Her   wide   eyes   softened   with   recognition   and   she   gave   him   a 

Signe   watched   him   carefully,   catching   the   tenderness   in   his   face   as   he   talked   about   his   mum.   When   he   said   he   couldn’t   wait   to   call   her,   her   smile   softened.  “That’s   really   sweet.   I’m   sure   she’ll   love   that   you   thought   of   her."   But   then   he   asked   about   her   designs,   and   she   could   practically   feel   her   walls   go   up.   Her   hand   smoothed   the   hem   of   her   shirt,   a   nervous   habit.   She   laughed—soft,   and   a   little   awkward—and   ducked   her   head,   letting   her   hair   fall   forward   to   hide   how   off-guard   his   genuine   interest   had   caught   her.   People   were   usually   politely   curious,   not… excited.  “I   mostly   do   sketches,”   she   said,   waving   her   hand   dismissively.   “I’ve   put   a   few   things   together,   but   I’m   still   building   my   portfolio.   I   haven’t   really   shown   many   people…”   Her   thumb   traced   the   strap   of   her   bag.  He’s   probably   just   being   nice.  Still,   when   she   glanced   back,   his   eyes   were   bright,   no   hint   of   teasing   in   sight.   That   steadiness   nudged   something   loose   in   her.  “…But   if   you’re   really   interested,   I   could   show   you   one   of   my   mood boards   sometime?”   she   offered,   unsure   but   hopeful.  She   found   herself   giggling   despite   herself   as   he   joked   about   football   being   an   art   form.  “I   don’t   know   that   I’m   an   authority,”   she   said,  “but   if   it   makes   people   feel   something,   I   think   an   argument   could   be   made.”   Her   eyes   shone   as   he   tried   pronouncing   her   name   –   the   words   coming   out   a   little   clumsy   but   filled   with   more   effort   than   most   made   to   get   it   as   close   to   the   authentic   pronunciation.  “I’m   not   one   to   judge   accents,”   Signe  smiled,   gesturing   at   her   herself.   Even   after   years   in   the   States,   her   Swedish   accent   still   slipped   out   sometimes.  She   allowed   him   to   tell   her   about   his   passion   for   cooking   –   about   nostalgia   and   Italy,   and   found   herself   utterly   charmed   by   his   sincerity.  “Oh,”   she   exhaled,   his   invitation   to   spend   more   time   together   catching   her   by   surprise.   Signe  blinked   rapidly   before   answering   him,   almost   shyly   and   more   quietly   than   she’d   intended.  “Yeah.   I’d   like   that.”

"You're not wrong at all. I might have to ask her if she actually likes flowers.. Besides, you know, gettin' em for Mother's Day and stuff." His face softened as she talked about the beauty and color. Charlie's mind drifted to where they'd lived when he'd grown up; all brick buildings, broken gutters and hardly a touch of color on the streets. A council estate where beauty wasn't a main priority. "You're.. Huh.. You might be spot on there. I can't wait to call me mum later and chat about it." Charlie's eyes lit up at the mention of fashion. "You jokin' me? You have to show me some of your stuff. I bet you're great at it."

"Now I'm just gonna keep askin' ya if things I enjoy are art. And if it's about how it makes me feel, football was.. I guess it still is my favorite art form?" He laughs at how corny it sounds, "I might take that back. Somethin' about an athlete sayin' they're an artist.. Nah." Charlie's laugh continues, "I cringed at meself." He waved his hands in the air in an effort to erase his words.

"Signe." He repeated, his accent thick, "I promise I'm tryin' to say it like you, but there's no gettin rid of this." Charlie pointed to his mouth with his free hand, looking down at their other hands still together. As he glanced back up, she'd been standing closer, his features all softening at their proximity. "Well, I work at Mango Bay Restaurant.. So I'm always tryin' to come up with some of those more fancy dishes." He pauses, chewing down on his bottom lip as his smile widened. He slowly released her hand, nearly forgetting it was there. "But at me apartment, it's all comfort food from back home. Or- honestly, I think I cook for the nostalgia, yeah? I miss my mates from Italy and suddenly I'm makin' homemade pasta. Goes for anywhere, innit. I just love bein' able to put myself back somewhere with just a taste. Like that guy from Ratatouille." He paused, "I ain't gotta be in for a few more hours.. If.. Would you like to walk with me? We could talk more about your fashion and you could tell me what I'm supposed to notice in all these."

She   could   see   the   way   he   looked   at   her   and   it   made   her   breath   catch   a   little.   He   looked   at   her   not   like   she   was   just   pretty,   or   hot,   or   even   just   dressed   up,   but   like   she   was   something   unbelievable.   Her   cheeks   warmed   and   she   smiled   to   herself,   tucking   her   hair   behind   her   ears   as   she   laughed   softly.  “You  are   the   chef,   though.   What   should   I   call   you   instead?”  she   challenged,   her   eyes   glittering   mischievously.   It   was   addicting,   the   way   he   reacted   to   her.   The   fact   that   she   had   any   sort   of   power   over   a   man   like   Charlie   set   her   insides   ablaze.   She   accepted   the   pastry   brush,   doing   her   best   to   avoid   looking   at   him   and   that   smile   on   his   face   that   made   her   want   to   kiss   him   stupid.   Signe   brushed   the   edge   of   the   pastry   brush   against   the   side   of   the   bowl   before   applying   the   glaze   like   he’d   asked   her   to.   His   touch   at   her   back   was   barely   there,   but   it   was   grounding   in   a   way.   A   reminder   that   she   was   actually   here   –   that   he   wanted   her   here.  “Toast   in   a   dramatic   way,”   she   repeated,   glancing   up   from   her   task   to   raise   an   eyebrow   at   Charlie.  “Got   it.   I’ll   set   a   baguette   on   fire   and   call   it   performance   art,”   she   joked,   trying   to   keep   focused   on   her   task   even   as   she   felt   Charlie’s   eyes   on   her. The playlist game was a stroke of a genius, but she'd ended up shooting herself in the foot overthinking the task, as she had a habit of.   “I   panicked   halfway   through   making   my   playlist   and   I’ve   second-guessed   just   about   every   choice.   It’s   a   bit   confused,   but   I   think   I’m   satisfied   with   it.”  She   put   the   brush   down   and   turned   to   look   at   him,   smiling   slightly.  “Your   playlist,   however,   I   am   infinitely   curious   about.”  The   smile   softened   further   as   he   admitted   to   liking   her   in   his   space.  “I   like   being   here,”   she   said,   almost   shy.  “Even   though   it’s   definitely   my   first   time   here,   it   feels   …   natural?   Like   we   do   this   all   the   time.”

Charlie's breath hitched at the sight of her. The outfit was stunning, but what really knocked the wind out of him was knowing she’d made it herself. Intention in every choice. He let himself take her in, didn’t bother to hide it, but his gaze wasn’t greedy; there was a flicker of pride. He leaned into the kiss on his cheek with a soft chuckle, letting it linger for a beat. Something about it felt easy, like they’d done this a hundred times already, even if it was only their second date.

"You’re tryin’ to ruin me first, let’s be honest here," he murmured with a crooked smile, cheeks faintly flushed from the heat of the oven, or maybe not just that. "By the way, that is the plan, Signe. I'm pretty sure that's what datin' is.. at least if your datin' me.." He teased with a knowing smirk. "Oi, there you go callin' me chef again like I've got the willpower to resist it." The glaze was ready in its little bowl, and he handed her the pastry brush without a word at first, just that same stupid smile, like he couldn’t quite believe she was here. In his kitchen. Like he didn’t want to blink in case she vanished.

"Right over the top, yeah? Generously. She’s the star of the show tonight," he said, nodding toward the salmon. "And you’re the only one I trust not to mess her up." He moved behind her to check the crostini, his hand grazing the small of her back as he passed, not by accident, but not exactly by design either, just a point of quiet connection. "I'm holdin’ you to that, by the way," he added, voice lighter again. "The cooking.. Doesn’t even need to be fancy, just make me toast in a dramatic way and I’ll call it gourmet."

He slid the crostini out of the oven with a triumphant hum and set them on the counter, glancing over his shoulder at her. This time, when he looked at her, it lingered. "Works for me, love. Though I am dyin' to hear what music you've picked for me." Charlie bumped their shoulders, "Feels good.. You here."

@anchorsfm

Driven (2018)

“There’s  gotta  be  something  poetic  in  that.  Bella  Lucero,  fixer  extraordinaire!”  Signe  swiped  her  hand  dramatically  in  front  of  them  as  if  painting  the  words  as  she  spoke  them.  “You’ve  gotta  admit,  it’s  got  a  ring  to  it.  It’s  a  perfect  business  card  tagline  if  nothing  else.”  She  watched  Bella  work  on  her  own  bracelet,  admiring  her  friend’s  quiet  focus.  She  took  a  steadying  breath  and  returned  to  finishing  her  bracelet.  “I’m  planning  on  making  more  than  one  of  these,  but  it  feels  like  you  need  the  honor  of  receiving  this  one  for  all  your  help.”  Signe  grinned  and  nodded,  her  eyes  flitting  back  and  forth  between  the  pattern  she  was  following  and  her  own  bracelet.  “Consider  it  my  thank  you.”

bella  had  to  laugh  because  the  last  thing  she  was  expecting  was  for  her  to  be  able  to  untie  this  thing.  she  had  been  trying  for  the  last  couple  of  minutes.  felt  longer  than  it  was  even.  it  finally  was  able  to  untie  after  what  seemed  like  she  should've  just  thrown  it  away  into  the  trash  and  found  her  friend  a  different  one.  "  you  know...  you're  right?  this  seems  like  something  that  i  probably  should  add  onto  a  resume  or  something.  never  know  when  that  skill  could  become  necessary.  "  she'd  joke  with  a  playful  tone  of  voice.  "  just  you  being  there  and  hyping  me  up  while  i  did  it  was  helpful  enough,  it  seems.  don't  you  think?  "  that's  what  happens  when  you  leave  it  up  to  her  complete  determination.  "  i  was  thinking  that  we  may  of  had  to  do  so  too.  but  look  at  that!  now  we  don't  even  have  to  worry  about  it.  i  saved  the  day  and  now  you're  all  set!  "  raising  an  eyebrow  jokingly  with  a  shake  of  her  head.  "  we  can't  have  you  getting  in  trouble  for  littering  while  we're  out  here  just  trying  to  enjoy  our  day.  i'm  just  glad  that's  not  an  option  now  and  the  least  of  our  worries.  "  she'd  say  while  continuing  to  work  on  the  last  few  beads  of  her  own  bracelet.

Ophelia   had   been   browsing   the   stacks   near   the   music   section,   scanning   the   titles   when   she   heard   the   quiet   chaos   unfold   behind   the   counter   and   gave   an   empathetic   wince.   "Yikes,   you   good?"   she   asked,   taking   a   cautious   step   forward   and   then   pausing   again.   A   flicker   of   amusement   passed   over   her   face   as   she   noticed   the   inky   smudge   on   their   forehead.   "Um.   You've   got   a   little..."   Lia   gestured   vaguely   between   her   brows   and   offered   a   playful   a   smile.   "It's   kind   of   a   look,   actually." At   their   prompting,   Lia   nodded   her   head   towards   the   section   she   had   just   vacated.   "I   was   actually   hoping   to   find   something   new   for   guitar--maybe   jazz   standards   or   fingerstyle   stuff?"   Ophelia   had   been   playing   guitar   since   she   was   thirteen   and   her   father   managed   to   thrift   her   first   acoustic   for   her   birthday.   Since   then,   she'd   made   it   her   personal   mission   to   never   stop   learning   or   honing   her   skills.   The   internet   was   great,   but   sometimes,   a   book   is   what   really   did   the   trick.

「  ✱  」  STATUS  ﹕  open  .  「  ✱  」  LOCATION  ﹕  the book nook  .  「  ✱  」  WITH  ﹕  jasper   &   open  (  @palmviewstarters )

it   was   a   quiet   day   at   the   bookstore,   with   only   the   sighs   of   worn   pages   to   keep   jasper   company,   and   so   he   softly   hummed   to   himself   as   he   sorted   through   the   new   arrivals.   romance,   mythological   retellings,   dusty   vintage   classics.   piles   towered   over   the   timid   boy   that   cast   wobbling   shadows   over   his   features.   the   shuffle   of   company   brought   him   from   his   trance.   an   elbow   nudged   the   leaning   tower   of   thrillers,   and   in   a   moment   jasper’s   arms   were   filled   with   cascading   novellas   threatening   to   spill. “hey  !   sorry,   one   second  …  ”   paperbacks   were   shrugged   onto   the   counter   with   a   limp  plop.   breathless,   they   attempted   to   fix   a   strand   of   unruly   brunette   which   promptly   pinged   back   into   its   clumsy   position.   the   ends   of   their   fingers   were   inky   from   refilling   the   receipt   printer   and   they   smeared   a   long   black   mark   across   their   forehead. “are   you   looking   for   something   particular   today  ?   we   have   the  right  book   for   everybody.”

SIGNE: Omg!! You're so embarrassing sometimes! SIGNE: I meant there aren't really any juicy details -- it was our first date! SIGNE: But pay me the hot cheetos random and I'll tell you all there is to know (:

Adriana: If “averting my eyes” means aggressively zooming in on my phone to confirm it was you two… then yes, absolutely, my eyes were definitely averted 👀

Adriana: Hot Cheetos are ALL YOURS if I get the full rundown. No holding back! I want the juicy details. The last cute romance I witnessed was literally in a tv show.

Adriana: Hot Cheetos and hot men!! I’m so happy for you, babe 😭🥰

Signe   hummed   softly   as   she   listened   to   him.   His   words   and   his   touch   being   equal   comforts   as   she   felt   a   little   exposed   in   the   moment.   He   squeezed   her   hand   gently   and   she   smiled   at   the   gesture,   and   at   him.   There   was   a   story   in   those   eyes   –   one   that   it   wasn’t   time   for   just   yet   –   but   she   had   no   doubt   that   he   understood   what   she   meant   when   she   talked   about   wanting   to   be enough,   to   be   worthy   of   the   efforts   someone   else   put   in   for   you.  “Thank you for   listening,”  she   replied   softly,   leaning   to   bump   her   shoulder   against   his.   Somehow,   the   distance   between   them   had   shrunk   to   next   to   nothing   –   shoulders   and   knees   and   hands   brushing   as   they   gazed   at   nothing   but   each   other.  “Yeah,   no   5   am   runs   for   me   –   although,   I   could   be   convinced   to   join   you after   the   sun   has   come   up,”   she   joked.   When   he   teased   her   about   her   closet   comment,   Signe   had   to   fight   a   laugh   as   she   gaped   at   him.   Taking   a   page   from   his   book,   she   placed   a   hand   over   her   chest   in   mock   shock.  “Why   Charlie   Hughes   …   are   you   trying   to  invite   yourself   back   to   my   place?”   she   gasped,   acting   overly   scandalized.   She   perked   up   as   Charlie   admitted   he   sung   and   even   played   guitar.   Signe   bit   down   on   her   bottom   lip   and   nodded.  “You’re   a   man   of   many   talents,   hm?   I   guess,   if   it’s   quid   pro   quo   –   you   sing   for   me,   I’ll   sing   for   you?” she   tilted   hear   head,   pointedly   avoiding   the   Go   Fish   comment.   Signe   wasn’t   a   sore   loser,   but   she   was   a   petty   one.  Charlie   leaned   closer   again   and   she   studied   him   closely,   his   glittering   eyes   and   his   crooked   smile.   She   smiled,   her   heart   doing   an   unsteady   little   flip   at   the   way   he   kept   finding   his   way   back   to   her   like   it   was   the   most   natural   thing   in   the   world.   She   cleared   her   throat,   ducking   away   as   she   tried   to   calm   the   flush   in   her   cheeks.   “Experts,   huh?”   Signe   looked   back   at   Charlie   and   shrugged,   a   playful   smile   on   her   lips.  “Well,   I guess   you’ve   earned   a   peek   at   my   moodboards.   You’ll   have   to   sign   an   NDA,  naturally.   I   have   to   protect   myself,   you   understand.   Sounds   like   a   respectable   second   date   activity.”

Hearing the way she said his name, so soft, so breathy, so sure, knocked the breath clean out of Charlie’s chest. His heart gave a traitorous little jump, and he had to clear his throat, steadying himself before he answered, his voice gentle but certain. “Yeah… I wouldn’t blame ya. She’s my favorite person too.”

His eyes stayed locked on hers, “I’m glad I’m helpin’ even a little. There was a time I barely even opened up to myself, let alone anyone else. I think… I just got tired of lettin’ fear have the final say, y’know? Feels like the good things, the real things, tend to outweigh the scary bits if you give ‘em half a chance.” He sat up a little straighter when she started to share, the playful glint in his eyes softening into something more earnest. His hand stayed laced with hers, fingers squeezing lightly in quiet reassurance as she spoke about her parents and the pressure she put on herself. Charlie didn’t interrupt. Didn’t rush to fix it. Just listened. And as her words hung there between them, he gave a small nod, one that said I get it without needing to unpack his own ghosts in the middle of her moment.

Because he did get it. Every bit of it. He knew the weight of wanting to be enough. He’d felt it in every sprint on that pitch, scribbling down lap times of other kids, willing his body to work harder just to be the kid who could save them from the life they’d been handed. He’d heard it, word for vicious word, from his father’s mouth while he lay broken in a hospital bed, his career slipping out from his grip. But tonight, this was her space. So instead, he squeezed her hand again and smiled softly. “Thank you… for tellin’ me that.”

He leaned back just enough to let the tension ease again, bumping his shoulder gently against hers, lingering this time. “Right then.. So, pastel sage green. Got it locked in. And no five a.m. sunrise runs with me, not gonna push my luck there. Olives are officially off the menu.” His smirk returned, playful but edged with a spark of something deeper as his eyebrows lifted. “Now, not sure if that was a real subtle pickup line just now, but I will absolutely be comin’ ‘round to admire your perfectly organized closet.” The teasing slipped easily off his tongue, but there was no hiding the sincerity underneath. His gaze lingered on hers a beat longer, the warmth between them thick as honey. “I sing a bit too, actually. Got a guitar and everything. So, fair’s fair.. You sing for me sometime, yeah? Maybe while I absolutely destroy you in go fish.”

He caught her eyes again, and his own grin twitched wider as he leaned in just a touch closer. “You’re doin’ a brilliant job at this whole openin’ up thing, by the way. Look at us, we’re basically experts now.” There was a pause, a quiet moment as his eyes drifted over the other people around them before, naturally, finding their way back to her. Always back to her. “So,” he started again, lips curling into a soft, cocky grin, “for our next date… have I officially earned the privilege of seein’ those mood boards of yours yet? Or am I still on probation?” The smirk stayed, but his eyes were gentle and patient. There was no pressure in the question, only excitement. Only hope. And a whole lot of something that felt like a spark.

Havana Rose Liu photographed by Valheria Rocha for The Sky is Everywhere, February 2022.

Signe   bit   her   bottom   lip,   fighting   a   smile   as   Charlie   painted   a   picture   of   his   past   self.  “Don’t   you   worry,   Charlie   Hughes,”   she   murmured,   tilting   her   head   up   to   look   as   him   with   mock   irritation.  “I   absolutely   believe   you   were   a   menace.   All   the   proof   I   need   is   glittering   right   there   in   those   eyes   of   yours.”   She   pointed   an   accusing   finger   at   him   before   letting   her   fingers   brush   his   side   in   a   teasing,   fond   gesture.   Charlie   leaned   closer,   and   Signe   giggled,   her   cheeks   flushing   pleasantly.  “I mildly   enjoy   your   presence   under   very   specific   circumstances.”

 Her   face   softened   as   he   asked   for   her   interpretation   of   her   sexuality   and   the   label   that   she   chose.   She   gave   him   a   gentle   smile   and   nodded,   her   fingertips   tracing   absent-mindedly   along   his   arm   as   they   swayed.  “For   me,   it’s   not   so   much   about   how   someone  looks   although   I   won’t   say   it   has   no   part.   It’s   more   about   the   way   someone   makes   me  feel,   how   their   mind   works,   how   they   move   through   the   world.”   Signe’s   voice   was   sure,   but   thoughtful,   like   she   was   still   discovering   her   own   definition   as   she   spoke.  “I’ve   been   equally   attracted   to   softness   and   sharpness,   masculinity,   femininity,   androgyny…”  She   shrugged   her   shoulders   as   her   words   trailed   off,   a   slow   smile   forming   on   her   lips.   “It’s   like   art.”

 His   hands   came   up   to   cradle   her   face   and   Signe’s   eyes   searched   his.   “Yeah,   tell   me   about   it…   if   I   had   known   the   Florida   humidity   was   a   part   of   the   self-discovery   package,   with  this   hair?   I   would’ve   asked   to   stay   in   Sweden,”  she   joked.   But   then   she   gently   wrapped   her   hands   around   his   wrists,   grounding   herself   in   the   moment.   The   teasing   in   her   voice   faded   a   touch.  “It  was   hard, being   a   teenager   in   a   place   where   I   already   felt   like   I   stuck   out   didn’t   really   help   with   figuring   any   of   that   out.   But   it   all   made   me,   me,   right?   I   think   the   journey   was   worth   it.”   She   licked   her   lips,   a   bit   of   nervous   energy   at   being   so   honest,   so   soon.   Charlie   made   her   feel safe,   made   her   share   too   much   too   soon,   but   he   didn’t   seem   to   shy   away   from   any   of   that. You’re   safe   with   me.   Always. 

 She   listened   closely,   hearing   the   words   he didn’t   say   as   he   gave   her   a   peek   into   what   his   adolescence   was   like.  “I   get   that.   The   whole…being   shaped   by   expectations   thing.   It’s   exhausting.   Spending   years   unlearning   versions   of   yourself   that   other   people   wrote   for   you   before   you   even   had   a   chance   to   hold   the   damn   pen.”   Her   thumbs   stroked   the   back   of   his   hand,   lifting   it   to   press   a   gentle   kiss   to   the   inside   of   his   wrist.  “I   think   it   says   a   lot   that   you did   unlearn   it,   though.   A   lot   of   people   never   even   try.”   Signe   tilted   her   head   and   offered   him   a   half-smile.  “And   for   what   it’s   worth   …   I’m   pretty   glad   I   met   this   version   of   you.” 

 His   lips   brushing   against   her   head   made   her   eyes   flutter   shut   for   a   moment,   butterflies   swarming   in   her   belly.   She   didn’t   answer   his   question   right   away.   She   instead   took   a   steadying   breath   and   prepared   herself   to   say   things   she   didn’t   usually   say   aloud.   Then,   her   voice   barely   above   a   whispered,   eyes   focusing   on   the   buttons   of   his   shirt.  “I’m   afraid   that   I’ll   do   all   this   self-exploration   and   discovery   only   for   it   to   still   not   be   enough.   Not   for   my   parents   –   God   knows   they   would   never   set   out   to   make   me   feel   like   that   but   –   for   myself.   That   no   matter   how   much   I   do,   I   won’t   think   it’s   enough   for   the   love   I’ve   been   given.”   

Her   fingers   curled   gently   into   the   fabric   of   his   shirt   as   if   it   were   an   anchor.   “I’m   afraid   that   those   feelings   will   chase   away   something   good   because   who   wants   to   deal   with   someone   who   second-guesses   themselves   so   often?”   The   final   words   came   out   as   a   whisper   as   if   she   was   still   too   scared   to   say   them   any   louder.   Signe   finally   looked   up   at   him   then,   her   eyes   wide,   shining   and   vulnerable.  “So…that’s   what   I’m   scared   of.”

"You think I’m insufferable now?" Charlie grinned, eyes glittering with mischief. "You should’ve seen me back then. I were a huge menace. My mates would back me up on that. I could ring any of 'em up right now and they'll tell you I were a proper little shit. Marketable, quick on the field, but absolutely relentless to be around. Especially for my mum." He leaned in a bit, voice lowering just enough to tease. "But you think I still get away with it, don’t you?" His smile curled, playfully cocky. "Oh, so you proper like me."

The teasing faded into something quieter as he listened to her. Charlie’s expression softened, and his fingers traced gentle circles at her back. "Can I ask what pansexual means for you?" He asked gently, not wanting to prod, just trying to understand her a little better. "I’m still learnin’, yeah? Like, I get the idea.. but I’d rather hear how it feels from you." He gave a small, self-deprecating laugh. "Movin’ halfway across the world on top of that, tryin’ to figure yourself out in the middle of it all… Shit, puberty in a foreign country, that really sounds rough. I'm glad it led you to here, though.." He paused, lifting both hands to her face, thumbs brushing her cheeks, "Thank you for tellin' me that, yeah? For trustin' me enough with that personal information. I know it’s not easy, but you’re safe with me, alright? Always. Means a fuckin' lot. Genuinely."

He smiled down at her with a laugh as she pictured him as a tween. "You have no idea. I was gettin' myself into all kinds of trouble. Granddad really put that movie in the wrong hands. Led to many-a-confrontations." He shook his head, she hadn't known the half of it. On top of his new obsession with the mob, Charlie was also going through a period of getting really good at football and getting really angry with his father. Defenses grew quickly; sarcasm and goofing off becoming an easy deflection. He hadn't fully realized just how much work he'd put into changing who he used to be until he was here, thinking back with a girl who would've never given him the time of day if she had known him then. "Took me years to unlearn all the shit that got built around me.. being told who I’m supposed to be before I ever had a say."

His voice dropped as he kissed the crown of her head, holding her for a beat before whispering, "Signe, what are you still afraid of?" The question wasn’t casual. It was quiet, weighty, like he was asking her to hand him something delicate, and he was ready to hold it with both hands. His blue eyes stayed fixed on her, waiting.

SIGNE: 🙈🙈🙈 SIGNE: And I'm sure you averted your eyes once you realized it was me.... SIGNE: ... SIGNE: Will you give me hot cheetos?

Adriana: First of all, HOW DARE YOU accuse me of creeping when you were out here starring in an adorable indie film montage right in the middle of the park??!!! 🥺 Adriana: I was just an innocent bystander… who immediately called it. I could feel the spark a mile away!!!!! Adriana: I’m free tonight if you need to debrief properly. FaceTime or snacks and dramatic retelling.. your choice.