Ava roamed around the living room, peeking under every piece of furniture while wearing the fancy dress Nicole had given her a few days ago. She crawled on the floor and almost dusted the dress. Nicole entered the living room to see her daughter crawling on the floor.
"What are you doing?" She inquired, a quiet gasp left her parted lips.
"Mom," Ava sighed, looking under the couch. "Did you see my charm bracelet?"
"Your charm bracelet?" Nicole took a moment to remember the material. She, however, got frustrated and frowned. "The guests will be here any moment, and you are looking for a charm bracelet?" She shook her head while walking towards the couch. "Get up and don't ruin the dress, Ava."
Ava inhaled a breath as she stood on her feet. The bracelet was meaningful to her, if not anything else. She believed the bracelet always brought her luck, and she was somewhat helpless without it. She clenched her fists and sat on the couch at Nicole's command. But her mind wouldn't be at peace until she found her dearest treasure -- the bracelet.
"But mom, it's important," Ava cried, but Nicole glared at her.
"I don't want to hear any more cries. It's a bracelet, Ava. I will buy you a new one."
"Mom, please, the bracelet is the lucky one," and again, Nicole stopped Ava from whining again.
"Look at you," she sighed, "adjust the dress and be ready. My friend will be here any moment. I don't want them to see you this way."
Ava rolled her eyes. She was frustrated already after the long day, and now she had lost her charm bracelet too. As if the day couldn't get any worse. "You are acting as if they are coming to see me and approve an arranged marriage." She grumbled and crossed her arms.
Nicole stopped whatever she was doing and stared at Ava. "The idea isn't bad."
"Mom?" Ava raised a brow.
Axel joined the ladies in the room, wearing a shirt and prepared to greet the guest. He turned to Nicole and raised a brow. "When are they coming?" He asked.
"I don't know--" Nicole got interrupted when the doorbell echoed in the room. They all turned to the door. "Oh, I think they are here." Nicole turned to others and took a deep breath.
"Okay," she pointed at Axel, "don't be over smart and start your horrible jokes when they are here." Then she turned to Ava, "be a decent girl, and forget about the bracelet."
Ava whined but stopped when Nicole pinned her with a look. Nicole adjusted her dress and opened the door. Ave peeked from Nicole's shoulder and noticed three figures standing at the door. She couldn't make their faces as Nicole covered them.
"Oh my, I can't believe I am seeing you after a long time," Nicole said as she engulfed a lady in a hug.
The lady hugged her back with the same enthusiasm. Ava eyes Axel and notices him smiling warmly at them. Only she didn't know what to feel to meet a friend after a long time. Watching their emotions made her somewhat sentimental too.
Nicole then led the guests inside the house and started the introduction round. Ava came to know that Sophia and Nicole were childhood best friends. After her marriage, Sophia shifted to Canada with Milo, and they never got the chance to return her. Milo has been promoted to a new position and sent here to take care of one of the branches of their company.
Ava was astounded when she was introduced to their son, Aaron Evans. He looked similar to the guy she bumped into in the mall. She stared at him with a gap, trying to understand if he was the same guy. Then she was confirmed by Aaron himself as he smiled and said, "We met again."
"Huh?" Nicole raised a brow. "You have met already? As far I know, you've been to New York for the first time."
Aaron smiled and nodded his head. "Yes, I am here for the first time." He then turned to Ava. "We met in the mall just a couple of hours ago."
"Is that so?" Nicole asked Ava.
"Yes," she sighed softly. However, she was startled when Sophia hugged her. She patted her shoulder and smiled warmly. "You are so beautiful, Ava."
"Thanks," Ava said in a low voice. Soon, they took their seats and started a conversation. Sophia and Nicole couldn't hold their excitement for meeting each other after a long time. On the other hand, Milo and Axel found themselves in some business conversation. Aaron sat in silence and only spoke when anyone approached him. The same happened to Ava.
Nicole looked at them and sighed. "Ava, why don't you take Aaron to show the house?"
Ava looked at Nicole, startled, and sat there dumbfounded. Nicole motioned her to leave the living room with Aaron, hoping they would get along well. Ava nodded and turned to Aaron.
"Uh, would you like to see the house?" She stuck a hair strand behind her ear and looked down.
"Sure," Aaron smiled. Ava nodded and led him to the backyard.
"I want our children to be best friends like us," Nicole said, cheerfully.
Sophia nodded her head. "Yes. Remember we used to fantasize about our future kids?"
They laughed with a nod. Meanwhile, Ava and Aaron arrived in the backyard of the house. Ava fiddled with her fingers, unable to understand how to start a conversation with a stranger. She sighed, turning to face Aaron.
"This is my favorite place in the house," she said as she watched her little garden.
Aaron also glanced around the garden, smiling as he found the place beautiful. The place was serene, with a small fountain on the left side, a bench by it, and a pair of garden chairs sitting on the other side of the garden. Fairylights hung from the trees, adding a cozy vibe to the place.
They started to stroll into the space, silence following them. Despite all the beautiful decor there, a pair of roller skates caught Aaron's attention. He turned to Ava and pointed at the coasters.
"Whoa, who uses them?"
Ava looked at the roller skates and averted her gaze almost instantly. "Uh-I I use them." She scratched the back of her head, feeling shy all of a sudden.
"That's impressive." Aaron picked up one skate as he carefully observed it. "If I am not wrong, but you designed the skates, didn't you?"
You swallowed the balls of nerve. "Is it obvious?" You asked in a quiet voice, scared he might find it hilarious.
"Yes," Aaron shifted his weight to face Ava. "The design looks custom, and it has a paint smell." He put it down and again looked at Ava. "The design is cool."
"Thanks," Ava beamed as some of the tension had eased by their casual talks. "It means a lot."
"My pleasure," Aaron chuckled and moved to the fountain. They both stood by the fountain and admired it.
"So, you were brought up in London," Ava started, her eyes stuck on the water. Aaron also remained his gaze on the fountain but answered her anyway.
"Yes. That is my hometown." Aaron turned his head to the left side and found that Ava was staring at him already. "What about you?"
"I was born in Malibu, then dad shifted to New York for his work, and I've been here since then." Ava motioned Aaron to take a seat. They sat down on the bench and continued their conversation. "I've never been anywhere else out of New York," Ava admitted; her voice lingered with light regret about it. "But I have been to Hawaii twice for vacations."
"That's cool," Aaron averted his gaze again and said, "I've been to a few places, but all of them were a friend's trip." He sighed. "Dad was always busy, you know."
Ava nodded. "What's your hobby," she asked after a long pause, finding the conversation a bit awkward since they were strangers.
But her question perked some interest in Aaron. "I love many things -- photography, soccer, and also surfing. In fact, I am a trained photographer."
"That's amazing," Ava beamed, "you are interesting."
"Geez, I don't know. I still want to learn new things. Gaining knowledge in various fields is my passion, somewhat a hunger too."
Ava listened to Aaron attentively, finding his passion amusing and sometimes impressive too. But her mood changed when Aaron asked about her hobbies. Ava shifted in her place and looked down, afraid her hobby may not be fascinating for Aaron.
"I--" she trailed off. Scratching the back of her head, Ava looked at Aaron and pressed her lips. "I am not into sports, arts, or other things. I like music and reading books only." She shrugged her shoulders.
The corner of his lips curled up into a smile as Aaron stared at Ava with a warm gaze. "Reading books and listening to music, you are surely the most beautiful woman then."
"What do you mean?" Ava raised her brows in confusion. She didn't expect Aaron to be so frank and kind. She thought he'd find her not interesting and might end up making fun of her. What he said the next had her heart flutter for the first time that night.
"I have always envisioned the beautiful girls to be quiet, like to read, and might be into some jazz... I don't know if I make sense, but I like girls like you. The honest girl like to read and is so beautiful."