You.

Chapter 25 - Back Home Again

Rose wakes up early in the morning and realizes everything wasn't a dream. It had all actually happened. She was still alone in her room and hated the thought that Veronica and Lonokai were still sharing a room. Could something be going on between them? What if he likes her? This girl seriously needs to go. Ugh!... I need to eat something...

She gets out of bed and staggers to the kitchen. She immediately perks up when she sees Veronica making breakfast. A big amount too.... She turns her head, "Oh, hey! Good morning." She says with a malicious smile.

"....Morning." Rose peers at the food and questions, "Are you making some for everyone?"

"Oh, actually... no, sorry! Just for Lono and I!" She giggles and turns around to grab some salt and pepper.

Rose almost death stares her. Lono? When did she start saying Lono? "Oh, that's too bad."

"To make you feel better, I'll leave the ingredients out for you!"

Great. That really helps. I even get to clean your mess for you! "Okay." You know darn well what you're doing, Veronica.

~~

After Rose makes herself breakfast, she cleans the mess and starts to hear giggles and laughter. She pauses cleaning and goes to where the noise is emanating from. The noise grows louder and she hears Veronica's and Lonokai's voices.

"Ahahahahaha. Lonokai, don't be so rough." Veronica bursts.

Rose gasps and immediately cups her mouth and puts her ear to the door to listen more, when she hears footsteps and sees her sister walking towards her. She whispers, "What's all the noise? Madrid and I can hear it from all the way over there." She yawns.

Rose narrows her eyes, "They are in there. Laughing with each other, and doing what seems like something else too. Ha!" Rose furrowed her brows.

Zoya lifts hers, "Okay. Let's get you away from this door..." She pulls Rose and puts her back in her room.

The next morning, Veronica makes a pouty face and asks Lonokai if her and Madrid can stay with them. Lonokai agrees and so does Zach. For Zach, it took a bit of convincing. Then, they left for the boy's mansion in Toronto, while Zane went to his residence. After they arrived, the girl's went to their room and Veronica and Madrid were given their own room. Neither Zoya nor Rose liked having Veronica here. Madrid was way better.

"Hey sis?" Zoya says while unpacking.

"Yeah?"

Zoya walks all the way to close their door so no one could hear them. "Has Zach seemed a bit... off to you recently?"

Rose makes a puzzled face, "Well, I'm not the one in love with him so I don't pay too much attention to him." She chuckles. "Why? Is he off to you?"

"I-I don't know. He just seems to be paying less attention to me lately. You would think that he'd be more ecstatic since you guys found me, but he's been giving his attention elsewhere."

"Oh?"

"It's kind of making me lean on Madrid. He just seems to understand me right now. He's also a great listener." She starts twirling her hair with her finger.

Rose lifts and eyebrow, "Something going on between you two?"

Zoya comes out of her daze, "Huh? N-no." She glances to Rose. "Maybe? I know, I know. I like Zach, but Madrid is also really good. I just..."

"One question,"

"What is it?"

"Do you have feelings for him?"

Zoya's eyes widen, "I guess, now that you say that, I might.." She sighs, "But I might also just be confused right now.."

"What if you asked him to have a movie night with you in the theater room?"

"Really? Like, tonight?"

"Sure, why not?" Rose finishes unpacking. "Go for it."

After dinner, Zoya pulls Madrid aside.

"Hey can I ask you something?" Zoya whispers nervously.

"Of course. What?"

"Would you... want to watch a movie with me in the theater room in a little bit?"

"THEY HAVE A THEATER ROO-"

Zoya quickly puts her hand on his mouth to make him quiet, "Shh! I don't need everyone else to know about this. And yes, there's a theater room in this mansion." She looks up at him and slowly retreats her hand.

"Sorry I was loud. I'd love to watch a movie with you. What movie?" He smiles like a little boy.

"That, we will figure out when we get there. I'm going to go get into my pj's okay?"

"Okay, I'll do the same then. I'll go to your room when I'm done."

Ah! "Okay." Zoya rushes away all flustered.

Madrid~ I usually sleep without a shirt on, but.. I can't show up shirtless so..guess I have to put one on.

Zoya gets her usual silk light pink nightgown on and brushes her teeth. She looks at herself in the mirror and then glances at her perfume. After a short pause, she picks the bottle up and sprays herself once. Just a little bit is enough...

Knock knock

"Zoya? Are you ready?"

Rose, sitting on her bed reading a book, smirks as Zoya comes out of her bathroom. "Have fuuuun, kekeke."

Zoya sticks out her tongue. "Yeah! Just give me one second," Then, she opens the door.

"Hey," Madrid smiles coyly.

"Hi, um, let's go." She shuts the door behind her.

Zoya leads him to the theater room.

"Woahh, this place is already huge, and it even has a theater room..."

Zoya chuckles.

"What? This place is awesome!" He places his hands on his hips and lifts an eyebrow.

"What's funny is that I said the same exact thing at the time. But, you said it cuter!"

"Oh hahaha. Cuter?"

Zoya pauses, "Yeahhh okay let's pick a movie now!"

They choose their seats and Madrid searches through movies while Zoya makes popcorn with a popcorn machine just to the right of the big screen in a corner. She observes the movies as they scroll by, "Oooh! Oooh! Pick that one! It looks interesting."

Madrid clicks on it and Zoya comes over with the popcorn. "*sigh* Movie popcorn is my weakness, haha," Zoya starts shoving her face with buttered popcorn.

Madrid turns his head slightly to look at her looking at the screen. Am... I your weakness? He lets out a big sigh without realizing it.

Zoya looks at him with popcorn-stuffed cheeks, "Are you okay?"

"Oh yeah, I'm fine."

The movie starts and as the minutes go by, tension is built, Zoya's hand is resting on the armchair and Madrid places his hand unknowingly right next to hers. Their hands touch ever so slightly and none took their eyes off the screen, they just went with it.

After some time watching the movie, Madrid starts thinking about Zane and his awful plans he has for the girls. He doesn't want to hold back anymore and wants to protect both of the girls, especially Zoya.

Madrid turns, "Hey Zoya, I need to tell you some-"

Zoya was fast asleep in her chair next to Madrid. He smiles and subtly takes her hand and intertwines it with his. Then, he falls asleep too. Even while the movie plays.