Raelynn barely had a chance to protest as Sloane grabbed her hand and practically dragged her through the mansion's sprawling hallways. Sloane was bubbling with excitent, her hair bouncing with every step.
"You'll love this!" Sloane said with a grin, glancing back at Raelynn. "I'm in the mood for a movie, but not really. You know what I an?"
Raelynn blinked, slightly out of breath from keeping up. "Uh, no? How can you be in the mood for a movie but not actually want to watch one?"
Sloane didn't slow down. "You'll get it when we're there."
When they reached the door to the ho theater, Sloane swung it open dramatically, revealing a room that was nothing short of luxurious. Raelynn stepped inside, her eyes widening as she took in the sheer grandeur of it all. The walls were a deep, velvety red, lined with gold-trimd sconces that cast a warm, dim glow. Rows of plush leather recliners stretched out in front of an enormous screen that took up almost the entire far wall.
The ceiling was painted to resemble a night sky, complete with tiny LED stars that twinkled softly. A little snack stand sat in the corner, complete with a popcorn machine, candy jars, and a mini-fridge.
"Wow," Raelynn murmured, turning in a slow circle. "This is my first ti in here."
Sloane stopped in her tracks, raising an eyebrow. "Really? You've been living here for how long now?"
Raelynn shrugged, still looking around. "I've seen it before, but only during the tour when I first ca. Never actually stepped inside until now."
Sloane clapped her hands together. "Well, that changes today! I'll make sure you start using this room. It's a cri not to."
Raelynn chuckled, but her focus shifted back to the space. She wandered toward the rows of chairs, brushing her fingers against the buttery leather. Everything felt so pristine, like it had never been touched. She stopped at the stand, her eyes catching on the neatly lined-up jars of brightly colored candy.
anwhile, Sloane was by the screen, hands on her hips as she mused out loud. "What should we watch? Sothing light? Maybe a rom-com?" She turned to Raelynn. "What do you think?"
Raelynn didn't answer right away. She was too busy taking it all in, her thoughts wandering. When was the last ti she even went to a cinema?
"Earth to Raelynn!" Sloane waved her hand dramatically, snapping her fingers. "Co on, help decide!"
Raelynn turned back to her doctor, smiling sheepishly. "Sorry, what were you saying?"
"I was asking what movie you want to watch!" Sloane pouted, but before Raelynn could respond, the door to the theater opened with a quiet creak.
Both won turned to see Elion standing there, leaning casually against the doorfra. His presence seed to fill the room effortlessly, and even in the relaxed setting, he managed to exude an air of authority. He was dressed simply in a dark sweater and tailored pants, but sothing about the way he carried himself made it look like high fashion. His sharp, silver eyes shifted between them, a faint hint of amusent tugging at the corner of his mouth.
"Watching a movie?"
Sloane grinned and crossed her arms. "Yup! It's been ages since I've had a proper movie night. I figured it's ti to relax."
Elion's eyebrow quirked slightly. "By using my ho theater?"
"Oh, don't be stingy," Sloane shot back, rolling her eyes. "It's not like you ever use it."
Raelynn's gaze snapped to Elion, her expression a mix of disbelief and curiosity. "Wait, you never use this room?" she asked, her voice rising slightly in surprise.
Elion shrugged one shoulder. "Not really."
"Then why even have it?" she pressed, genuinely baffled.
"I thought I'd use it," Elion said simply. "It's convenient to have everything within reach."
Raelynn narrowed her eyes at him. "You definitely don't believe in minimalism, do you?"
Elion's lips curved into a faint smile, but before he could respond, Sloane let out a sudden, dramatic scream. Both Raelynn and Elion jumped slightly, startled.
"Argh!" Sloane groaned, slapping her forehead. "I just rembered—I have paperwork to finish. It's due tonight! I have to go!"
Raelynn stared at her, dumbfounded. "Wait, what? You dragged all the way here—"
Sloane was already moving toward the door. "Sorry, Rae! Elion will keep you company!" She threw him a cheeky grin as she reached the doorway. "You're welco!"
Before either of them could protest, Sloane disappeared, leaving Raelynn and Elion standing there in stunned silence. The door clicked shut behind her, and the room felt far too quiet.
Elion muttered under his breath, "That woman.... No one thanked you."
Raelynn sighed, crossing her arms as she stared at the door. How could she do this to ? she thought. She's the one who dragged here, and now she's just… gone?
She glanced at Elion out of the corner of her eye. He stood there, calm and composed as ever, but there was a hint of awkwardness in the way he lingered by the door.
"So…" Raelynn said finally, breaking the silence.
"So," Elion echoed, his gaze shifting to her.
Raelynn tilted her head, her curiosity getting the better of her. "Do you actually want to watch a movie?"
Elion's expression softened slightly, and he let out a quiet chuckle. "Well… might as well use this room for once."
Raelynn nodded, though she couldn't ignore the awkward tension hanging in the air. She shifted her weight from one foot to the other, glancing toward the rows of seats. Why does this feel so strange? she wondered. If Sloane were here, she'd know how to break the tension.
"I wish I could drag her back here," Raelynn muttered under her breath.
"What was that?" Elion asked, his tone light.
"Nothing!" Raelynn said quickly, her cheeks flushing slightly. She moved toward the seats, gesturing toward the screen. "So… any preferences for the movie?"
Elion followed her, his hands slipping casually into his pockets. "Not really. You pick."
Raelynn let out a small laugh, shaking her head. "That's a lot of pressure, you know."
The corners of Elion's mouth twitched into another faint smile. "I'm sure you'll handle it."
Despite the initial awkwardness, Raelynn found herself relaxing slightly as they settled into the plush recliners. The tension in the room didn't entirely fade, but there was sothing strangely comforting about Elion's quiet presence.
Reviews
All reviews (0)