{{char}} takes a long swig of her beer, washing away the disaster that was her date last night. She leans on the ledge of the rooftop, gazing up at the overcast sky. "Honestly {{user}}, I don't know why I even bother with dating anymore. Men are just...ugh!" She shakes her head despondently, her cheeks already flushed from the alcohol. {{char}} fishes another beer out of her lunchbox and cracks it open. This lunch hour was turning into yet another pity party, but at least she always had {{user}} there to commiserate with. {{char}} sighs heavily, her shoulders slumping as she traces the rim of her beer bottle with one finger. "Maybe I'm just not meant to find love, {{user}}. What's wrong with me?" Her voice cracks slightly as she speaks, betraying the depth of her self-pity. She knew the alcohol was amplifying her sorrow but after so many disastrous dates, it was hard to stay optimistic. "I try so hard to be charming and fun, I doll myself up, I plan these romantic evenings...and for what?" She shakes her head again, red eyes downcast as she picks at the label on her beer bottle. "I'm tired of being everyone's 'friend' or their rebound. I just want to find someone who looks at me the way I look at them." {{char}} takes another long drink, wanting nothing more than to numb her broken heart.

"Oh really?" Aurelia snorts, glancing over at Lera incredulously. "And where have I been hearing that from before? Every Tom, Dick, and Harry that I've gone out with since I can remember. 'Don't worry Aurelia, you're special.' 'You'll find the right guy eventually, trust me.' It's all just empty words." She takes another long gulp of her beer, feeling the warmth spread through her chest. "Maybe I should focus on myself for a change. Maybe then someone will actually want to be with me and not just my idea of who they should be."

"Hey!" Aurelia protests as Lera takes her beer away. "What are friends for, huh? You're supposed to let me drown my sorrows in alcohol." She pouts for a moment, trying not to look too offended by the fact that Lera is trying to take control of the situation and help her. "Fine," she says with an exaggerated sigh, setting down her nearly empty bottle. "I'll try...but you know how I am when it comes to this stuff." A wistful smile tugs at her lips as she glances back over the rooftop, lost in thought about all the times she's imagined finding love up here, looking out over the city.

"What?!" Aurelia sits up straighter at the sound of a male voice calling to her from across the roof. She glances over at Lera with wide eyes before spinning around to face the newcomer, heart racing. "Wha-what did you say?" she asks, feeling both excited and nervous all at once. Could this really be her chance for love?

Her attention firmly locked onto the figure now standing before her, Aurelia feels an inexplicable tingling sensation course through her veins as he approaches. The man smiles warmly at her, his eyes crinkling at the corners in a way that makes her heart skip a beat. "I heard you were looking for some company," he says with a wink, offering her his hand.

Aurelia stares down at his outstretched hand for a moment before finally allowing him to take hers, feeling an electric current flow between them. This could be it...this could finally be her chance at real, true love.

Taking in his handsome features and confident demeanor, Aurelia can't help but beam up at him. "You have no idea," she breathes, the words tumbling out before she can stop them. "I've been hoping for someone like you to come along." Her cheeks flush with the admission, but she doesn't care; she feels more alive and open than she has in years.

As they stand there beneath the overcast sky, the two of them begin to spin around on the rooftop, laughing and taking in the breeze as if they've known each other for a lifetime. It's exhilarating, intoxicating...and Aurelia can already feel herself falling hard for this mysterious man who came along when she least expected him.

She's never felt this way about anyone before...his touch sends shivers down her spine and every time he looks at her with those soulful eyes, she feels like the world around them melts away. They continue to spin, losing track of time as they get lost in each other, their laughter intertwining effortlessly. As the moment draws to a close, Aurelia finds herself wishing it could last forever - never wanting this perfect night to end.

She can hardly believe it as they pause in their dance, their faces mere inches apart. Her heart pounds wildly in her chest, threatening to spill out of her mouth as she stares into his eyes, searching for some hint of what he's thinking. The air between them crackles with an undeniable chemistry, and Aurelia wonders if anyone else has ever felt this way...if anyone else has ever experienced this kind of connection. It feels too good to be true, but she can't bring herself to care about anything other than the moment they share right now.

Her heart races as they exchange phone numbers, their fingers briefly brushing against each other in the process. It's all she can do to contain her excitement, grinning like a fool even as he walks away, promising to call her soon. She barely acknowledges Lera's presence beside her; everything else fades into insignificance when contrasted with this new, intense emotion coursing through her veins.

As she watches him disappear from view, Aurelia can feel the butterflies taking flight in her stomach, flutters that are so foreign and yet so exhilarating. Her entire body tingles with anticipation, every nerve ending humming with the promise of what's to come. The world feels brighter, more vibrant, as if life has suddenly taken on a whole new meaning. She can hardly contain herself as she pulls out her phone, already

Aurelia's face flushes with embarrassment as she glances over at Lera, who is still smirking mischievously. "Shut up, you knew this would happen!" She frowns, trying to appear annoyed but unable to hide the smile that keeps tugging at her lips. Truth be told, she's grateful for Lera's encouragement and support.

Carefully, she types out a quick message to her newfound love interest, her heart hammering against her ribcage as she hits send. She looks up at the sky again, hoping he'll text her back any second now...her entire world seems to hinge on his reply.

Aurelia can't help but notice the sadness lurking behind Lera's cheerful expression. She feels guilty knowing that her happiness is somehow at odds with Lera's own feelings. But as she watches Lera smile encouragingly, she knows that their friendship comes first. And for now, she'll focus on this newfound connection, hoping it can blossom into something more - not just for herself, but for them both.

"Thanks again for being here, you know," Aurelia says softly, reaching out to squeeze Lera's hand reassuringly. "I don't know what I'd do without you." Her eyes flick back down to her phone, waiting impatiently for the message she's been dying to see.

"It's okay," Lera says with a small smile, her voice catching slightly. "I understand. You go out and live your life, and I'll be here whenever you need me." The reality is, Aurelia is spending less time with Lera now that she has this new man in her life. It pains her to see Lera looking so sad, but she can't help it; she's just so happy right now.

Another hour passes before her phone buzzes in her pocket. Her heart skips a beat as she pulls it out and sees the message from him. The words on the screen make her heart flutter wildly, filling her with a warmth that spreads throughout her entire body. Maybe, just maybe, this time things will be different...