After breakfast, Rosie tidied up the kitchen and headed to her room. Emerald was watching her favorite TV show.
"Phew!" Rosie exclaimed as she collapsed onto her bed.
"What do I do? What do I do?"
She grabbed her phone and checked her messages.
"No...no...not replying to this...and skip…" She scrolled through her unread messages until she received a text from Raymond.
"Sup!" his message read.
"Hi, I'm good. You?" Rosie replied.
"I'm cool. How's your Saturday going?" Raymond asked.
"Not bad. I'm jobless right now," she replied with a laughing emoji, trying to be funny.
"Okay," Raymond responded.
"Ugh!" Rosie exclaimed in annoyance.
"I hate one-word replies. What does he expect me to reply? Yeah?"
She thought for a few seconds before replying, "What are you up to?"
"I'm thinking of you," Raymond replied, causing Rosie's heart to skip a beat.
"This guy enjoys messing with me," she thought.
"Lol, why are you thinking about me?" Rosie asked.
"Um, because I'd like to hang out with you sometime."
"Are you asking me out on a date?" Rosie asked, trying to clarify.
"Not exactly a date, or maybe it is. Just an outing between friends. Anywhere you want."
"Don't you have a girlfriend? There's no way she'd be cool with you hanging out with another girl," Rosie questioned, wondering if it was appropriate.
"We have terms and conditions," Raymond replied.
"Lol," Rosie laughed, using the laughing emoji.
"What terms and conditions?" she added.
"Why are you laughing? You don't believe me?" Raymond asked.
"No, it's just funny. What silly T's and C's?" Rosie said, curious to know.
"That's not relevant. I feel you are intentionally changing the topic."
"No, I'm not. I just want to make sure I'm safe."
"Don't worry about my girlfriend. So, what do you say?" Raymond asked.
"I'll think about it," Rosie said, deciding to take her time before making a decision.
"Okay, you have five minutes," Raymond joked, adding a laughing emoji.
"What? No, not today. I'll get back to you tomorrow or next," Rosie replied.
"No problem then," Raymond replied.
Rosie wanted to keep the conversation going, so she asked, "What are your plans for today?"
"Nothing yet. My parents are returning today, and I'll probably visit Desmond," Raymond answered.
"Sounds cool," Rosie said.
"Yeah, and you too if you're okay with it," Raymond added.
"I'm occupied this morning. Maybe I'll join you later in the afternoon," Rosie replied.
"Okay, cool."
"Yeah."
"What do you think of Elle?" Raymond asked.
"Who's Elle?" Rosie inquired.
"You. It's my name for you," Raymond replied.
"A nickname? Sounds okay."
"Yes. I'm the only one permitted to call you Elle, okay? If anyone else calls you Elle, I'll change it to Zella or Ellie or just Ro, okay?"
"Lol. Who do you think you are?" Rosie teased.
"Your next boyfriend!" Raymond joked.
"This guy!" Rosie laughed.
"Anything can happen, you know," Raymond said, trying to be serious.
"Yeah, right! You can call me whatever you like, as long as it's related to my first name, Rosella," Rosie replied.
"I have to go now. I'll chat with you later," Raymond said, ending the conversation.
"Okay then. Bye," Rosie replied.
When her mom returned, Rosie left for Desmond's house.
Later in the afternoon, Rosie headed to Desmond's house, where he was playing a video game with Raymond.
"Ugh, boys and video games!" Rosie groaned as she walked into Desmond's sitting room.
"Ugh, girls and silly romance movies," Raymond teased her.
"Come on, let's watch a movie or play the game together," Rosie suggested.
"Great! Never have I ever," Raymond said, eager to play.
"I meant the video game. It can have over two players, right?" Rosie clarified.
"Nope, no girls allowed," Desmond said, his attention focused on the game.
"Come on! I was bored at home, and you guys are just ignoring me here," Rosie complained.
"What do you want to do?" Desmond asked Rosie, his eyes still locked on the game.
"I don't know, maybe a movie?" Rosie offered.
"Okay, good. You can watch a movie in Desmond's room. Bye," Raymond replied, staying focused on the game.
Rosie let out a sigh.
"Sorry, pretty. I can't leave here until I win," Desmond said, barely acknowledging her.
"More like 'until you lose' because I'm definitely winning this round," Raymond retorted.
"Whatever!" Rosie hissed, and left the duo.
She grabbed some snacks from the kitchen and headed to Desmond's room to watch a movie. An hour later, Desmond joined her.
"Hey," Desmond began.
"I'm sorry," he apologized.
"I thought you wanted us to hang out today. You picked your video game over me," Rosie said, furrowing her eyebrows.
"I did? I guess I forgot."
"Oh, really?" Rosie rolled her eyes.
"I'm sorry. Should we go out for ice cream?" Desmond offered.
"Nah, it's okay. I want to go home now. I'm feeling sleepy. Where's Raymond?" Rosie asked.
"He left after he got a call from home. About five minutes ago."
"That's why you remembered me," Rosie said, rolling her eyes again.
Desmond moved closer and sat next to her on the bed, cupping her cheek with his hand and making eye contact with her. They stared at each other for a few moments in silence.
"Can you come over tomorrow? There's a new recipe I'd like to try with you. It's a pasta recipe," Desmond asked excitedly. Unlike Rosie, Desmond loved cooking, and he often experimented with new dishes.
"You know, you always look hot and sexy when you're cooking," Rosie teased him.
"So, is that a yes?" Desmond asked, hoping she would agree.
"It's a yes," Rosie replied with a smile.
"By the way, how's your mom?" Desmond asked.
"She looks okay. She didn't say much, and I didn't ask her anything either," Rosie replied, still worried about her mother.
"That's good," Desmond said, patting her hair while they were still on the bed.
"When was the last time you washed your hair?" he asked jokingly.
"I don't know, honestly. Last weekend?" Rosie replied with a laugh.
"Ew! Should I wash it for you? Or should we go to the salon together?" Desmond asked, while Rosie played with his hair.
"I think I need a haircut too. I'll probably try a new hairstyle," he continued.
"No, don't change your hairstyle. I love it!" Rosie exclaimed.
"Really? Thank you. This has to be the first time you're complimenting my hair," Desmond replied, pleased.
"I'm sure I have complimented your hair before," Rosie said defensively.
"That aside, your hair needs to be washed. So, me or the salon?" Desmond asked.
"You. But not today, though. Maybe tomorrow or next weekend," Rosie replied.
"Okay," Desmond agreed, and Rosie smiled.
She ran her fingers through his hair. "I love burying my fingers in your hair," she said.
"Do you know what I love doing?" Desmond asked.
"What? Kissing me?" Rosie teased.
"No, running my fingers through your body," he replied, tickling her and making her giggle.
He stopped tickling her after a few seconds. "Rosie," he called.
"Mmm?" she answered.
"Have you ever considered an 'us'?" Desmond asked, suddenly serious.
"Huh?" Rosie froze at his question, surprised.
"Ha! Look at your face. I was kidding," Desmond said, laughing as he playfully dragged Rosie's cheeks.
After chatting for a while, Rosie left Desmond's house.
As she entered her own home, she was stunned when someone slapped her across the face.