Ready and waiting

The next morning came and despite the late night for two of them, all four people at the mansion woke up feeling energized. One got ready for a day of work, the other ready for a challenge, one was determined to return a received gesture and the last was simply excited for what the day would bring. The day that he would get to spend mostly alone with the woman he though was the love of his life.

With the exception of Noah, everyone slept until it was close to ten in the morning. Though Laila was woken up when Noah left for work, she dozed back off into dreamland shortly after. She didn't get up until the light in the room became to bright to ignore. This was the natural alarm she used on days she didn't need to be up early and didn't feel like heading downstairs to share breakfast with Noah before he went to work. Noah would draw a part of the curtains when he woke up and soon enough the sun would do the rest. That way she could sleep in but not waste too much of her day sleeping.

Now that they were awake, almost like it was planned ahead, the doors to their rooms opened one after the other. Running into each other at the start of their day, they all seemed a bit surprised but very soon they burst out laughing at their comical timing instead. Laila jokingly said, "Well, good morning. I guess we were all feeling hungry for breakfast to have such a great timing together." They each closed the doors to their rooms and began walking down the hall to the stairs, when Steve let out a chuckle and replied, "That must be it. What other reason could there be." As he said those words, he looked over at Maria with a meaningful stare. Letting his eyes convey the words his lips weren't saying.

Laila of course noticed this little exchanged and found herself an excuse to get out of their way. "I will go down ahead of you since I want to check up on something. You two take your time." After she said that she passed by them and winked at Maria before rushing off. Maria dropped her head and put the palm of her hand to her forehead as she felt that Laila's little act had been far from subtle. Lucky for her, Steve didn't need subtle. He just wanted as much time alone with her as he could get. So to get rid of the awkwardness he asked her, "So, how did you sleep last night?" Maria appreciated him trying to ease the tension and replied, "Quite alright actually. How about you?"

Steve took in a deep breath before he said, "I think I haven't slept this good in years. But then again, how could I not after the piece of good news I got." Though he was sure that Maria would know what he was referring to, he purposely didn't mention the letter or the date out loud, since he didn't want things to get awkward for Maria again. Especially not after he just tried to get rid of her awkwardness by asking her a neutral question in the first place. Instead he asked another question. "Did you get up in the morning for a snack today as well?" He followed this up by saying, "I didn't notice you going down but then again, I was far too tired to be woken up by anything less than a bomb going off next to the house or someone shining a flashlight straight into my eyes." Ending his words with a chuckle.

Maria let out a little laugh as well and shook her head. "No, I think I was too tired as well. I did wake up but I only went to the bathroom and got back into bed. I'm not sure what time that was. All I know is that it was still dark out."

With his hands in his pockets and while stealing glances every few seconds, Steve tried to keep up the small talk for a bit longer by saying, "I see...Well that is a good thing right. Since it usually means you still get to sleep for a long time. Though when you are free, there is no need to worry about getting up on time in the first place I suppose." Maria let out a small chuckle, fully realizing what it was that Steve was trying to do and she said, "Yeah, I suppose so".

Once they reached the ground floor and were walking towards the dining room to start breakfast, Steve stuck out his hand again and grabbed her arm as he said, "Wait." With anticipation Maria turned around, looked up at him with her full lashes and big brown eyes, wondering if he would bring up the letter or his question for last night. Last night, as she was trying to fall asleep, she imagined all kinds of scenario's for today and thought of what she could say to him. Something that would not disappoint him but also something that would not give away her surprise. Luckily, the letter had done most of the work for her. All she needed now, was for him to not ask her about the date until she had prepared her surprise. But if he did, she would have an answer ready and waiting for him.