Golden Stars / Scarlett Johansson

Chapter 23: First Impressions

The taxi came to a smooth stop in front of an upscale, private housing estate. As Y/N stepped out, her gaze settled on the large, pristine house before them, but her expression remained neutral—unfazed by the grandeur. She adjusted the strap of her bag on her shoulder, taking in the well-kept front garden and elegant architecture with only a passing glance. 

Calie, however, was on the verge of losing it. Her eyes widened, and it looked as though she might drop to the ground, squealing and rolling around in a mix of excitement and disbelief. "Holy shit, Y/N, look at this place!" she whispered in awe, gripping Y/N's arm.

Cebrus, standing patiently by their side, was far less impressed than Calie. The dog simply sniffed arond, his body tense with anticipation to be let off the leash and explore.

Calie let out a dramatic sigh, still gazing at the house. "This is exactly why I'm studying medicine—to afford a place like this one day. Just imagine the pool parties..."

Y/N raised an eyebrow, shaking her head with a small sigh. "Calie, that's not why you're studying medicine. And stop joking around like that."

Calie giggled, though she quickly straightened up when Y/N scolded her. They both made their way to the front door, Y/N leading the way, her usual calm demeanor a contrast to Calie's jittery energy.

When the door swung open, revealing Chris standing there in a simple, casual outfit, Calie immediately switched tones. Her voice dropped an octave as she greeted him with a slightly flirtatious, "Hey, Chris. Thanks for inviting us."

Y/N glanced over at her friend, one eyebrow raised in quiet disbelief. 'Really, Calie?' she thought. But what surprised her even more was the fact that Chris also raised an eyebrow at Calie, a similar hint of amusement flickering in his expression. He chuckled softly and nodded at the.

Y/N shook her head, pretending not to notice the odd dynamic developing between her friend and Chris. She offered him a polite smile instead. "Thanks for having us over."

"Of course, glad you both could make it," Chris replied, his tone friendly as always. "Come on in. We're out in the garden."

Chris stepped aside, holding the door open as the girls walked inside. As they passed him, Calie couldn't help but glance around, her jaw dropping slightly at the high ceilings, modern décor, and overall sophistication of the place.

"Oh my god, Chris, this place is incredible," Calie gushed, her eyes wandering from the elegant light fixtures to the polished wood floors. "And you have such great taste too."

Y/N inwardly rolled her eyes, keeping her attention on the details of the house. It was beautiful, but she wasn't one to gush like her friend. Still, she appreciated the clean, minimalist design as she walked with them.

"Thanks," Chris replied with a warm smile. "Glad you like it."

The three of them made their way through the spacious house, heading out to the terrace that opened up to a gorgeous backyard. As they stepped outside, they saw Scarlett sitting on the terrace floor, unpacking toys from a bag for Rose. She looked up and smiled when she saw them, clearly having just arrived herself.

"Hey! You made it," Scarlett greeted them with her signature smile. She pushed a strand of hair behind her ear, her eyes warm as she stood to greet them.

"Hey, Scarlett," Y/N greeted back with a friendly smile, setting her bag down in the corner near the table as Chris had instructed. Calie did the same, though she kept stealing glances at Scarlett, clearly awed by her presence. 

As Y/N turned back, she heard a small, soft sound at her feet—a quiet moan of effort. Looking down, she saw little Rose slowly crawling toward her, her tiny hands and knees moving across the floor in determination.

Y/N's face lit up instantly, and she crouched down to pick Rose up, cradling the little girl in her arms. "Hey there, princess," she greeted warmly, her voice soft and playful. Rose giggled, her small hands resting on Y/N's shoulder, looking completely comfortable in her arms.

Scarlett smiled at the scene, her heart swelling at how naturally Y/N had taken to Rose. The sight of Y/N holding her daughter, calling her "princess" with such tenderness, made her feel a sense of comfort she hadn't expected. It didn't go unnoticed by Calie, who watched Scarlett closely, intrigued by the subtle fondness in her expression.

"Rose seems to really like you," Scarlett commented, her tone light but filled with genuine admiration.

Y/N grinned, her focus still on Rose, who was now playing with a lock of her hair. "She's a sweetheart. Cebrus loves her too."

As if on cue, Cebrus padded over, sniffing at Rose's feet, his tail wagging lazily. Rose giggled, reaching out to pat his head, while Cebrus licked her tiny fingers in return.

Calie, eager to engage in conversation, stepped forward and smiled at Scarlett. "So, Scarlett, how's everything been going with Rose? I know Y/N and I see each other all the time, but you must have your hands full with work and motherhood."

Scarlett chuckled softly, glancing at Rose before turning back to Calie. "Yeah, it's a balancing act for sure. But honestly, spending time with Rose makes it all worth it. She keeps me grounded."

Y/N, now sitting on the blanket with Rose and Cebrus, smiled softly as she watched the little girl play. She loved seeing how much joy Rose brought to everyone around her, including herself.

Suddenly, Y/N's attention shifted to the bright sun beaming down on them. Concern flickered in her mind, and she quickly turned to Scarlett, her voice filled with urgency. "Scarlett, do you have sunscreen for Rose? The sun's pretty strong, and I wouldn't want her to get burned."

Scarlett's eyes widened slightly as she let out a small sigh, realizing she'd forgotten. "Oh, I completely forgot. Thank you for reminding me."

She reached into her bag and pulled out a bottle of sunscreen, about to take Rose from Y/N's arms to apply it herself. But before she could, Y/N gently took the bottle from her hand with a reassuring smile.

"I got it," Y/N said softly. She began carefully applying the sunscreen to Rose's exposed skin, making sure not to miss a spot. Rose squirmed a little but giggled as Y/N made funny faces to keep her entertained during the process.

Scarlett watched them, her heart warming at the sight. It wasn't often that someone showed such thoughtfulness and care for her daughter, and it meant more to her than she could express. "You're really good with her," Scarlett said quietly, her voice filled with genuine appreciation.

Y/N smiled up at her after finishing with the sunscreen. "She's easy to love."

The group fell into a comfortable rhythm—Calie chatting with Scarlett about her studies while Y/N focused on keeping Rose and Cebrus entertained. Every now and then, Scarlett would glance at Y/N with a soft smile, clearly touched by how much Y/N cared for her little girl.

After some time, Y/N settled back onto the blanket, playing a little game with Rose and Cebrus as the sun continued to shine. Little did she know that this simple afternoon would be one of many moments that brought her closer to the people around her—people who were beginning to feel less like celebrities and more like friends.