herophine - Trouvaille

Chapter 32

Crosby, Liverpool - England, 2026

They can't stop looking at each other. They are trying to be subtle, but they sure are failing. Their eyes meet more than five times per minute, and a timid smile appears more than once.

After the special dinner of Christmas Eve, Sofía suggested finishing Bulgaria's puzzle. So now, one in front of the other across the small coffee table, Hero and Jo continue putting together the pieces that are left. 

Just like old times. 

And even though the unexpected situation they faced with the person who took a picture, it's been twenty-four hours and nothing happened. For that reason, they both are calm and trying to enjoy their first Christmas being three. 

- How did you meet? - Sofía suddenly asks. 

Both adults were so focused on giving each other complicit looks, that they didn't notice that their child was staring at them too. Josephine shrughs and lets Hero answer. 

- We worked together. - It is a fairly concise summary of a story that could fill pages and pages.

Luckily, Sofía doesn't ask any details because she finds another piece and gets her distracted. But, someday she will be able to die of embarrassment when seeing her parents flirting in front of thousand and thousand of people. At the interviews, behind the scenes or in the movies themselves.

Sofía - Bulgaria, 2020

"Who would struggle the most after a breakup?"

- Hum, yeah, who would struggle? - Josephine tries not to look at the camera and think of an answer that she can get away with.

- I reckon, given our previous answer about Dylan and his girlfriend, he might have a tough time getting out of it. - Hero says while trying to act cool, because he definitely doesn't want to imagine how his and Jo's break up would be. Even though they are still not dating. - So, I'll give that one to Dylan. Sorry, mate.

"Who is most likely to give an ex a second chance?"

Hero knows for sure by Jo's face, who almost bit her inferior lip and is all the time trying to avoid looking at the laptop camera, that she is uncomfortable with the questions. For that reason, he answers first.

- Again, we'll give it to you, Dylan. Sorry, brother, but...

- Yeah, let's just throw them all at Dylan. - She grins. - He can have them.

"Who is most likely to fall for a co-worker?"

Damn, with the questions. 

Before every interview, both actors try to mediate about what kind of questions they are going to make them, because they doesn't like the too personal ones. For this one, at first the name of the game "Superlatives" didn't seem to cross the limit they had stablished, however they should have known that Seventeen is a teen magazine.

- Do you wanna throw that to Dylan, too? - Josephine is already tired of the questions, so she jokes and laughs.

- Yeah, I don't know... they've definitely worked together, so hum... yeah, Dylan. - He pauses and for Jo's surprise, Hero continues talking. - The After set has been super professional.  There's no, as far as I know, there's nothing more than professional work that goes on there. -  Josephine is flipping out with his answer. He is talking too much and if he keeps doing it he is going to screw it up. - So yeah, Dylan and Barbara. They can have it again. 

- I mean, I'm happy to throw them all at Dylan, if we don't know the answer. - She decides to add. - And then, he can just sort of absorb them. - She chuckles.

As soon as the interview is done, Hero stands up and walks to her hotel room. Because they are co-stars, their quarantine is less strict and they only had to be isolated for a week. The rest of the crew and cast have to complete the fourteen days, so they have been spending time together after the online promo four After We Collided.

- Too much Dylan? - He asks the second that Jo opens the door.

- Well, if Dylan wasn't dating Barbara, I would say you are in love with him. - She chuckles, making Hero grin and scratch his neck as he always do when he is nervous. - But, it was a better option than being truly honest. I almost freaked out with the "Never Have I Ever" shit. - She says referring to the interview they did minutes ago for Sweet Beat TV.

Crosby, Liverpool - England, 2026

It is  eleven past thirty in the evening, and there are only thirty pieces left of the puzzle. Sofía gave up half an hour ago and let her parents finish the puzzle. She is almost asleep on the couch. 

- Oh gosh, Jo! You can't sleep here. - She wakes up abruptly.

Both adults look at her confused, not understanding what she means. 

- Here, in the living room. You can't sleep here. - She stands up. - If not, Santa Claus will think you are waiting for him and he won't leave the presents.

Hero and Jo glance quickly at each other trying to figure something out, because Sofía is right, and as parents, they don't want to break their daughter's dreams. Josephine is already seeing herself sleeping in the freezing backyard, when Hero speaks. 

- I will sleep with you Sofía, and Jo can stay in my bedroom.

Sofía's ninety centimetres bed doesn't look the appropriate place for Hero to lay his 1.88 centimetres body. But, it comes to his mind more awkward situation, such as sharing the bed with Jo. 

Once the sleeping arrangements are made, they walk upstairs to get ready for bed. Hero crosses with Jo in the small hall, between Sofía's bedroom and the bathroom. Josephine is already wearing her pyjamas and Hero can notice the smell of chlorophyll from her tooth paste, plus the subtle vanilla perfume she naturally releases. He wonders if it is normal noticing all those things or if his senses are hyperactive when she is near. 

- When she falls asleep, I'll go downstairs to sleep on the sofa. - He whispers, so the six year old can't hear them. He then gets closer much closer to talk her in the ear. - Anyway, I have to go to the living room to set all the presents.

Josephine feels chills at his proximity, and she probably has goosebumps under her winter pyjama. 

Hero misinterprets it.

- If you are cold, there are blankets in my closet. - He says, making Jo blush.

- If it's okay to you.. can you let me know? - She whispers back. - I would like to help you setting it.

She has never done the "mommy Claus" role and she is somehow excited. Hero nods at her petition. 

- I will call you in some minutes. - He whispers a few inches from her mouth, before walking into the other bathroom, which is inside the master bedroom.

Everything to keep their daughter's inocence intact. 

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Hey,

here is another chapter! sorry for the delay...

i hope you like it!

ps: the AWF trailer is🔥🔝

Xx