I open my bedroom door and trudge downstairs, towards the kitchen where I see Mason, Kim and Rose laughing.

"What's so funny?" I join in

"Nothing. Mason was just telling us about you when you shouted at him to turn the volume down" Kim says and I almost choke on my pancakes.
I send Mason a death glare but he winks in response and I lower my head to hide my smile.

Gorgeous people like him should not be allowed to do mischievous things like winking or flirting!

"Ugh. You two are very cheesy. Hurts my single heart" Rose comments

"Shut up" both me and Mason reply.

"Jinx!" This time he's the first one to say it

"Double jinx!" I say

"Triple jinx!"

"Quadruple jinx!"

"Hundred jinx!"

"Wha- Billion jinx!" I reply and he starts laughing.

I realize, I'm actually truly happy in this moment and that has happened in a very very long time. A smile takes up all of my face. My giddiness travels up to my throat, exploding into a million metaphorical fireworks, that escape my mouth as giggles.
He chuckles too, clutching his stomach.

"I'm happy" I whisper and look at Mason and his eyes mirror what I'm feeling inside: affection.

Then he smiles, and it's one of those very beautiful smiles, one that would keep you awake yet put you to sleep with its calmness.
A smile you earn.
I was expecting him to reply with some gooey words but no, this is better.
Sometimes you don't need words.

"Anyway" I tear my eyes away from him
"I have to head to the coffee shop. Mar came back yesterday. So bye" I say and am about to head out of the house when Mason stops me
"Amna!"

"Hm?" I say

"I was wondering.....you were becoming a shoe designer, right?" He inquires and I nod

"But you never completed your studies. So why don't you do that?" His last question actually kind of shocks me.
Maybe because I was hoping he wouldn't ask me that.

"Umm yeah, about that. Mason this is all so amazing but I don't want to change everything so fast. You know, I want to take it slow. I'm afraid it'll all pass too quickly if I rush and I really don't want that" I try my best to explain my thoughts to him

"Oh broccoli that won't happen. But I do understand if you want to take it slow. It's your life, it's up to you. If you want slow, we'll take it slow" he grins and I grin back

Wait. WE'LL take it slow?

He turns around but I stop him
"Captain America?"

"Hmm?" He grins again, because I called him by his nickname after such a long time.

I look at him, there are SO many things I have to say to him. About how I haven't been a good enough friend to him considering that he's losing the most important woman in his life. About how many things I feel when he looks at me with adoration. About how I'm so proud of him for doing what he loves. All of my thoughts bring me to the conclusion that I'll never be able to put all of this in words unless he wants to hear to me talking for 24 hours.

So I go with the two magic words.
"Thank you and I'm sorry" I say and his face scrunches up in confusion.
I just get out of there and sit in the car.

---------------------

I kill the engine as I arrive and enter the coffee shop which, by the way, still smells amazing.

Mar looks up to me and smiles widely. She takes my face into her hands and kisses my forehead.

Reminding me of my grandmother.
My grandmother!

God! I'm such a horrible person. I haven't even talked to my grandma for so long.

I make a mental note to talk to her and mama when I go back home.

"You look beautiful honey" she smiles again

"Thanks Mar. How's you're daughter?"

"Oh she's great" she says.

"Go give this muffin to the lady over there and I'll tell you everything" she adds and I nod, tying my apron around my waist.

-----------------

I shut my laptop and sigh as I rub my eyes.
I had so much to talk about with my grandmother and mama that it took very long.

Not to mention, I had to bear my grandmother's deadly stares and Fatima's
"Aww how cute" comments.

Hey. I'm free tomorrow. What do we do?

I smile and get up from my bed and go to Mason's room.

"Why are you texting me from the other room?" I chuckle an look up from my phone

Oh My God!

Go back, Amna. Back to your room, young lady
My subconscious tells me but my eyes are following a whole other command.

I can't stop gaping!
I'm sorry, I can't help it.
I think my jaw has already hit the ground.

Is he always roaming shirtless in his room or is this an exception?

Although his wet hair and the drops of water on his rather impressive chest give me the impression that this is an exception and he has just taken a shower.

And - Oh my!
Are those abs?

When did he do this to his body?
It was a mighty awesome time, I must say.

He's probably saying something but I. Just. Can't. Stop. Looking.

Whoa!
Did I zoom in?
Why does he look so close
Oh right!
He's standing close now.

"I've heard a picture lasts longer" he smirks and I glare.

"Why- uhm- why were you texting me from the other room?"

"Because I wanted to" he shrugs.

"Idiot. Well...I..." I start but I still can't stop staring at him.
What is wrong with me?

"Put on a shirt" I say, half pleading.
He's going to have to do that if he wants me to stop gawking.

"Why? Am I intimidating you, broccoli?" He laughs.

"No" I scoff "just put it on"

He laughs and pulls a shirt over his head. I instantly regret my decision

"So what do you want to do tomorrow?" I cock an eyebrow, trying to remove his shirtless image from my mind.

"Ooh that's impressive. How do you do that?" He tries to cock his eyebrow like mine but fails and makes the funniest face ever instead.

"Like this" I cock my eyebrow again

"How?" He tries again.

"Wait" I hold down one his brows with my index finger 

"Now raise them" he raises his brows and only one eyebrow shoots up.
"You got it" I smile

Stop. Touching. Him.
Is that too hard for you?
Yes!

"Ehem. So what was it?" I ask again

"What?"

"Why were you texting me?"

"Oh. I was thinking maybe we could just watch a movie or like go somewhere tomorrow" he suggests while an awesome idea hits me

"I have an amazing idea!" I jump up and down

"What!" He seems as eager as me

"We're gonna watch Kuch Kuch Hota Hai and Kabhi Khushi Kabhi Gham" I say excitedly while his face scrunches up

"Is that a very long named horror movie" I roll my eyes at his stupidity

"No that's two movies" I reply

"So two horror movies?" He questions me and I gasp in anger

"No you dummy. Those are the cheesiest and most stupidest Indian movies that I love!" I shout

"You're kidding me!" He says.
"I can't watch that. I won't watch that" he crosses his arms in front of his chest, sounding firm

"Yes you will" I cross my arms too

"No!"

"Yes!"

"Oh God why do you have to be so bossy?" He whines

"Don't you love it?" I smirk.
I know I am winning

"You've got no idea" he whispers to himself, thinking I can't hear him.

"Be ready. Your eyes are going to have food poisoning by the amount of cheese you'll see" I grin and walk away.

Tomorrow is going to be freaking awesome!