As Daniel and Diana continued relaxing on the roof, the door suddenly creaked open, and Aiden appeared, looking surprised. His expression shifted from shock to a wide smile when he saw the two of them together, Diana leaning back on Daniel's legs in a cozy, casual scene.
For a brief moment, Aiden's smile wavered, but he quickly composed himself, maintaining the grin. Daniel noticed the flicker of uncertainty but dismissed it, thinking it was nothing.
"Whoa, am I interrupting something?" Aiden asked, his tone playful as he took in the sight before him. His surprise was evident; he hadn't expected to find Daniel in the company of someone, especially not Diana.
Diana quickly sat up, looking a bit self-conscious as she adjusted her position. "Oh, hi, Aiden. What brings you up here?" she asked, trying to keep the conversation light.
Daniel raised an eyebrow, glancing between the two of them. "You two know each other?"
Aiden nodded before explaining. "We met on the bus this morning," he said, recounting how he had stepped in when a group of rowdy teens began harassing her. "I just happened to be there at the right time. Didn't want to leave her to deal with them alone."
Daniel's expression darkened slightly as he listened, his distaste for the situation clear in the tightening of his jaw. He glanced at Aiden, offering a nod of approval. "Sounds like you handled it well," he said, his voice calm. "Probably looked pretty cool."
Aiden let out a laugh. "Honestly, I was probably more nervous than anything," he admitted. They both laughed, the tension between them easing as the mood lightened.
The three of them continued chatting, the camaraderie between them feeling natural and familiar, as if they'd been friends for years. The initial awkwardness dissipated with the shared laughter and easy conversation. But just as things were flowing smoothly, the bell rang, signaling the end of lunch.
Aiden stood up, giving them a quick wave. "Gotta head to class. See you two around." He left, leaving Diana and Daniel alone on the roof once again.
Daniel watched as Diana lay back on his legs, the sunlight catching in her hair, making it shine like spun gold. Her eyes were closed, and her expression was peaceful, almost magical in the warm glow of the afternoon.
After a few moments of silence, she opened her eyes and glanced up at him, a playful smile tugging at the corners of her lips. "Let's get moving," she said, slowly sitting up and stretching her arms above her head. She stood up gracefully, dusting off her dress before turning to face him.
"Come on," she urged, extending her hand toward him. Her smile was infectious, and despite himself, Daniel found a smile spreading across his face, even though it felt unfamiliar, almost foreign.
He reached out and took her hand. It was soft and warm, and the simple touch made his heart race. She pulled him, trying to help him up, and he pushed off the ground to stand. But the combined force was too much. Diana lost her balance, and in an instant, she was falling forward.
Daniel reacted too slowly, and they bumped heads with a soft thud. Pain shot through his skull, and he winced, closing his eyes from the impact. For a moment, all he could focus on was the throbbing ache.
When he reopened his eyes, he saw Diana rolling on the ground, clutching her head with both hands. She groaned softly, her face scrunched up in pain. A pang of guilt and concern welled up in Daniel's chest, hoping she wasn't hurt too badly.
Slowly, she sat back up, still rubbing her forehead. She took a deep breath before looking at him with a small, wry smile. "Perhaps I'm not as used to this body as I thought," she said, her voice a mix of amusement and mild embarrassment.
Seeing her smile, even through the discomfort, made Daniel relax a little. He couldn't help but chuckle, a warm feeling spreading in his chest. Despite the awkwardness, there was something undeniably captivating about her, almost as if she was an idealized version of something he had always been searching for.