy engrossed in her morning routine by the kitchen sink, with the steam from the toaster and coffee maker casting a warm, inviting glow.
"Morning," Cassy greeted, her voice casual yet warm, not bothering to turn around.
"Morning!" Altair responded with a playful smirk on his lips. "Your coffee's aroma is as captivating as your morning glow."
A chuckle escaped Cassy. "Such flattery earns you a cup of coffee and toast."
Altair, playing along, bowed theatrically. "I graciously accept this generous offer."
Their laughter, light and unburdened, momentarily lifted the heaviness from Altair's heart.
"Seen Theresa today?" Altair inquired, a hint of curiosity in his tone.
Cassy paused, contemplating. "Now that you mention it, she left quite early today. She's usually out the door around 8 or 8:30. Maybe something urgent came up."
A whirlwind of thoughts swirled in Altair's mind. 'The real urgency is the plethora of unanswered questions she's left me with and her apparent evasion,' he thought.
Cassy's gaze held a touch of concern. "You look worn out. Rough night?"
"Just... had a long gaming session," he replied, masking the true turmoil that plagued him—the intricate game of deciphering Theresa's intentions.
As he noticed the enticing aroma of coffee mingling with the tangy scent of sour cream, Altair saw Cassy setting up a cup and toasting before him.
"Quite the unique combination," he remarked, his eyebrow raised in amusement.
Cassy responded with a playful, exaggerated haughtiness. "Naturally, my culinary choices are unparalleled."
Altair laughed, appreciating her theatrical tone. Just then, Priscilla's voice echoed from the hallway, teasing, "Look at the lovebirds, up early and already flirting."
Grinning, Altair greeted her and said, "Morning, Pris."
She waved playfully, her tone light. "Morning, Altair," she said before disappearing back to her room.
Cassy, cradling her coffee mug, glanced over with a curious twinkle in her eye.
"Do you have any plans for tomorrow night?" she inquired, taking another sip.
Altar paused, menta
Her face lit up with excitement. "There's going to be a meteor shower. How about we watch it together? The school is setting up telescopes for the event."
The prospect brightened Altair's expression. "I'd love to join you for the meteor shower," he replied with genuine interest.
Cassy's smile grew wider. "Great! I'm really looking forward to it."
[Theresa's Office]
The scene shifts to the cluttered pantry within Theresa's office building. The aftermath of the previous night weighed heavily on her, with dark circles evident beneath her eyes. Her hands trembled slightly as she opened an instant coffee packet, hoping the caffeine would snap her out of her daze.
Abruptly, a playful shout pierced the air, startling Theresa and causing her to splash a bit of water.
"Gotcha!" Mildred laughed, but her amusement quickly faded as she took in Theresa's haggard appearance.
"Girl, you look like you've been through the wringer. What's going on?" Mildred inquired, leaning in with a knowing smirk.
"Did something happen between you and Altair?"
Theresa's reaction was a dead giveaway; her startled demeanor was unable to mask the truth.
"Nothing happened. You're just seeing things," she deflected.
But Mildred wasn't fooled. "Aha! I knew it! Your face says everything. Now, spill the beans!"
Relenting, Theresa exhaled deeply. "Alright, let's talk in my office. Make sure to lock the door."
They made their way to Theresa's office. Once inside, Mildred secured the door and lowered the blinds, ensuring complete privacy.
"Is this a code blue situation?" Mildred asked, half-jokingly.
Theresa, visibly flustered, settled into her chair, her bag landing on the table.
Mildred teased, holding her fingers apart suggestively. "This serious?"
Groaning, Theresa hid her face in her hands. "Please, no jokes like that. Nothing like that happened."
Mildred chuckled at her friend's discomfort. "Alright, alright, enough teasing. Tell me everything."
Hesitantly, Theresa began, "Last night, something happened with Altair."
Mildred's curiosity was piqued. "What kind of 'something'?"
Theresa whispered, "I... I kissed Altair."
Mildred rolled her eyes playfully. "Come on, give me more details. What kind of kiss?"
With a blush, Theresa admitted, "A passionate one."
Theresa's unusual behavior caused Mildred's eyes to widen in surprise. "You? Passionate? That's unexpected."
Theresa continued, "We were talking, and suddenly, I asked him what he would do if I were his girlfriend."
"And what did he say?" Mildred prodded eagerly.
"He said he'd take me to the prom, since he never went to one," Theresa revealed.
Mildred buried her face in her hands, both amused and incredulous. "A prom? Really? That's his big dream?"
Defensively, Theresa replied, "He mentioned he was busy hustling back then, so I thought the idea of a dance was sweet."
Mildred smirked. "And what if he wanted something more intimate?"
Theresa's cheeks flushed a deeper shade. "I might have considered giving him more."
Mildred,
Eager to divert the conversation, Theresa quickly continued, "But the dance... it was something else. I can't even describe it."
Suppressing a grin, Mildred asked, "So what happened after this magical dance?"
Theresa hesitated before starting to reveal more.