Beneath his charm

SOMETHING DIFFERENT

The following week passed more quickly than Natasha expected.

Living across from Sam had started to seem normal.

They'd see each other in the mornings

Sometimes it was only just a quick greeting before work.

Other times, they'd stop for a few minutes and engage in conversations that were not important.

And somehow, those little conversations had become something Natasha looked forward to.

She didn't want to admit that.

Not even to herself.

One Wednesday evening, Natasha returned home earlier than usual.

She had barely stepped onto her apartment's pathway when she saw Sam's car pull up.

She noticed him getting out of his car, and he spotted her almost immediately.

"You're home early".

Natasha smiled.

"So are you"

He shrugged. "Fair point".

Natasha walked towards her apartment.

Sam followed a few steps before calling her out.

"How was work?"

"Long".

"Bad?"

"Just exhausting".

He nodded.

"I know the feeling".

Natasha turned slightly.

"You had a bad day too?"

"Not exactly".

"Then why do you look like that?"

He raised an eyebrow.

"Like what?"

"Like you need a vacation".

Sam laughed.

"Maybe I do".

"You should take one".

"Would you?"

She stopped.

What.

"If you had the chance of disappearing for a few days, would you?"

Natasha thought about it. For a moment, her expression changed.

"Maybe".

"Where would you go?"

"Somewhere nobody knows me".

Sam studied her.

"Why?"

She shrugged.

"Because sometimes it's nice not having to explain yourself ".

Something about the way she said it made his smile fade away slightly.

He knew exactly what she meant.

But he didn't ask further.

Instead, he nodded

"I understand ".

Natasha looked at him

"You always say that".

"Because I do".

She smiled faintly.

"You're surprisingly easy to talk to".

"Surprisingly?"

"Don't let it get to your head".

He laughed

"I'll try".

They reached Natasha's door

She reached out for her doorknob and turned towards him.

"Well, goodnight".

"Goodnight".

She unlocked her door.

Then paused.

"Sam?"

"Yeah?"

"Do you want to get coffee sometimes?"

The question slipped out of her mouth before she could even think about it.

Sam looked at her.

For once, he seemed genuinely caught off guard.

Natasha immediately felt embarrassed.

"I mean, as neighbours, not-"

"I know".

She narrowed her eyes.

"Don't smile like that".

"I'm not smiling".

"You are".

He tried to hide it, but he failed

"Coffee?"

"Coffee sounds good".

"Okay".

"Tomorrow?"

She hesitated for a second.

"Tomorrow".

Sam nodded.

"Goodnight, Nat".

She was caught off guard by that.

"Nat?" She thought in her mind

Only her close ones call her that.

But she didn't tell him that.

Maybe because she liked the idea of it.

"Goodnight, Sam".

She stepped inside and closed her door.

Then leaned against it.

She stared at the ceiling.

"Why did I just do that?"

Across the pathway. Sam stood outside his own house for a moment.

He looked towards Natasha's closed door.

A quiet smile appeared on his face.

Coffee.

It was innocent.

Simple.

Nothing he should have been thinking twice about.

Yet somehow, it felt like another small step into something neither of them had planned.

And for the first time, Sam wasn't sure he wanted to stop it.

The next morning, Natasha woke up with one thought she immediately wished she hadn't had.

Coffee.

She remembered asking Sam to get coffee with her.

She also remembered the look on his face.

She groaned and pulled the blanket over her head.

"Why did I do that?"

It wasn't a date.

At least, that was what she kept telling herself.

It was just coffee.

Neighbours could have coffee together.

There was nothing strange about that.

Still, she found herself taking a little more time getting ready for work.

By the time she stepped outside, Sam was already standing across the pathway, checking something on his phone.

He looked up.

"Good morning."

"Morning."

His eyes briefly moved over her before returning to her face.

"Ready for coffee?"

Natasha smiled.

"You're not letting me forget, are you?"

"Definitely not."

She shook her head.

"I knew I shouldn't have asked."

"You can still change your mind."

She looked at him.

"Are you hoping I will?"

"Not really."

Something about his answer made her smile.

"Then I'll see you later."

"Later."

That evening, Natasha returned home to find Sam waiting outside his house.

He looked up as soon as he heard her approaching.

"You survived."

"Barely."

He laughed.

"Rough day?"

"Very."

"Then you definitely need that coffee."

Natasha stopped beside him.

"Where are we going?"

"There's a café a few minutes from here."

She raised an eyebrow.

"You've already found one?"

"I've been here longer than you."

"By what? A few days?"

"Still counts."

She laughed.

They walked together.

For once, Natasha didn't feel the need to fill every silence.

The conversation came easily.

They talked about work, annoying people, food, and the things they would rather be doing instead of working.

At some point, Sam asked, "What made you move here?"

Natasha's smile faded slightly.

She looked down at her cup.

"I told you before. I needed a fresh start."

"I remember."

"That's all?"

"For now."

She looked at him.

"For now?"

Sam shrugged.

"You'll tell me when you're ready."

There was no pressure in his voice.

No curiosity that felt invasive.

Just patience.

Natasha studied him for a moment.

"You really don't ask too many questions."

"I could."

"But you don't."

"Maybe I know what it's like to have things you don't want to talk about."

She looked at him again.

There was something behind his words.

Something he wasn't saying.

Before she could ask, Sam smiled.

"So, enough about the past."

He leaned back.

"Tell me something I don't know about you."

Natasha thought for a moment.

"I hate mornings."

He laughed.

"That's not surprising."

"Excuse me?"

"You always look like you want to fight the sun."

She stared at him.

Then laughed.

"Okay. Your turn."

"I don't like crowded places."

Natasha raised an eyebrow.

"Really?"

"Really."

"You seem like someone who would."

"Maybe I'm good at pretending."

She smiled.

"That's suspicious."

"You're starting to sound like Maya."

"Don't insult me."

They both laughed.

And somewhere between one conversation and another, Natasha realized something.

She wasn't thinking about the first night they'd met.

Or the strange coincidence of seeing him again.

Or even the fact that he had somehow become her neighbour.

She was simply enjoying being with him.

That was different.

And maybe that was what made it dangerous.

When they finally returned home, they stopped at the entrance to the pathway.

"That was nice," Natasha said.

Sam looked at her.

"It was."

She smiled.

"Goodnight, Sam."

"Goodnight, Natasha."

She started walking towards her apartment.

"Natasha."

She turned.

"Yeah?"

"Same time tomorrow?"

She smiled.

"I thought this was just coffee."

"It is."

"Then why are you already planning tomorrow?"

He smiled.

"Because I liked today."

Natasha held his gaze for a moment.

Then she shook her head, smiling.

"Goodnight."

"Goodnight."

She walked away.

Sam watched her until she reached her door.

Only then did his smile disappear.

His phone vibrated in his pocket.

He pulled it out.

One message.

ELI: We need to talk.

Sam stared at the screen.

Then another message appeared.

ELI: It's about Natasha.

His expression changed immediately.

For a few seconds, he didn't move.

Then he locked his phone.

Whatever had been happening between him and Natasha could wait.

But apparently, the past couldn't.