Snow's anxiety simmered beneath the surface as she navigated the chaos of her mother's Christmas party preparations.
Oliver's silence had been deafening all day, and she couldn't shake the feeling that he'd forgotten about her.
Her mom's voice cut through her thoughts, "Snow, dear, could you check on Minnie? She's not feeling well."
Snow's gaze drifted to Minnie, who lay pale and listless on the couch.
"She's kinda sick, Mum," Snow replied absently, her mind still fixated on Oliver.
Her mom's expression softened. "Poor baby, she's going through a tough time after losing her mum."
Snow nodded mechanically, her phone clutched tightly in her hand.
As soon as her mom asked her to serve drinks to the guests, Snow seized the opportunity to curse Oliver.
Her anger boiled over as she wanted to dialed his number, her voice trembling with emotion but held on.
"How dare you not call me all day! What's wrong with you? Are you having fun without me?" she stirred at his number on her phone.
The words spilled out like venom, a mixture of hurt and frustration.
Snow's heart pounded in her chest, awaiting Oliver's call, her anxiety and anger hanging precariously in the balance.
*
As Snow's gaze wandered through the vibrant party scene, it landed on an unexpected pair:
Leo and Violet. Her thoughts scattered, she approached them with a mixture of curiosity and surprise.
"Leo, you're here," she said, her tone laced with amusement. "That's surprising."
Violet's eyes sparkled with mirth. "I barely understand why he's here," she chimed in, her voice dripping with playful skepticism.
Snow's laughter mingled with Violet's. "No deal, no arrangement," she assured them with a grin. "I'm just surprised to see you here, Leo."
Leo's smile was disarming. "I didn't want to miss out on the fun," he explained, his eyes crinkling at the corners.
Snow raised an eyebrow, teasing him gently. "I always knew the you were party itself."
Leo's response was smooth. "If that's what you think, you're wrong. I'm interested in any party Violet attends."
The air was charged with a subtle tension, but Snow chose to ignore it, focusing instead on the lighthearted banter.
"Well, I have to get back to serving," she said, excusing herself. "You two enjoy the party."
Violet offered her assistance, but Snow waved her off. "No need, just have fun."
As Snow walked away, she couldn't help but wonder what had prompted Leo's unexpected appearance.
But for now, she pushed the thought aside, immersing herself in the rhythm of the party.
*
AT NIGTH_9PM
The evening drew to a close, Snow and her mother bid farewell to Violet and her family.
Amidst the goodbyes, Violet slipped away to exchange a few words with Leo.
Their conversation was brief, but the air was charged with a subtle intimacy.
"I had a nice time at the party," Leo said, his eyes crinkling at the corners.
Violet's response was measured, a hint of amusement dancing on her lips. "I guess you did."
Leo's gaze lingered on her face, his voice dropping to a gentle tone. "I love the smile on your face."
Violet's cheeks flushed slightly, but her response was playful. "Is that something I should be excited about?"
Leo's smile was disarming. "Not really. You're a pretty girl, and I'm sure you've heard that from a lot of people."
Before Violet could respond, Leo leaned in, his lips brushing against her cheek in a fleeting kiss.
"Don't do that," Violet said, her voice laughing, though her eyes sparkled with a mix of surprise and pleasure.
Leo backed off, his hands raised in a gesture of surrender. "No pressure," he said, his eyes glinting with amusement.
As they parted ways, Leo turned to Annabelle, fist bumping her.
"Goodbye, I'll see you again if Violet decides to take my hand," he joked, winking at Violet.
Violet rolled her eyes good-naturedly, a small smile playing on her lips.
Leo waved goodbye, his smile lingering in the air as he disappeared into the night.
___
Snow helped Minnie climb back into the room through the window, they both tumbled to the floor, their laughter mingling in the air.
Snow grasped Minnie's hands, pulling her up, and they collapsed onto the floor, still chuckling.
"You're back!" Snow exclaimed, her eyes shining with excitement. "Tell me everything that happened while you were away. Spill it!"
Minnie's face lit up with a radiant smile. "I guess I have a boo now," she said, her voice barely above a whisper.
Snow's eyes widened in surprise. "No freaking way! Did he seriously ask you out?"
Minnie nodded, her smile growing wider. "Yes, and I accepted."
Snow squealed with delight, her eyes fixed on Minnie's beaming face. "Look at you smiling off! I guess the whole date went fine, huh?"
Minnie's cheeks flushed, but she couldn't hide her happiness. "I guess I really like William."
Just then, a knock on the door interrupted their conversation.
Snow's eyes sparkled mischievously. "Okay, okay, pretend you're sick. Get on the bed and act like you're dying."
Minnie's eyes widened in panic, but she quickly scrambled onto the bed, covering herself with blankets and pretending to be unwell.
Snow played along, fetching a cup of tea and handing it to Minnie with a solemn expression.
As they heard the door open, Snow's mom peeked inside, concern etched on her face. "How's Minnie doing? She looked pale when she came in."
Snow nodded sympathetically. "She's not feeling well, Mum. I think she needs some rest."
Minnie lay still, her eyes closed, pretending to be asleep.
Snow's mom nodded understandingly and closed the door, leaving the two friends to their secrets and smiles.
***
William stepped into his house, his mind still reeling from the events of the day.
As he entered the hallway, he was surprised to see Oliver leaning against the door of his room.
William's eyes widened in shock, and he asked, "What are you doing here?"
Oliver's expression was intense. "I was looking for you, man. Where did you go?"
Williams smiled, a sense of satisfaction washing over him. "You would never believe it. I went to see Minnie."
Oliver's eyes lit up with curiosity. "Seriously? Are you serious right now?"
Williams nodded, his grin growing wider. "I needed to make sure something was done."
Oliver's eyes sparkled with amusement. "And what did you finally do?"
Williams's voice was laced with confidence. "I asked her out, and she said yes."
Oliver's expression turned thoughtful. "Weren't you ashamed that she might have said no?"
Williams chuckled, his eyes gleaming with certainty. "No, the feeling was mutual."
Oliver raised an eyebrow, intrigued. "How did you know the feeling was mutual?"
Williams's voice was filled with conviction. "The way she smiles at me, the way she argues with me, the way she couldn't bear to see other girls with me... her body language told me everything. It was like she was speaking without words, and I understood."
Oliver nodded slowly, a look of understanding on his face. "I guess you're right. Body language can be way louder than words."
He clapped Williams on the back. "Thanks, man. Congrats on your relationship, but I don't wanna hear late phone calls, still creeps me out."
As Oliver turned to head to his room, he paused, a thought striking him.
He got to his room, pulled out his phone and wanted dialed a number, his eyes fixed on mirror with a knowing glint. "Hey, Snow... How are you doing??"
"No wait... That's not right!!" He tries to correct himself. He cleared his throat and said again.
"So you didn't even miss me, snow..." He paused once more, "Nahhh, it made me sound desperate."
"Ahhh" He yelled.
"This is hard..." He thought.