The rest of the school day passed by in a blur, and Tallulah was thankful when the final bell rang. She couldn't wait to go home and forget about the events of the day. She collected her things and headed out of the classroom, ready to go home and relax.

"Hey, Tulip." Theo smiled, approaching her and falling into step beside her.

"Hey, T." Tallulah returns the smile, face brightening upon seeing him. "Did you ask Annabelle yet?"

"I did." Theo nodded, his cheeks coloring slightly.

Tallulah felt a stab of disappointment, her heart sinking. "What did she say?"

He sighs, his shoulders slumping slightly while he frowns. "She said she has a boyfriend."

"Oh." Tallulah's eyes widen in surprise. "I didn't know that..."

"Me neither. Apparently they're pretty serious." Theo shrugs, his expression turning dejected. "Guess that's the end of that."

"I'm sorry, Theo." Tallulah gives him a sympathetic smile, wrapping her arm around his waist as his wrapped around her shoulders. "I know you were really hoping it would work out."

"Yeah, well, it was a long shot anyway. It's fine, really." He replies, trying to sound nonchalant, but Tallulah can tell he's disappointed. "I'm just glad I found out now and didn't waste any more time pining after her anymore."

"You didn't waste time." Tallulah reassures him, squeezing his hand. "You liked her, and that's okay. Besides, now you can move on and I'm sure eventually the right girl will come along. You'll see."

Theo gives her a grateful smile, squeezing her hand in return. "Thanks, Tulip. What would I do without you?"

"Crash and burn, probably." Tallulah joked, earning a laugh from him.

"Probably." Theo chuckles. "But seriously, you're the best, Tulip." His face softens, his gaze warm. "I'm lucky to have you in my life."

"Right back at ya, Theo." Tallulah smiled fondly, her heart skipping a beat. She couldn't help the way her eyes lingered on him, or the way her heart warmed whenever he looked at her like that. She wished she could tell him how she felt, but she was afraid it would ruin everything. So, she kept her feelings to herself, not wanting to risk losing their friendship.

"Hey, you wanna stop by Junior's before we head home?" Theo asked, snapping her out of her thoughts.

"Always." Tallulah grins, linking her arm through his as they walked out of the building. "You know I can't resist anything from Junior's."

"Yeah, yeah, I know." Theo laughed, his eyes crinkling in the corners.

As they got their bikes and made their way down the street to Junior's, Tallulah's heart fluttered in her chest. She wanted to tell him how she felt, how much she cared for him. But she knew she couldn't, not without risking their friendship. So, she pushed her feelings down, telling herself that it was enough just to be his best friend.

And she hoped that someday, she would find the courage to tell him the truth.

****

As the sun began to set, casting a warm orange glow across the city, Tallulah and Theo found themselves seated in their spot in the garden behind Tallulah's house. They were in a tree house their parents had built for them and Flora when they were kids. It was their favorite place to hang out, and it was the perfect place to talk about anything and everything.

"So, feelin' any better?" Tallulah questioned, leaning back against the bean bag chair she sat on and glanced at Theo. He sat on a bean bag chair across from her, finishing up the last bite of his brownie.

"Definitely. Chocolate always helps." He smiled, licking his lips.

"You've always had a sweet tooth, you know that?" She teased, taking a sip of her lemonade.

"You're one to talk. You practically live off sweets." He laughed, playfully poking her in the ribs where she was the most ticklish.

"Hey, leave me alone." She giggled, swatting his hand away as she put her cup down.

He chuckles, pulling her in for a hug. "Aw, c'mere." He squeezed her tightly, resting his chin on top of her head.

She rested her head on his shoulder, closing her eyes as she enjoyed the moment. She loved the way he made her feel, the way he held her, the way his arms felt around her. She felt safe and loved when he was around. She could have stayed like that forever, basking in the comfort of Theo's embrace. It felt like a small, perfect slice of peace amidst all the chaos of her day. Tallulah let herself savor the closeness, the gentle rise and fall of Theo's breath, and the warmth of his body against hers. They sat there for a few moments, just holding each other. Neither of them said a word, but they didn't need to. They both knew what the other was feeling, and they both understood the comfort they found in each other's arms.

Eventually, Theo pulls away, breaking the spell, but his hands linger on her arms, his thumbs brushing gently against her skin. "Wanna watch a movie?" She asked, her voice soft.

Theo's eyes met hers, and for a moment, something unspoken passed between them. "Sure," He replies, a small smile tugging at the corner of his lips. "What do you feel like watching?"

Tallulah shrugs, feeling her heart race a little. She was still caught up in the moment, the warmth of his touch lingering on her skin. "I don't know. Maybe something light? We've had enough drama for one day."

Theo chuckles, leaning back into his bean bag. "Yeah, no kidding." He looked over at a small shelf that held a stack of movies. 

He suggested a few options, and they finally settled on watching the Disney Cars series. He put in the first DVD into the small portable DVD player they had, and the two of them snuggled into the bean bag chairs and pillows. Tallulah and Theo settled into the familiar comfort of their tree house, surrounded by the soft hum of evening sounds. The small screen flickered to life with the opening scenes of Cars, and they both let out a content sigh. Tallulah tucked herself deeper into her bean bag, her arm brushing against Theo's as she grabbed a nearby white fluffy blanket to cuddle up with. 

They watched in comfortable silence for a while, but Tallulah's thoughts were far from the movie. Her heart ached with the weight of the feelings she kept hidden. Every time Theo laughed or nudged her, it reminded her just how much she cared for him — more than just as his best friend. She wanted to tell him, but fear kept her words trapped inside. She didn't want to lose what they had, the easy closeness they shared. Tallulah wished she could just be brave — brave enough to tell him how she really felt. But for now, she'd settle for this moment, tucked away in their childhood tree house, watching movies and sharing quiet laughter, hoping that someday things might change.

A/N sorry about this chapter being kinda short !! think of it more like a filler chapter but i still love tallulah & theo so much, theyre so cute. any ship names ideas for them??