My Princess~Malachi Barton

☆Outsider☆

After a chaotic morning of waking everyone up from the blown-up mattresses and tidying up the living room, the cast finally gathered in the mansion's kitchen for a hearty breakfast. Over plates of pancakes and scrambled eggs.The director had fully stocked the cupboards for the cast so ingredients for food was not a problem.

With full bellies and renewed energy, they set out to explore the mansion and claim their own rooms. The day became a treasure hunt of sorts, as they discovered hidden nooks, secret passageways, and spacious rooms with huge closets.

As they settled into their new spaces, the cast realized they needed some serious decorating skills to make their rooms truly their own. So, they piled into a fleet of cars and headed to Target, ready to unleash their inner interior designers.

Aisles upon aisles of colorful decorations, quirky trinkets, and cozy textiles awaited them. The cast dispersed, each member on a mission to find the perfect items to reflect their personality.

**Laura's POV:**

As I turned down another aisle in search of the perfect decorative vase, I caught sight of Malachi and Freya standing together, their heads bent in conversation. My heart skipped a beat as I paused, observing them from a distance.

Freya was gesturing to something on the top shelf, and Malachi nodded, his eyes locked on hers. He stretched up, his arm extending towards the shelf, and Freya stumbled backwards, her hands flailing out to grab onto something.

My eyes widened as Malachi swiftly reacted, his hands grasping for her waist to steady her. Freya's laughter echoed through the aisle, and Malachi's face softened into a gentle smile as he helped her regain her balance.

I felt a pang in my chest, a mix of surprise and...was it jealousy? No, no, I shook my head, pushing the thought away. I was just being paranoid. They were just friends, after all.

Still, I couldn't help but watch as Malachi carefully helped Freya back onto her feet, their faces inches apart. The air seemed to vibrate with an unseen tension, and I felt like an outsider, intruding on a moment that was meant to be private.

I quickly looked away, my heart racing, and continued my search for the vase. But the image of Malachi and Freya lingered in my mind, leaving me with a lingering sense of unease.

I was lost in thought, scanning the shelves for the perfect decorative vase, when I sensed a presence beside me. I turned to see Malachi standing there, a friendly smile on his face.

"Hey, Laur, find anything you like?" he asked, his eyes crinkling at the corners.

But I just shrugged, my mind still preoccupied with the scene I'd witnessed earlier. "Yeah, I'm good," I replied curtly, not even bothering to look at him.

Malachi's smile faltered, and he took a step back, his eyes clouding with concern. "Hey, is everything okay? You seem a little...off."

I shrugged again, feeling a pang of guilt for dismissing him so bluntly. But I couldn't bring myself to open up, not when my mind was still reeling from what I'd seen.

"I'm just tired, that's all," I muttered, turning back to the shelves, hoping he'd take the hint and leave me alone.

Malachi hesitated, his eyes lingering on me with a worried expression. "Okay, well, if you're sure you're okay..."

I nodded, still not looking at him, Just as Malachi was about to turn away, he paused and leaned in close. His lips brushed against my temple in a soft, gentle kiss.

"Hey, Laura?" he whispered, his breath warm against my skin.

I looked up at him, my heart skipping a beat.