Alick halted her. "Are you mad at me? Come on, tease me too."

Annis locked eyes with him. "Why the sudden switch?"

She hardly recognized him.

He hadn't been like this before.

How'd he do a 180 on his personality so fast?

"I just want to see you smile," Alick said.

He gestured to a seat. “Alright, no more teasing. Here, take this piece of beef and have a go at me instead."

Annis chuckled, despite her anger. "No, that is not my vibe. You're so childish."

Seeing her grin, Alick grinned back too.

Post Lunch, they caught a flick in the afternoon.

Not many folks attended the movie theater at that time of day.

It was just the two of them in the hall.

They cozied up with Alick pulling Annis close. "Rest your head on me."

Annis snuggled in without fuss.

She murmured, "You weren't always like this."

"Like what?"

Alick glanced down at her.

"Never mind."

Annis brushed it off. She added, “Let's focus on the movie. It's rare you're here with me. You used to claim you were swamped all the time."

Alick was floored.