It started nearing five, which meant I would get to go home soon.

Ever since I got closer to Ari, my work hours seem to pass by more quickly than they did before, I figured that was good for me, right?

If time flies by, it must mean that I have good company around me.

Even after the party, no one saw Mrs. Maximoff come out of her office, and honestly, I was starting to get worried. What if something happened to her? Or to someone she cares about, again?

I tried talking about it with Jules, but all she says it's that she doesn't show herself as often as she did before because she doesn't want to see me. She could be right because even at the Stark mansion she didn't really look like she enjoyed having me around, but I didn't do anything to her, it was her who had done it all. Why do it if then she wasn't going to face the consequences? I was still one of her journalists, she couldn't avoid me forever.

Even though Jules may be right, I still hoped I had nothing to do with it. Mrs. Maximoff is a grown adult, she's mature, sometimes way too mature, and honestly that doesn't sound like something she would do, but really, I don't even know her. Not at all.

"Y/N?" My train of thought was interrupted by Ari's voice, and when I looked up I saw her organizing her desk as she was getting ready to leave. She was wearing a grey pantsuit with a white shirt today, she looked beautiful.

"Yeah?"

"I was just wondering how come you haven't started putting your things in your bag yet? It's five." I looked up at the clock and she was right, and if she hadn't told me I probably would still be lost in my own thoughts.

"Oh, yeah, thank you for telling me," she smiled at me and I did the same before starting to organize all my things.

We were the only ones left in the room, at first I was confused as to why she was still there, but then I realized that she was waiting for me.

"You don't have to wait for me, you know," I smirked at her and she started blushing.

"Yeah, but I want to."

It took me a few more minutes to get everything settled and then I was ready to go.

"M'lady?" I asked Ari holding out my hand for her to hold, she laughed at my gesture and gladly took my hand.

We were outside the bus stop in just a couple of minutes and we both sat on the bench, waiting for the bus to arrive.

The silence between us wasn't uncomfortable, if anything, it made me feel safe.

"You know Ar-"

"Will you go on a date with me?"

Her words petrified me. Had I heard her correctly?

I didn't look her in the eyes, I was scared I was going to make her think something that wasn't true.

I enjoyed being around Ari. I never thought about her in that way and I never thought I would, but now that she had asked me such a question, I started to see things clearly.

If I like having someone around me, if we have chemistry, what tells me that couldn't grow into more? Of course not every friendship has to, but what if some are destined to be more than that? If I never tried, I would never know.

After everything with Mrs. Maximoff, I thought I wouldn't want to feel something like this anymore, but maybe it was my chance to get over what happened.

"You know what, just forg-"

"Yeah, I'll go on a date with you, Ari." I stated, looking at her.

Her smile got wide and I swore that her eyes started sparkling.

"Yeah?"

"Yeah."

She was silent for a little bit, thinking about what her next words were going to be.

"I'm sorry if that was weird, I just...didn't know when to do it. I've liked you for a while, and the party..."

So Morgan was right, damn. This just became more serious than it was before.

"Hey, save that for the date!" As soon as I spoke, the bus stopped right in front of us and we both got in.

Our stops were some of the last ones on the map, so we took our time to just have a nice talk and settle everything for our date.

Eventually, it was time for Ari to get off the bus, and as soon as it stopped she did, but not before telling me one last thing.

"So, I'll pick you up tomorrow at nine, don't be late!"

"Woah, you have a car?" I joked

"Shut up, I don't take it to work because there are no parking spots and you know that, little miss driver."

"Leave Stewart out of this." She laughed at me and I waved at her before she disappeared in front of the bus doors.

My stop wasn't too far away, so it only took a couple of minutes to get home, and I knew that as soon as I stepped into the apartment I would have to tell my best friend all about what happened.

I wasn't sure if they were home, ever since they met Jules they have been spending every break from work they had with her, and sometimes would just stay at her place.

I was finally home, I took my shoes off and threw them somewhere in the apartment, I would find them later, I really just wanted to relax at that moment.

I took my phone from my pocket and searched for Morgan's contact, immediately calling it when I found it.

"Yo!"

"Absolutely not."

"Fine. What's up?"

"Don't say I told you so but..."

"Ari asked you to go on a date with her."

"Pretty much."

"I told you so."

"Fuck you."