Anna sat at her desk, her assignment ready for submission. The memory of Davis helping her pull it all together at the last moment. Nobody had ever helped her so. Even though she didn't even ask. It wasn't just the act of helping; it was the way he always seemed willing to go the extra mile for her, quietly and without expecting anything in return. She was excited for the movie tomorrow.
...
Anna arrived at the mall, her outfit casual yet carefully chosen—a black T-shirt paired with an olive-green jacket and well-fitted jeans. As she spotted Davis already there waiting by the entrance, her lips curled into a smile. Davis turned, his face lighting up. "Look who decided to copy me again," he teased, gesturing to her jacket.
Anna laughed, a playful spark in her eyes. "I think you mean you copied me. Clearly, I wear it better." "Sure, you do." Davis shot back, smirking as his gaze swept over her. Though their denim shades were slightly different, the matching tones gave them a strangely coordinated look, and they both chuckled at the coincidence.
The moment felt light, easy—until Davis's friends started arriving. The playful banter between them shifted to a quiet tension, especially when Sasha appeared. "Davis!" Sasha called out, her voice overly cheerful as she ran up to greet him.
Anna's smile faltered as she turned her head to the side, pretending to be nonchalant to Sasha's theatrics. But her sharp side-eye betrayed her irritation, something Davis caught immediately. He bit the inside of his cheek, suppressing a grin at her reaction.
As they moved toward the theater, Sasha stuck close to Davis, chatting animatedly. Anna trailed behind with the group, trying to shake off her annoyance. "We'll grab snacks later; we'll miss the beginning otherwise," Ryan announced.
Inside, Davis subtly gestured for Anna to sit beside him, his eyes briefly meeting hers. She took a step forward, but before she could move, Sasha slid into the seat beside him with an exaggerated chuckle. "Anna, sit here!" Sasha called out, patting the seat next to her with bright enthusiasm. Anna stopped in her tracks, her irritation flickering across her face for a split second before she rolled her eyes. She composed herself and sat there.
Davis glanced at Anna, catching the brief eye-roll and the forced smile she wore as she settled in. His jaw tightened, but he said nothing, leaning back in his seat as the lights dimmed. The unspoken tension lingered, but beneath it all, Davis couldn't help stealing glances at Anna, the playful ease from earlier tugging at him despite Sasha's chatter. And though Anna feigned indifference, her pulse quickened each time she felt his gaze on her.
During the intermission, As the lights came up, Davis leaned over. "Do you want anything? Popcorn? Drinks?" His question was directed to Anna. Anna shook her head. "No, I'm good." But before he could move, the others chimed in with their orders—popcorn, fries, cola. Davis stood, running a hand through his hair in mild exasperation. "I'll help!" Sasha chirped, jumping up eagerly.
Anna's irritation bubbled under the surface as Sasha trailed after him. When Davis returned, she was surprised to see him take the seat beside her. Sasha, clearly annoyed, plopped down on his other side with a huff. Davis handed Anna a box of fries and cheese popcorn, his voice soft as he said, "I know you like these. Thought you'd change your mind." Her cheeks flushed. "Thanks."
The rest of the movie passed in a blur. Sasha's antics faded into the background as Anna and Davis shared quiet moments— stolen glances, whisper about the movie. The chemistry crackled between them, subtle yet undeniable. As they left the theater, Davis walked beside Anna. The group trailed behind. "Did you enjoy it?" he asked, his voice low enough that only she could hear. She smiled and nodded but soon the others caught up with them.
...
That night, Anna lay in bed, her thoughts swirling. Davis made her feel important sometimes, but at other times, she doubted her place in his life. She reminded herself that whatever he did for her was just friendly gesture, and she was overthinking. Shaking her head, she tried to push the thoughts away.
As they texted casually about the movie, Davis dropped a bombshell.
Davis: By the way, Sasha's been texting me.
Anna: Oh?
Davis: She asked me out. On a date.
Anna: Woah. And why are you telling me?
Davis: Cause I tell you everything. You're my bestie.
Even though she should be happy, it pinched more than it pleased her. It set her thoughts right on the track that they were just best friends and nothing else. That's what he felt about her, and that's what she should feel too.
_
Asher called her later and she picked up, he started being cheesy as usual but slowly the conversation took a different turn.
Asher said, "can I tell you something real?" Anna hesitated, then replied, "Go for it." Asher's voice came after a pause. "My ex dumped me a few months back. We'd been together for two months." He told about how she dumped him, from his side of the story. Anna's fingers hovered over the keyboard. "Sucks."
"Yeah, I know," Asher replied. "What about you? Are you single, or do I have a chance?" The question made her pause. And his flirtatious remark made her scoff. Her thoughts drifted to the past—the memories still raw despite the time that had passed. For reasons she couldn't quite explain, she found herself opening up.
"Yeah, I'm single. I was with someone for almost two year. But it ended...that asshole dumped me, or even cheated on me Idk." Asher was shocked, "Two years? Damn. Must've been a big jerk." She was usually frustrated when someone asked her about it and she had to tell them the whole story of my break up but with Asher she vented it all out.
"So, does that mean you're single and I might have a chance?" He said to lighten up the mood and in his usual flirtatious demeanor. Anna scoffed, rolling her eyes even though he couldn't see her. "Don't push your luck."
YOU ARE READING
Invisible String.
Romance"She built a fortress around her shattered heart, each stone laid with ache of love lost. But someone knew her before the walls were raised, he knew her far beyond than anyone else. Even though, she always kept him at arm's length, he danced with h...
