Tinkering Hearts

Chapter Twenty-Three

Zaelia

"CHURROS!" 

I point toward a small stall. Sicre and I walk there to check them out. They're selling the long ones, and an excited grin breaks from me. 

"I've never tried churros." 

"Really? Then I bet you'll love it." Sicres nods, bending down to browse the toppings.

We bought quite a lot of cash on us. Probably sixty percent of my savings I earned from selling paintings and working at the library. Sicre orders for the both of us.

"Hey, this is good!" I say, dipping mine in melted chocolate and then in sprinkles. 

"Mhm. You'll destroy your teeth with that much sugar, Sleeping Beauty."

"Aurora," I correct him with a muffled voice.

"What?" He stares at me.

"Princess Aurora, you doofus. That's her name—Sleeping Beauty's."

We sit on an empty bench near the entrance of the food court. I make a mental note of looking out for Les.

"Nah, Sleeping Beauty suits wayy better." He munches satisfyingly on his plain churros.

I snort. "Whatever... And no. I won't get diabetes or cavities if you're wondering. I set a record a few weeks back by finishing two Nutella jars in a week." 

Why the hell did I say that? God, this is gonna be embarrassing.
Dumb, Zee.

Sicre pauses midway through his bite and glances at me with disbelief. "Damn—I, uhm, I'm surprised they haven't fallen out yet."

"Huh?"

"Your teeth— ow!" 

"At least I'm not a bore ass like you. Who even eats churros plain?" 

"Me. Duh." 

I roll my eyes and something stirs in me. I notice him staring ahead into the crowd, chewing, and I take my chance to bite into his churro.

"HEY!—"

I jump up from the bench and break into a run, laughing and holding my churro safely between my arms. 

"Prince Charming never backs down!" I hear him call out and a smile curls up my mouth. I turn around the tables and jump over anything that came my way. Fortunately, it isn't crowded much anymore. Unfortunately, that makes it even easier for Sicre to get a hold of me. I turn around and see him right on my heel. I laugh and turn around a corner.

Shit. Dead end.

Assuming it'll take a few more seconds for him to turn the corner, I turn around to hit the main path again. But a hand snakes around my waist within milliseconds, and I'm pinned against the wall. I thrash around in Sicre's arms, laughing and screaming to let go. I turn around leaning with my back against the wall and him in front of me, both his arms resting on the wall on either side of me, caging me in. We breathe heavily, tired from the run, and with stupid, wide, unbelievable smiles stretched across our faces.

"Don't tell me that was payback for that day after the party. We keep running away from each other, don't we?"

A laugh breaks out of me and I finally meet his eyes. He had a straight face on. 

"O-oh," I utter, hesitant.

His eyes fall for a brief moment to my mouth. He lets out a shaky breath, smiling and looking down. My gaze follows his every move, not able to keep my eyes off of him. Before I can process it, Sicre had taken a bite off my churro. He looks at me again, grinning.

"Seriously?! Damn you!" I scoff.

I avoid his eyes, trying hard not to fall into the abyss of his gorgeous dark eyes. He can't keep doing this to me. This isn't fair. His gaze isn't fair. He does things to me. Why can't he just stop his charms when I'm around?

He holds my chin and tilts my head, forcing me to look at him. "I'm sorry if you're offended. I—... I'll buy you another one?"

I look at his clueless face and a bubble forms in my stomach. Before I do something stupid I surprise him by sliding my hand behind his neck and pulling his ear to my mouth.

"I'm not Cinderella," I whisper and smirk. "Prince Philip kisses the Sleeping Beauty awake, not Prince Charming, mind you. You need to stop being so charming." I leave a hint of a peck on his cheek and escape from under his arm. "And I'll get diabetes if I have another churro!" I laugh as I hit the path again remembering his face. 

Gosh, he looked so flustered. And cute. I shake my head at what I just did but shrug it off. He must be taking it as a friendly gesture anyway. 

I walk back to the food court and spot the rainbow and brown locks.

"YO!" I wave both of my hands in the air trying to grab Lesley's attention. She looks up at me from her sandwich and walks over.

"Soooo, what did y'all doooo?" She asks eyeing me.

"I don't kiss and tell."

"Oh my Goddd," she groans. "Zee, you've gotten so cocky, I swear! I just want some details and tea!"

"Let's just goooo," I push her from behind.

"I need TEAAA—"

"Fine! At home. Now move your butt. Sicre's probably waiting for us, you goof."

"Oh yeah, he needed to pack for Seoul, yeah?"

My stomach drops immediately. That slipped my mind. He's leaving for vacation tomorrow morning. I can't believe he even found time to make plans for us. So, this means I won't see him until vacation. Not in two months. It also means we've to say goodbye today. 

It's only two months. But dread is filling me. I groan and pull Les back to the parking lot where Sicre was waiting for us. 

He holds both our doors open. Before I get in, he leans toward me and whispers low so only I could hear, "I can be both if I want to, Sleeping Beauty. I hope you catch yourself though." 

My eyes widen and a smug smile plays on my lips. The rest of the drive home is very normal with normal conversations. We talk about how we'll spend our summers. We talk about Les' friends from her school. Les tries to turn the convo about Sicre and me, but I glare through the rear mirror and luckily she shuts up, with a lip-zipping gesture. 

Everything passes by in a blur. Sicre drops us home. We say our goodbyes and wish him a safe journey. I hug him tight and we exchange the I'll miss yous and Make sure to calls. He reminds me it's only for two months. I laugh through the stupidity and finally let go. Les nudges me, looking down at me knowingly and I walk past her into the house. 

We have pizza for dinner. All together, once again with dad and Les, after a long time, we sit around the dining table and enjoy a warm and homely meal. 

Zeke and the guys must've already bid their farewells as he didn't come out to see him off. Les and I talk the night away and fall asleep at around midnight. My mind wanders to Sicre and his warm eyes as they looked down at me. I hope the right prince wakes the princess inside me.