Oliver took Snow, Minnie, William, Leo, and Violet to a lively spot for dinner and celebration.
The atmosphere was vibrant, with music, laughter, and great food.
As they sat down, they congratulated Oliver again on his surfing win. Snow smiled, happy to see Oliver basking in the praise.
Over dinner, they chatted, joked, and shared stories. The evening was filled with laughter, good company, and delicious food.
Oliver's joy was palpable, and Snow couldn't help but notice how carefree he seemed.
As the night drew to a close, they all parted ways, feeling grateful for the fun times they'd shared.
As they sat down, Minnie exclaimed, "Congrats again, Oliver! You're the king of the waves! I'm not surprised, though. You've been practicing for months."
Oliver chuckled, his eyes sparkling with amusement. "Thanks, Minnie. I couldn't have done it without my lucky charm," he said, winking at Snow.
Snow playfully rolled her eyes. "Oh, stop it. You'd have won anyway. You're just trying to get brownie points." Oliver grinned.
"Maybe a little. But seriously, guys, thanks for being here. It means a lot to me."
William chimed in, "Yeah, Oliver's got skills. I'm just glad I don't have to compete against him. I'd probably get wiped out." Leo added, "I'm more of a 'catch the party' kind of guy, not 'catch the wave'. Give me a dance floor and a good DJ any day."
Violet asked, "So, Oliver, what's next? More competitions?" Oliver shrugged.
"Maybe. I'm thinking of taking a break, though. I want to enjoy the winter, you know? No pressure, just chill." Snow smiled, "That sounds like a great idea. We should plan a beach trip soon. Just the gang, relax, have some fun."
Minnie's eyes lit up. "Ooh, yes! That sounds amazing. Can we plan it for next year?" William nodded. "I'm in. As long as there's food involved, I'm good." Leo joked, "Food and dancing. Priorities, people!"
The conversation flowed easily, with everyone sharing stories and jokes.
Minnie teased William about his dancing skills, saying, "William, your moves are so awkward. It's like watching a giraffe on roller skates."
William laughed, "Hey, my moves are smooth! You're just jealous of my talent."
Leo regaled them with tales of his latest gaming exploits,
"Guys, I got to level 10 on that new game! I'm basically a pro now." Violet playfully rolled her eyes. "Yeah, sure, Leo. You're a gaming legend."
As the night wore on, their conversations turned to memories of past adventures and plans for future ones.
Oliver listened intently, laughing and chiming in whenever appropriate. He seemed to be in his element, surrounded by his friends and the woman he started to care about.
***
TWO DAYS LATER
Leo stumbled upon her in the medical lab, working alone.
As he approached her, she looked up and said, "I told you to stop coming to me. Just ignore me whenever you see me."
Leo smiled and replied, "How can I ignore you when my heart beats for you? You know why I'm drawn to you."
She rolled her eyes. "Not this again, Leo. I don't get why you're here." Leo shrugged.
"I was passing by and saw you working on something. I thought I'd offer my help." She raised an eyebrow.
"How can you help? You're an engineering student, and I'm a medical student. We're worlds apart."
Leo chuckled. "Science is all about experimentation, right? As the saying goes, 'In science, we test, and love is the best experiment yet.'"
She shook her head. "Whatever, Leo." He persisted, "So, can I help?" She firmly said, "No." Leo grinned mischievously.
"Then I'll just sit here and watch you until you break and ask for help."
She smirked. "Be my guest." With a flourish, Leo sat down on the counter, his eyes fixed on her.
She tried to focus on her work, but his intense stare made her uncomfortable.
As the silence stretched, she found it increasingly difficult to concentrate.
As Leo sat down beside Violet in the medical lab, her phone suddenly rang, breaking the silence.
The device, placed on the table, flashed with an incoming video call from someone named "Annabelle." Violet's eyes darted towards the phone, and she asked Leo, "Can you get that for me?"
Leo picked up the phone and hesitated for a moment before asking, "Should I take it?" Violet nodded, "Yeah, take it and put it on speaker."
As Leo answered the call, Violet's sister, Annabelle, appeared on the screen, ranting and raving about something.
Annabella's voice was loud and clear, but her surroundings told a different story.
She was in Violet's room, rummaging through her clothes, wearing a bikini and throwing clothes around.
Violet's eyes widened in surprise as she realized her sister was going through her stuff.
"Hey, cutie, who are you?" Annabelle asked, noticing Leo's face on the screen. Violet quickly asked Leo to face her with the phone, and when he did, Annabelle' expression changed. "Violet, why did you call me?" Violet asked, her voice firm.
Annabella's tone shifted from playful to defensive. "I'm trying to get ready for a date, and I need something that will make me look hot."
Violet's eyes rolled in exasperation. "You can't just go through my stuff, Annabella. What's wrong with you?"
The conversation escalated, with Annabella explaining that she wanted to impress her boyfriend's friends and Violet refusing to let her borrow her clothes.
Leo watched the exchange, amused by the sisters' banter. Finally, he'd had enough and interrupted the call.
"Enough, enough, enough," Leo said, chuckling. "I think I've heard enough." Violet and Annabelle both protested, but Leo continued, "Annabelle, your sister saved your name with your name and an angry emoji next to it, but I think you're beautiful and nice. And that bikini looks perfect on you."
Annabella's face lit up, and she smiled. "Thanks, Leo. I didn't even notice you were watching me." Leo's words seemed to disarm her, and she introduced herself, asking if Leo was Violet's new boyfriend. Violet quickly shut down.