Golden Stars / Scarlett Johansson

Chapter 56: Tension at the Table

The air in Y/N's kitchen was thick with tension as everyone sat around the table in silence. Even Rose, usually so full of life, seemed to have quieted down, her little hands resting on the highchair tray, while Cebrus lay lazily by Y/N's feet. The clink of cutlery on plates was the only sound that broke the stillness. Y/N could feel their eyes on her—Chris, Scarlett, Calie—waiting for her to say something, anything.

Y/N swallowed another bite of the carbonara Scarlett had made, its creamy texture barely registering on her tongue. She forced a smile, looking over at Scarlett, trying to dispel the awkwardness. "This is really good, Scarlett. You'll have to give me the recipe."

Scarlett raised an eyebrow, replying sarcastically, "Oh, now you want the recipe?"

Calie snorted at Y/N's attempt to lighten the mood. "Yeah, right," Calie muttered, rolling her eyes.

Y/N's forced smile faltered, and she dropped her gaze back to her plate, her fork nudging the pasta in front of her. She could still feel their eyes on her, so she focused on Rose, who was staring at her with wide, curious eyes. 

A soft smile tugged at Y/N's lips, and she leaned toward Rose. "Hey, Rosie. How's the food? Better than mine, huh?" she teased gently.

Rose giggled, her tiny hands reaching out toward Y/N. "Mmm," she mumbled, trying to mimic Y/N's words in her baby babble.

"Oh, I know," Y/N continued, her voice soft and affectionate. "Auntie Y/N isn't the best cook, is she? Maybe one day I'll make something you like."

Rose laughed, her innocent joy easing some of the tension in the room. For a moment, Y/N felt like she could focus on just Rose and Cebrus, ignoring the tension around her. But then, Chris's voice cut through the calm, firm and unyielding.

"Y/N, what's going on?" Chris asked, his tone leaving no room for avoidance. "Why have you been ignoring us for the past few days?"

Y/N stiffened, her back straightening as her eyes darted from Rose to Chris. She opened her mouth, already preparing to give the same excuse she'd been giving for days. "I've just been busy with—"

Scarlett cut her off before she could even finish. "Don't you dare say you've been working and studying," she said mockingly, her voice sharp with impatience. "We've all been texting you, trying to reach out, and all we get are one-word replies."

Y/N sat there in silence for a moment, the weight of their expectations pressing down on her. She couldn't say what was really going on—couldn't tell them about the dark thoughts she'd shared only with the gravestones of her parents. But she had to say something.

"I've just... I've been thinking a lot lately," Y/N began, her voice quiet but steady. "I'm stressed out. About school, life, the future. It's just... a lot."

She didn't offer more details. The truth, the deep well of guilt and sadness that consumed her, was something she wasn't ready to share. Not now. She hoped the explanation would be enough.

The room fell into a brief silence. Scarlett, Chris, and Calie exchanged glances, their expressions softening as they absorbed her words. They didn't press her for more, but the concern in their eyes was unmistakable.

Scarlett stood up from her seat and walked over to Y/N, kneeling down in front of her. Gently, she placed her hands on either side of Y/N's face, lifting her head until their eyes met. Y/N's breath hitched, her eyes watering slightly as she saw the tenderness in Scarlett's gaze.

"You're not alone in this," Scarlett whispered, her thumbs brushing against Y/N's cheeks. "You don't have to deal with everything by yourself. We're here, okay? I'm here."

Y/N nodded, her throat tightening as Scarlett's words sank in. A tear escaped, but Scarlett kissed it away softly before pressing her lips against Y/N's in a slow, comforting kiss. Y/N's cheeks flushed, her heart beating faster as Scarlett pulled her into a warm hug, holding her close. Y/N let herself melt into Scarlett's embrace, nodding against her shoulder.

"I'm sorry," Y/N whispered. "I didn't mean to shut you all out."

Scarlett smiled, pulling back just enough to look at Y/N. "It's okay. Just... don't do it again, alright?"

Y/N blushed, nodding again. As they pulled apart, the rest of the table seemed to relax. They all returned to eating, though the atmosphere felt lighter now, less weighed down by unspoken words.

After a while, Chris finished his meal and leaned back in his chair with a grin. "So, what do you say we watch a movie? We could use a little relaxation after all this."

Before Y/N could say anything, Calie snorted. "She doesn't even have a TV, remember?"

Everyone turned to Y/N in shock, even Rose seemed to widen her eyes at the revelation, though she had no idea what was going on.

Y/N chuckled, shaking her head. "I told you all, I don't watch movies."

Scarlett gawked at her, incredulous. "How can you not watch movies? You're dating an actress!"

Calie laughed. "And best friends with a movie fanatic like me!"

Y/N just shrugged, smiling slightly. "Books are more my thing. But hey, we don't need a TV to have fun. How about we play some board games instead?"

Chris, Calie, and Scarlett exchanged curious glances before nodding in agreement. "Fine," Chris said, a playful glint in his eyes. "But you better not pull any tricks during the game."

Y/N grinned. "No promises." She quickly got up and headed for the closet where she kept her board games.

While she was gone, Scarlett sat down on the floor with Rose and began to breastfeed her. Y/N frowned slightly as she noticed from across the room. She still hadn't gotten used to the sight, and the idea of human milk still made her uneasy. Clearing her throat, she grabbed the first game she could find and returned to the living room, holding it up for everyone to see.

"Monopoly," Y/N announced with a mischievous smile. "Prepare for war."

Scarlett, Chris, and Calie groaned in unison, but they were smiling. They all knew what was coming—a long night of strategy, alliances, and inevitable betrayals.

"Great," Chris said sarcastically, leaning back against the couch. "This is gonna be fun."

Y/N sat down on the floor with the game in her hands, her earlier tension easing as they all gathered around. Whatever was weighing her down would have to wait for now.

They were about to embark on a Monopoly war.