Stacy and Axel's project was finally coming together. They had worked tirelessly to ensure that every detail was perfect, and their hard work was paying off.

One night, as they were working late in Axel's office, he turned to Stacy and smiled. "You know, we make a pretty good team," he said, his eyes crinkling at the corners.

Stacy smiled back, feeling a sense of camaraderie with Axel. "We do," she agreed. "Maybe we should celebrate."

Axel's eyes lit up. "I'd like that," he said, standing up and walking over to Stacy. "How about dinner and drinks?"

Stacy's heart skipped a beat as Axel stood close to her. She could feel the tension between them, the attraction that had been building for weeks.

"Sounds perfect," she said, trying to sound casual despite the butterflies in her stomach.

Axel smiled and offered Stacy his arm. "Shall we?" he asked, leading her out of the office and into the night.

As they walked to the restaurant, Stacy couldn't help but feel a sense of excitement. She had been looking forward to this night all week, and she was determined to enjoy herself.

Over dinner and drinks, Stacy and Axel laughed and talked, their conversation flowing easily. They discussed everything from their project to their personal lives, and Stacy found herself feeling more and more comfortable around Axel.

As the night wore on, Stacy realized that she was having the time of her life. She had never felt such a strong connection with someone before, and she couldn't help but wonder if this was the start of something special.

As they finished their drinks and prepared to leave, Axel turned to Stacy and smiled. "I had a great time tonight," he said, his eyes locked on hers. "Would you like to do it again sometime?"

Stacy's heart skipped a beat as she looked into Axel's eyes. She knew that she wanted to spend more time with him, to see where their attraction might lead.

"I'd love to," she said, smiling up at him.

Axel's face lit up with a smile, and he leaned in close to Stacy. "I'll call you tomorrow," he whispered, his breath sending shivers down her spine.

As Stacy walked home, she couldn't shake the feeling that something had shifted between her and Axel. The way he had looked at her, the way he had smiled... it all felt so familiar, yet so new.

When she got home, Stacy couldn't help but text Madeline and Charlotte, filling them in on the details of her night with Axel.

"OMG, what happened?!" Madeline texted back.

Stacy smiled, feeling a sense of excitement. "We had dinner and drinks, and it was amazing. I think I might still have feelings for him..."

Charlotte's response was more cautious. "Be careful, Stacy. You don't want to get hurt again."

Stacy nodded to herself, knowing that Charlotte was right. But as she drifted off to sleep, she couldn't help but feel a sense of hope. Maybe, just maybe, she and Axel could rekindle their romance.

The next day, Axel called Stacy, just as he had promised. They talked for hours, laughing and joking like they used to.

As they talked, Stacy realized that she had missed Axel more than she had thought. She had missed his sense of humor, his kind heart, and his infectious enthusiasm.

"I'm so glad we're doing this, Stacy," Axel said, his voice filled with sincerity. "I've missed you so much."

Stacy's heart skipped a beat as she heard the emotion in Axel's voice. She knew that she felt the same way.

"I've missed you too, Axel," she said, her voice barely above a whisper

As they talked, Stacy realized that she was falling for Axel all over again. But this time, she was determined to take things slow, to make sure that their relationship was built on a foundation of trust and communication.

As they said their goodbyes, Axel asked Stacy if she wanted to meet up again the next day. Stacy agreed, feeling a sense of excitement and anticipation.

What would happen next between Stacy and Axel? Only time would tell