The morning sunlight streamed through the curtains, casting a warm glow across the unfamiliar room. Roseanne stirred, her eyes fluttering open to the sight of surroundings she didn't recognize. Her heart skipped a beat, confusion and apprehension filling her as she scanned the room. She hadn't seen Zephyr's bedroom before, and the unfamiliarity made her uneasy. How had she gotten here? The last thing she remembered was falling asleep outside his house.
Roseanne moved cautiously, her bare feet stepping gingerly across the polished floor as she attempted to piece together the mystery. Every creak of the wood under her feet heightened her nerves, her mind racing with wild possibilities. Was this a kidnapping? Had someone taken her in the night? As she reached the edge of the bed, the sound of the door opening made her freeze.
Zephyr entered casually, holding a steaming cup of coffee in hand. He raised an eyebrow at her.
"You're up—"
Before he could finish, Roseanne screamed, her voice loud and panicked. Zephyr flinched, his grip on the coffee mug faltering as the ceramic slipped from his hand and shattered against the floor. The rich aroma of spilled coffee filled the air, mingling with the sharp smell of broken glass.
"What's wrong? What happened?" Zephyr stammered, his voice frantic as he tried to make sense of her reaction.
"Where am I?" Roseanne demanded, her voice trembling but still firm.
Zephyr stared at her, his expression a mix of confusion and exasperation. "You're in my house. In my bedroom," he replied, enunciating each word slowly as though that would help her understand.
At his words, Roseanne let out a sigh of relief, her shoulders relaxing slightly. "Woah, I thought I got kidnapped and now I'm gonna die. Ah—"
She took a careless step forward, her bare foot hovering dangerously close to the shards of glass scattered across the floor. Before she could step down, Zephyr moved swiftly, pulling her away from the danger. The momentum sent them both tumbling backward onto the bed, Zephyr landing on top of her.
For a moment, the world seemed to pause. The closeness between them, the intensity of their gazes, the tension in the air—it was impossible to ignore. Roseanne's lips curled into a sly smile as she broke the silence with her trademark boldness. "Do you wanna do it? I mean, we're halfway through it," she said, her tone playful and teasing.
Zephyr blinked, her words snapping him back to reality. His face turned crimson as he scrambled to his feet, distancing himself from her as quickly as possible. "You shameless girl," he muttered, his voice a mix of disbelief and embarrassment. "Where did you learn all this, huh?"
Roseanne propped herself up on her elbows, grinning mischievously. "If you want, I can teach you," she replied with a wink.
Zephyr groaned, running a hand through his hair as he tried to steady himself. "No! And don't even think about stepping on the floor until I clean up this mess," he said firmly, pointing to the shattered glass.
Grumbling under his breath, Zephyr fetched a broom and carefully swept up the pieces, all while Roseanne watched him with an amused expression. "You're quite handy," she commented as he disposed of the glass.
Ignoring her remark, Zephyr gestured toward the table. "Sit," he said curtly. Roseanne obeyed, settling into the chair as he brought over the cake that had been left untouched the night before. The frosting glistened under the sunlight, a stark reminder of the celebration that hadn't happened.
"You should have woken me up," Roseanne said, her tone carrying a hint of reproach.
"Well, we can celebrate today," Zephyr replied, shrugging slightly. "It's all the same."
"No, it's not," Roseanne countered, her voice firm. But she didn't elaborate, instead picking up a fork and slicing into the cake. The sweetness of the first bite seemed to soften her expression, and she offered a piece to Zephyr.
They ate in silence, the awkwardness of the morning gradually dissolving as the cake disappeared between them. When the meal was finished, Zephyr stood and grabbed his keys. "Come on, I'll drop you off at home," he said, his tone neutral but firm.
Roseanne pouted but didn't argue. As he drove her back, she leaned against the car door, gazing out at the passing scenery. It wasn't the celebration she had envisioned, but it was something. And for now, that was enough
Because a drop births an ocean.....