Something About Us

"That's him?" Heather asked, her voice sharp, cutting through the morning air. "He's the guy I met at the coffee shop, and... and he's the creep who was watching me from his window." The accusation hung in the air, thick with tension.

Rhys's face burned, a wave of heat crawling up his neck. He instinctively hunched his shoulders, trying to shrink into himself. The word "creep" echoed in his ears, a harsh, unwelcome label.

"Heather, that's enough!" Marjorie's voice was firm, a mix of disapproval and concern. "There's no need for such accusations. Now, apologize to Rhys."

Rhys looked at Heather, and then away. He felt the weight of her words. He didn't want to be thought of that way.

"I am sorry" Rhys mumbled.

Heather looked away, and then back. "Fine." She said, her voice tight.

The silence was thick, heavy with unspoken words. Rhys picked at his food, his appetite gone. Heather stared at her plate, her expression tight. Only the clinking of cutlery and the soft gurgles of the baby broke the tension.

"So, where's Uncle?" Heather began, her voice tentative, trying to break the heavy atmosphere.

"He left early. Said he was in charge of training the newbies today."

Heather nodded thoughtfully. Marjorie's husband worked as a trainer at Starlight Entertainment, one of the top three entertainment companies in the country.

"Speaking of training," Marjorie added, looking at Rhys, "aren't you supposed to be at the company today?"

Heather's eyes widened. "You're a trainee?" she asked Rhys, her curiosity piqued. She wasn't surprised, though, considering he had mentioned it when they were younger.

"Yeah," Rhys replied. "But I don't have a schedule today."

Marjorie cut in. "He already debuted. He's part of a group and the leader, no less. He's just being humble."

"Wow, so your dream really came true, huh?" Heather said, her voice soft with admiration.

A soft smile touched Rhys's lips. "Yeah," he said, his voice quiet. "It's... it's been a long journey."

After breakfast...

"Heather, I'm heading to the coffee shop today," Marjorie said, gathering her things. "Rhys, is it okay if you stay here until I get back?"

"No problem," Rhys said, nodding.

"You're making him babysit me, too?!" Heather blurted, sounding both annoyed and playful.

They both spoke at the same time.

"Yes," Marjorie replied firmly. "Now be good. I'll see you later. Take care of your nephew."

"Mmkay," Heather muttered, smiling as her aunt kissed both of them on the cheek before leaving.

"So, you're a singer now. Show me your music videos!" Heather exclaimed, her eyes sparkling with excitement. She scooped up baby Dave and bounced him on her lap. "Come on, let's see what you've got!"

Rhys chuckled nervously, following her upstairs. He felt a strange mix of pride and vulnerability, sharing his music with her. "Sure."

Once inside, Heather placed baby Dave in her lap and turned on her computer. "What's your group's name?" she asked as she began typing.

"Lux," Rhys replied, his voice a little quieter.

Heather quickly found their first video, "La La La." The group's genre was hip hop, and since their debut was recent, they only had one album—Lux Vol. 1, with just four tracks, all with music videos. She watched them all, her eyes glued to the screen.

After the last video, Heather turned her chair to face him, her mischievous smile tugging at her lips. "You have such a nice voice," Heather said, her voice soft. "How come you never sang me a song when we were kids?" Her eyes held a playful glint, but there was also a hint of something deeper, a question hanging in the air.

Rhys smiled, feeling the warmth of her compliment, but then he caught a glimpse of her lounging on the bed, propped up on her elbows, her gaze fixed on him. The casual pose, the soft curve of her hip, sent a jolt through him. He quickly averted his gaze, his cheeks flushing. Heather raised an eyebrow, noticing his discomfort.

"Didn't expect you to turn into a gentleman," she teased, though her smirk softened into something more playful. "But you know, you could've just sung to me back then."

"Well, you never asked," Rhys said, a teasing glint in his eyes. He pinched Dave's cheek, but his thoughts drifted back to the situation at hand.

Heather knew why he looked away. She wanted to test whether he was the type to openly stare at a woman's body, but when he quickly averted his gaze, she felt a strange sense of relief. Satisfied, she got up, took Dave, and laid back down on the bed, resuming her game with the baby.

Rhys glanced around her room, trying to distract himself. There were books scattered everywhere, despite the fact that she had five large bookshelves. His eyes landed on her closet, and he was surprised by how few clothes she had. Just three pairs of pants, a couple of shirts and dresses, and a few homewear pieces. He couldn't help but wonder why. Wasn't it typical for women to collect clothes?

Heather, noticing his glance, smirked. "Who needs clothes when you can buy books?" She laughed when she saw his confused expression. "Just kidding. I wouldn't be able to do that anyway, what with your room right across my window." She raised an eyebrow. "But hey, wouldn't that be a treat for you?"

Rhys sputtered a little. "You're the only one who's not normal here," he muttered, grabbing a book from the shelf to occupy himself. He flipped through the first few pages, but the text didn't hold his interest.

Heather laughed, clearly enjoying his discomfort. "Okay, okay. I'll stop. Let's just talk like normal people." She scooted over on the bed, patting the spot next to her. "Sit here. Don't worry, I won't bite."

Rhys hesitated for a moment but then sat beside her. The two of them started talking about their lives—the ten years they'd spent apart. Heather told him about her school days, while Rhys shared stories of his training and debut as an artist.

At some point, the conversation died down. Rhys glanced at Heather and saw that she had fallen asleep, her head resting against his arm. He gently tucked a stray lock of hair behind her ear. She looked peaceful—almost angelic—in her sleep. He closed his eyes and drifted off too.

Later that evening...

When Marjorie returned home, she noticed the quiet downstairs. She placed the desserts on the table and headed upstairs. Her eyes softened when she saw Heather and Rhys asleep in the same position, with baby Dave quietly playing beside them.

She carefully lifted the baby, not wanting to disturb them, and left the room.

When Rhys woke, he found himself entangled with Heather. Her head rested on his chest, her hair spilling across his shoulder. One of her legs was draped over his, and her arm was wrapped around his waist. He was acutely aware of the warmth of her body, the soft rhythm of her breath. A surge of panic ran through him. What the hell happened?

He tried to remain still, holding his breath as he felt her stir. His heart skipped a beat when he realized her body had brushed against him in a very different way. Why now?!

Heather's eyes fluttered open, and she froze. Her body was pressed against Rhys's, the warmth of his skin radiating through her. She felt something hard against her hip, and her cheeks burned. Oh my god. She carefully untangled herself, her movements slow and deliberate, like a thief in the night.

When Heather emerged from the bathroom, Rhys noticed her flushed face. She quickly tried to avoid eye contact, her embarrassment obvious. Rhys couldn't resist teasing her a little.

"Are you alright?" Rhys asked, a sly grin tugging at the corners of his lips. "You look like you've seen a ghost."

Heather groaned, covering her face with both hands as she ran to the bathroom again.

When she came back, Rhys smiled. "I'm famished. Let's eat!"

After dinner, Rhys helped Heather with the dishes before heading home.

***

A few days later...

Heather hadn't seen Rhys or any of the other members of Lux for a few days, and she assumed they were busy. When she asked her uncle, she found out they were preparing for their next album.

Feeling a bit lonely with nothing to do, Heather grabbed baby Dave and went out for a walk. She texted her aunt to ask where she was and, learning she was at her coffee shop, decided to visit.

The coffee shop, located in front of Starlight Entertainment, buzzed with energy, a mix of chatter and the clinking of cups. Trainees and fans mingled, their eyes scanning the room for a glimpse of their favorite stars. The air was thick with the aroma of coffee and anticipation. When Heather arrived, there were no tables available, so she went to the counter to find her aunt.

Marjorie, busy with some orders, greeted Heather with a smile before picking up baby Dave from the stroller. "How's my little pumpkin?" she cooed at him. Then, she turned to Heather. "Can you help me out? Deliver these to your uncle and the boys at Starlight?"

Heather agreed, taking the paper bags filled with coffee and snacks. "Sure."

And with that, she headed out, her mind replaying the moments she'd shared with Rhys. The awkward silences, the stolen glances, the unexpected intimacy of their nap. There was something familiar about him, something that tugged at her heart.

She walked across the street, the towering Starlight Entertainment building looming before her. The lobby was bustling, a mix of trainees, staff, and fans. Heather approached the reception desk.

"I have some deliveries for Mr. Go and Lux," she said, showing the bags to the receptionist.

The receptionist smiled and nodded. "Ah, yes. They're in practice room B on the third floor. Just take the elevator there."

Heather thanked her and headed towards the elevator. As she waited for the doors to open, she noticed a group of young girls huddled in a corner, their eyes glued to their phones. They were whispering excitedly, and Heather caught snippets of conversation about Lux and their upcoming album.

The elevator doors opened, and Heather stepped inside, pressing the button for the third floor. As the elevator ascended, she couldn't help but feel a flutter of anticipation. She was about to see Rhys again, in his element, surrounded by his bandmates.

When the elevator doors opened, Heather stepped out into a hallway lined with practice rooms. She followed the signs to practice room B.