CHAPTER 16

Today, they had planned to meet at a karaoke bar. As Xavier revved up his bike, the engine roaring to life, he felt a thrill of anticipation. The ride to the bar was a blur, and when he arrived, he was greeted by a lively scene. The karaoke room was filled with laughter, music, and the aroma of snacks. Ava, Noah, and Martha were already there, their laughter echoing through the room as they munched on a plate of cookies.

"Don't tell me you guys have turned into a couple in just a day," Noah teased, his gaze shifting between Xavier and Ava with a mischievous glint in his eye.

"Oh, come on, Noah," Ava shot back with a playful roll of her eyes. "We're just friends having a good time."

Xavier couldn't suppress his smirk as he caught Ava's eye. They shared a knowing glance—an unspoken understanding that their relationship was more complex than just friendship.

"Yeah, just friends," Xavier said, his tone laced with amusement. "But I wouldn't mind if we became something more."

Ava raised an eyebrow, a hint of a smile playing on her lips. "Keep dreaming, Knight. You still have a lot to prove."

As the night unfolded, the room was filled with the sounds of karaoke performances, laughter, and the clinking of glasses. Xavier watched Ava as she sang with enthusiasm and interacted with their friends. Each time their eyes met, he felt a pang of something deeper—a connection that seemed to grow stronger with each passing day.

Noah and Mia were exchanging amused glances, clearly enjoying the playful tension between Xavier and Ava. Meanwhile, Ava was looking at Xavier with a mix of annoyance and hunger.

"I'm hungry," Ava declared, her tone making it clear that she expected an immediate solution.

"For whom?" Mia asked with a smirk, clearly enjoying the chance to tease Ava.

"Oh, gosh," Ava sighed, exasperated by the constant ribbing.

"Xavier and I will grab food for all of us. Meanwhile, ladies, enjoy yourselves," Noah said, winking at Ava and Mia.

"In which angle do they look like ladies?" Xavier replied, raising an eyebrow as he glanced at Noah and Mia.

Noah and Xavier's lighthearted banter was interrupted by a scowl from Mia.

"Better get out, Xave, before I come and make sure you'll regret it," Mia warned, her fists clenched in mock anger.

"You know one day they will protect us, so better not mess with them," Noah added, his tone serious but with a playful edge.

"But I do doubt that they are girls, especially Ava. Sometimes I think you're a gangster," Noah said, looking at Ava with a smirk.

"Will you both get out?" Ava said, clearly irritated but trying to hold back a smile.

Both Xavier and Noah headed to the basement to fetch the food.

"So what's up, man?" Noah asked as they walked.

"Nothing much. How was your trip?" Xavier replied.

"It was great. I even met Mia's mother. She was really friendly," Noah said.

"Wow, you met her mother too? Did she approve of your relationship?" Xavier asked, surprised.

"She did," Noah confirmed with a grin.

As they talked, Xavier spotted someone familiar near the grocery store.

"Isn't that Tristan?" Xavier asked, nodding towards the grocery store.

Noah looked in that direction, but the figure was no longer visible.

Meanwhile, back in the karaoke room:

Ava and Mia were singing at the top of their lungs, completely immersed in their music. The room was filled with their enthusiastic and somewhat off-key renditions of their favorite songs.

"WA TA SHI NO SA I GOWA A NA TA GA IA NA TA TO KO NO MA MAO SA RA BA SU RU YO RI SHI NU NO GA I WA"

Both girls were clearly having a blast, their energy palpable.

"Mia is so ladylike?" Xavier asked Noah sarcastically as he watched Mia standing on the couch, holding the mic and screaming into it.

"Ava is so shy?" Noah countered, pointing at Ava, who was jumping on the couch with an imaginary guitar, belting out the lyrics.

Xavier chuckled as he watched the spectacle, while Noah sighed in resignation.

Xavier attempted to change the song, hoping for something more soothing, but the next track only added to the chaos.

"YOU WANT ME, I WANT YOU, BABY MY SUGARBOO, I'M LEVITATING THE MILKY WAY, WE'RE RENEGADING..."

"YEAH, YEAH, YEAH, YEAH, YEAH I GOT YOU, MOONLIGHT, YOU'RE MY STARLIGHT I NEED YOU ALL NIGHT, COME ON, DANCE WITH ME I'M LEVITATING!"

Noah sighed and turned off the machine, causing both Ava and Mia to look at them with raised eyebrows.

"Food is here," Xavier announced, raising his hands to show the covers.

As they started eating, Ava and Mia chatted about their day.

"How did your trip go?" Ava asked Mia.

"It was great. I heard you went to the zoo from Uncle," Noah interjected.

"Yeah, I thought the kids would be bored watching TV all day, so we took them to the zoo," Ava explained.

"I forgot about that," Ava said, exasperated. "Oh, and we saw Xavier there."

"Where?" Mia asked, intrigued.

"At the zoo," Ava said excitedly.

"Not again," Xavier muttered, annoyed by the attention.

"He was dancing and jumping around, holding tree branches," Ava said, laughing at the memory.

Noah and Mia burst into laughter.

"You mean like a monkey?" Mia asked, still giggling.

"You know he loves to control everyone, but you're the only one who really has a handle on him," Noah said, looking at Ava with admiration.

Xavier clenched his jaw, annoyed by their playful teasing.

"Shall we leave? It's already twenty minutes past ten," Ava suggested.

"You're such a boring person, Ava. Who leaves at 10:30? The night is still young," Noah said, shrugging his shoulders.

"But she's not young, darling. She's a day creature who cannot survive the night," Mia teased Ava.

"Fine, let's leave," Noah said, and everyone headed to get their bikes and cars.