Golden Stars / Scarlett Johansson

Chapter 13: Grumpy

Y/N walked through the park, her headphones in, listening to the soft rhythm of the music as it drowned out the world around her. It was a Monday afternoon, and after finishing her classes at the university about an hour ago, she decided to take a walk to clear her head. The park had always been her sanctuary—a place where she could think and recharge. Calie had been pestering her all day, asking to meet Chris, her celebrity crush since high school. Y/N had brushed her off, as usual. She had no intention of introducing her to Chris, despite how much Calie begged.

As she neared her favorite tree, a slight frown formed on her face. There were people sitting there. She had never seen anyone sit under that tree—it was her spot, where she could relax in peace. Ready to walk past them, she was caught off guard when one of the silhouettes waved at her. She slowed down, blinking as the figure stood up. Recognition hit her when the person started walking toward her.

It was Chris.

Y/N's eyes widened slightly as Chris approached, a warm smile on his face. He pulled her into a hug before she could say anything, her body tensing up at the sudden contact. Chris seemed to notice her hesitation, giving her space as he stepped back, still smiling.

"Hey, Y/N!" he greeted her cheerfully. "Glad to see you here."

"Hey, Chris," Y/N replied, her voice soft, still recovering from the surprise. As she glanced past him, she froze. Scarlett Johansson sat under the tree, her eyes locked on Y/N, watching her with an intensity that made Y/N shift uncomfortably. Rose was playing beside her, babbling softly to herself.

"Oh," Y/N muttered, slightly flustered. "I didn't realize you were with... everyone."

Chris chuckled, completely oblivious to her discomfort. "Yeah, we're just hanging out. Why don't you join us?"

Y/N hesitated, glancing between Chris and Scarlett. Scarlett's gaze was still firmly fixed on her, making Y/N feel even more self-conscious. She shifted from foot to foot, unsure of whether she should stay. She wanted to escape, but something about the way Chris was looking at her made her pause.

"You can ignore Scarlett," Chris teased with a grin, throwing a quick glance at the actress. "She's always grumpy."

Scarlett rolled her eyes but didn't say anything, though the tension between them lingered. Y/N sighed softly, giving in. "Alright, I guess I'll join you."

She moved closer to where Rose was sitting, and the little girl immediately crawled over to her, her tiny arms reaching up for Y/N. A small smile tugged at Y/N's lips as she leaned down, gently picking Rose up. The little girl settled in her lap, playing with Y/N's necklace as she babbled excitedly. 

"Hey there , Rose," Y/N cooed, her voice soft and warm as she smiled at the child. "What are you up to, huh? Were you exploring?"

Rose giggled in response, her tiny hands tugging at Y/N's necklace with fascination. Y/N chuckled, adjusting the necklace so Rose wouldn't break it. She rocked the child gently, speaking to her as if they were having a full conversation.

"Yeah, you're right," Y/N said, feigning seriousness as Rose babbled nonsensically. "The squirrels are getting awfully bold around here. I saw one steal someone's sandwich earlier."

Rose giggled again, her eyes lighting up, and Y/N smiled at her, the warmth in her chest growing as she bonded with the little girl. 

Scarlett, however, stared at them in surprise. Rose wasn't usually this friendly with strangers. In fact, Rose often shied away from new people. Yet, here she was, sitting comfortably in Y/N's lap, laughing and playing as if they were old friends. Scarlett's eyes narrowed slightly, clearly trying to figure out what it was about Y/N that had Rose so enchanted.

"So," Chris said, breaking the silence as he sat back down. "What have you been up to, Y/N?"

"Just finished classes for the day," Y/N replied, stroking Rose's hair absentmindedly as she kept the child entertained. "I thought I'd come to the park for some fresh air. Didn't expect to run into anyone I knew."

Chris chuckled, leaning back on his elbows. "Yeah, we were just hanging out. Figured we'd get Rose out for a bit."

Scarlett, who had been silent up until now, raised an eyebrow. "And yet you're here with no leash for that dog of yours," she commented, her tone sharp.

Y/N blinked, momentarily confused, before realizing Scarlett was referring to Cerberus. She looked around, spotting the large dog a little ways off, happily chasing squirrels around the park. A small smile tugged at Y/N's lips.

"He's fine," Y/N replied, keeping her voice calm. "He doesn't bother anyone."

Scarlett hummed in response, clearly not convinced. She leaned back against the tree, her eyes flicking between Y/N and Chris with barely concealed irritation. 

"So, you're just going to sit here all day instead of working?" Scarlett asked, her tone biting as she glanced at Y/N. "Don't you have things to do?"

Y/N tensed, her fingers tightening slightly around Rose, but she forced herself to stay calm. "It's my day off," she replied simply.

Chris shot Scarlett a warning look. "Scarlett, come on," he muttered. "She's just hanging out with us."

Y/N felt the tension in the air but tried to ignore it, turning her attention back to Rose, who had become fascinated with the buttons on Y/N's shirt. She let the little girl play, trying to block out Scarlett's presence as best she could.

They stayed like that for a while, chatting idly about small things. Chris kept the conversation light, joking about Cerberus's antics as the dog continued to chase squirrels and pigeons around the park. Y/N laughed, genuinely enjoying the time with Chris and Rose, even though Scarlett's sharp gaze was ever-present, always hovering at the edge of her awareness.

Occasionally, Scarlett would make a snide comment, her words cutting in a way that made Y/N wonder if the woman disliked her for some unknown reason. She couldn't figure it out. But Y/N was used to this kind of passive aggression—Scarlett wasn't the first person to treat her this way, and she doubted she would be the last. So, she let it roll off her, staying focused on Rose and Chris.

After a while, the sun began to dip lower in the sky, casting a warm orange glow over the park. Chris stretched and glanced at his watch.

"Guess we should get going," he said, standing up and dusting off his pants. "Got some stuff to take care of at home."

Y/N nodded, standing up carefully as she handed Rose back to Scarlett, who took the child without a word. They exchanged awkward goodbyes, with Chris giving Y/N a friendly wave as he headed in the opposite direction toward his car.

Y/N found herself walking the same way as Scarlett and Rose, the air between them thick with unspoken tension. Scarlett carried Rose in her arms, her expression unreadable as they walked in silence. Y/N kept her hands in her pockets, her head down, not knowing what to say.

The only sound between them was the soft cooing of Rose and the crunch of leaves beneath their feet as they made their way through the park. It was an awkward, heavy silence, one that neither of them seemed willing to break.