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~ Los Angeles, the Cliffside Villa ~

6:58 PM

Zula is going to the dining hall with Masika and Imani.

Zula spent the day in her room. She didn't go to get her things from the apartment because she didn't want to risk bumping into Ron. If she bumps into him, Zula didn't know what she would say. She is still not ready to face him.

She had a lot of time to think about the morning and even though she probably overreacted by running away, she does not feel that she did anything wrong.

Zula exhaled. She does not want to go to dinner because she might see Ron there, but if she does not go, Sarah will be worried. And Masika and Imani were kind enough to come to her room and wait for Zula to change so that they can go together.

Zula was approaching the entrance of the dining hall and her steps halted when she saw that Ron is standing there. He is holding onto a bouquet of red roses mixed with colorful zinnias and white lilies, and he is looking her way.

Zula glanced at Masika and Imani. "You set me up?"

Masika and Imani both looked guilty, which answered Zula's question.

"Ron asked us to bring you to the dining hall at seven o'clock. That's it." Imani responded.

"Talk to him, Zula…" Masika pleaded. "We don't know what is going on, but whatever it is, it will not disappear on its own."

Zula pressed her lips into a line. It's not that she does not want to talk to Ron and make all her worries disappear and go back to how they used to be, but she knows that it's impossible. Her emotions are all over the place and she is worried that if she talks to Ron now, she will make it worse, if that is possible.

"Zula…" Ron called when he was two steps away from her.

Masika and Imani slowly backed away, to give them space. But they didn't leave, partly because they wanted to support Zula and to make sure Ron will not bully her and partly because they hoped to find out what is going on. After all, Ron and Zula are almost inseparable for the last six months, always in a good mood and neither Masika nor Imani can guess what caused this rift between this seemingly happy couple.

Zula looked at Ron with an unreadable expression. She didn't know what to say, but he is the one waiting for her, so shouldn't he say something?

'THUD!'

The sound of Ron falling on his knees caught Zula by surprise.

"Are you OK?" Zula asked Ron with a voice full of concern.

Zula was halfway to reach for Ron and help him up, when he lifted his hand, indicating her to stay where she is.

"No. I am not OK." Ron responded while looking intently at her gray running shoes like he is trying to memorize thin purple accents on them.

Zula glanced around and saw that more and more kids are piling up in the hallway and the ones from the dining hall are crowding at the door.

"You are making a scene… everyone is watching…" Zula said in a low voice.

Ron lifted his gaze and looked at Zula. "Let them watch. I want all of them to know that I am a selfish asshole who is so self-absorbed that I ended up hurting you. I am sorry, Zula. I allowed my fears to take over and for a moment I forgot how important you are to me." He looked around and met numerous eyes directed at him. "I want everyone to be my witness. If I repeat my mistake and I hurt Zula again, I will leave the Cliffside Villa."

Several gasps were heard, and Zula's was among them.

"Don't say such things." Zula said quickly. The idea of Ron leaving made her heart ache. He would not really do it, will he? Something in his gaze told her that he is serious.

"I mean it, Zula. You don't understand the agony I was in, when I realized what I did. And to know that my presence is bothering you is only adding to it. I will rather leave so that you don't need to look at me anymore."

"You are not bothering me. Please, stop saying such things." Zula pleaded.

"This morning… you left. Twice." Ron reminded her. "And now, you are not happy to see me. What am I supposed to think about it?"

Zula shook her head. "You are not bothering me. I was upset and…"

"You were upset because of what I did." Ron saw that Zula is nervously glancing around, obviously uncomfortable due to all the audience. "I am sorry Zula, I know that this might be too much for you, but I wanted to talk to you in private and you ran away. This is the only way I could think of for you to hear me out."

Zula exhaled. Well, he is right about that, but he is causing a scene. "Can you, please, get up?"

Ron got on his feet and gave her the flowers. "These are for you."

"Thanks. Can we talk somewhere else?" Zula asked while glancing around. She can hear whispers and snickering and that is definitely a sign that they are giving everyone a good show.

"Will you promise not to run away until we figure out things?" Ron insisted.

Zula agreed. "OK."

Ron was happy that she accepted the flowers and that she agreed to talk. He took her hand in his and led the way outside.

"Where are we going?" Zula asked when they left the building. She asked for privacy, but they are walking over the training grounds, toward the forest, and Ron is not showing any intention of slowing down.

"Just a bit more…" Ron said without explaining further.

They walked through the forest and stepped onto a small clearance. Zula was surprised to see a blanket and a picnic basket on it.

Ron stopped his steps and faced Zula while gesturing with his hand toward the picnic setup. "Would you like to join me for dinner?"

"Here?" Zula asked the obvious.

Ron nodded.

Zula smiled. She was happy that he arranged this forest-surprise picnic-dinner for her. "OK."

They sat on the blanket and Ron started pulling things from the basket. There was cheese and bread and grapes, and three types of deli meats, and premade salads, and spring rolls, and Zula was surprised when she saw a familiar logo on the box of chocolate madeleines.

Ron noticed her interest in the box. "I went to the bakery to get them. I know that they are your favorites. I also made the pineapple-orange juice that you like with two-thirds orange and one-third pineapple. And on the way to the bakery, I found this…" Ron placed a large box in front of Zula.

"What is that?"

"I hope that you will accept it…" Ron didn't say anything else. He looked at Zula expectantly.

Zula exhaled and took the box. What else is she supposed to do?

Zula opened the box and she was not sure what to say at the sight of a crystal figurine: two hummingbirds around two flowers. It's not that she didn't like it. It's beautiful. But it reminded her that earlier that day she broke the figurine which Ron gifted her, and the fact that she is holding something similar, means that he saw it. And she felt guilty. She broke a thing he gave her and instead of blaming her for what she did, he bought her another one.

"I am sorry that I made you so upset that you broke the hummingbird." Ron spoke softly as if he is afraid not to spook the two crystal hummingbirds away. "I know that you liked it very much. I tried mending it, but I did a lousy job. And when I went to get the madeleines I saw this one and I thought that you might like it. It has two birds flying and I believe that this is more appropriate because I want to fly with you..."

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