"Hey, Avalon."

Upon hearing these words and recognizing the caller's voice, Avalon's heart skipped a beat. She realized that it was Klaus who had called her.

"Klaus?" Avalon asked in utter shock.

This was the first time Klaus had ever called her. Her expression changed as realization washed over her. She rose from her bed and sat at the end of it, caught completely off guard and unsure of how to react.

"Yeah," Klaus replied, confirming her theory that it was indeed him.

Avalon paused to compose herself before continuing, her voice filled with a hint of panic, "Uhh... H-hi. How are you today?"

"I'm fine, how are you?" Klaus responded.

"I'm great," Avalon replied, her voice slightly shaky as she began fidgeting with her left hand while her right held her phone beside her ear.

A brief moment of silence followed, indicating that both parties were unsure of how to navigate this unexpected conversation.

"Uhm... S-so," Avalon stammered, clearing her throat. "What made you choose to call all of a sudden?"

Klaus took a moment to gather his thoughts. He knew he wanted to call her, but the reason wasn't entirely clear to him. However, he had one answer that came to mind.

"I guess I just wanted to hear your voice," Klaus confessed to Avalon.

Avalon's eyes widened upon hearing Klaus' statement, and her blush deepened instantly. Then, a broad smile spread across her face as she remained silent for a few seconds before diving back into the conversation with Klaus.

The two talked on the phone for a while, with Avalon doing most of the talking and Klaus primarily listening. However, they both enjoyed the dynamic as it suited their preferences. As the conversation flowed, Avalon mentioned that she was busy with college applications and interviews but would be free in three days. The specificity of the date made Klaus wonder if she was subtly suggesting they could hang out, so he decided to take the bait and ask her directly.

"Would you like to go out with me on your free day?" Klaus inquired, his tone straightforward.

Avalon was taken aback by his directness but understood that their definitions of "going out" might differ. She composed herself.

"I'd like that," Avalon replied, a smile in her voice.

Upon hearing her response, Klaus subconsciously let out a slight smile too. They continued their conversation for a few more minutes before finally saying their goodnights. Klaus ended the call, and after a few more minutes of drowning in his thoughts, he drifted off into a world of dreams.

Klaus woke up quite early the next day. He got out of bed, brushed his teeth, and prepared for the day ahead. There were some household chores to be done, and Klaus took the responsibility upon himself. He continued with the tasks for a while, even after his mother had left for work. She had suggested he eat before starting, but Klaus was fine with saving his meal for later. After completing the chores, he finally sat down in the dining room to have his breakfast.

While eating, Klaus suddenly heard the doorbell ring. He paused his meal and headed to the door to see who it was. Opening the door, he was greeted by Rose, who had a cheerful smile on her face.

"Hey, dream boy," Rose said as she walked past him and into the house.

"Sure, Rose, you can come in," Klaus muttered sarcastically to himself as he closed the door and returned to his seat.

As he continued to eat, Rose struck up a conversation. Her tone indicated that her visit was not just a social call, and Klaus had a feeling it was about something he might not want to do.

After finishing his meal, Klaus went to his room to do his laundry, and Rose followed him. As he gathered his clothes and made his way to the laundry room, Rose finally mustered the courage to ask the question she had in mind.

"Hey, Klaus..."

"Yes?" Klaus replied after a sigh as he carried his laundry basket toward the laundry room.

"Would you like to go out with me today?" Rose finally asked, revealing the purpose of her visit.

Klaus, upon hearing this, continued in his tracks on the way to the laundry room. He already suspected that Rose would ask something that would be an inconvenience, and she didn't disappoint.

"And why would I do that?" Klaus asked, entering the laundry room.

"Oh, come on," Rose began, following him in. "You're not doing anything today, are you?"

"Not exactly," Klaus admitted.

"See, so we can go out and have some fun," Rose continued, flashing a smile.

"That's not really a good enough reason for me to agree, though," Klaus replied as he opened the washing machine and began placing his clothes inside.

Rose pondered for a moment, trying to think of what to say to change Klaus' mind. She understood the challenge of persuading him, and she wasn't sure if she was up to it. In a state of mild panic, Rose blurted out one of the worst statements she could have made.

"Well, you kinda owe me with what happened between you and Iris," Rose stated.

Klaus immediately stopped what he was doing and turned his head to her, revealing one of the most intimidating expressions.

"You're kidding, right?" Klaus said sternly.

Rose's body went momentarily numb upon hearing Klaus' response, and her knees seemed to waver beneath her. The intensity of his intimidating expression left her in a perplexing state, where she was acutely aware that she needed to retract her previous statement. However, she found herself unable to discern whether the unusual sensation coursing through her was discomfort or strangely alluring.

"I'm sorry, I didn't mean it," Rose quickly backtracked before Klaus returned to his task.

After a few more seconds of wrestling with her feelings, Rose regained her composure and refocused on Klaus.

"But seriously," Rose began, "just for today. Please, Klaus."

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Klaus knew that Rose was persistent, and declining her now would only lead to the same request in the future. Since he didn't have any plans for the day, accepting her offer would at least buy him some peace from her insistence for a while.

After putting the last of his clothes in the washing machine, Klaus sighed and responded to Rose.

"Fine, but just this once."

Rose's face immediately brightened with a smile.

"Yes, I'll take it," she replied with enthusiasm as she followed Klaus back to his room.

"But," Klaus continued after placing his laundry basket in its usual spot. "No flirting."

"Oh, come on," Rose responded with a pout, reluctantly accepting his terms. "Fine, fine."

With Rose's reluctant agreement, Klaus began to prepare for their outing. He promptly removed his shirt before turning his attention to Rose, who was still in his room, staring curiously.

"Do you mind?" Klaus asked, pausing his preparations.

"Not really, no," Rose replied, her gaze still fixed on him.

Klaus responded with a stern, silent look, prompting Rose to relent.

"Fine, fine," she giggled before leaving the room.

As Rose exited, Klaus let out a frustrated sigh. "These demigods and their invasion of my privacy," he muttered to himself, recalling a similar incident from the previous day.

Heading downstairs, Rose couldn't help but notice that this was her first time in Klaus' room. She had always been curious about what it looked like, and now that she had seen it, she realized it was almost exactly as she had expected.

The room was dimly lit, with the shutters usually closed and the lights turned off. It was meticulously organized and tidy, fitting for someone like Klaus who had plenty of free time.

While Rose waited for Klaus, Shade, who had just woken up, came downstairs. He headed to the kitchen for his breakfast, already prepared for him. The two engaged in conversation for a while until Klaus finally descended the stairs. After some more small talk between the three of them, Klaus and Rose left the house.

Klaus wasn't sure where they were going, but Rose assured him that he would enjoy it, even though he knew it was a blatant lie. After a bit of walking, they finally arrived at a mall.

"The Great Mall of America?" Klaus muttered to himself upon seeing the name. "Really?"

"It's great, I promise," Rose replied, grabbing his hand and pulling him into the mall.

Minutes later, Rose immersed herself in a shopping spree, with Klaus accompanying her. The mall boasted a wide array of stores and shops, each brimming with a variety of products. It was a bustling, spacious place, teeming with shoppers who eagerly spent their money on an assortment of items.

As he followed Rose through the shops, Klaus couldn't help but grow increasingly concerned about her spending. He had initially turned a blind eye to it, believing it didn't concern him, but after witnessing her excessive purchases, he couldn't hold back his worries any longer.

"Don't you think you're spending a bit too much?" Klaus inquired as Rose pushed a trolley overflowing with clothes and shoes.

"Aww, you care," Rose responded with a smile.

Observing his silence, Rose let out a giggle before providing some insight.

"Oh, relax, dream boy. I tend to binge-spend, so it's not like this happens all the time."

"Besides," she continued, "my mom owns her own company, and she's mega-rich, so I don't have to worry about where the money's coming from."

"That's not a good reason to spend recklessly," Klaus commented.

"That's exactly what I said initially," Rose replied, "but my mom's the same way, and she was the one who encouraged me to do it."

"Fair enough, I guess," Klaus conceded, choosing not to press further.

They continued to shop, moving from one store to another, buying various clothing and jewelry. Rose's hands became laden with bags, and she realized she needed Klaus's assistance to carry some of them.

"Hey, Klaus," Rose said as they exited a store. "Could you help me with some of these bags?"

"I'm not your butler, Rose," Klaus retorted.

"Oh, come on. Pretty please?" Rose implored.

After a bit more persuasion, Klaus finally relented and decided to assist.

While they roamed the mall, Klaus couldn't help but notice the many glances directed their way. It seemed that people couldn't help but murmur and comment on their looks and attractiveness as if they were celebrities. This attention made Klaus distinctly uncomfortable.

He also realized that at intervals, individuals approached Rose, asking her questions and making offers that resembled modeling job opportunities. Rose consistently declined the offers with a smile, explaining that she was already under contract with an agency. Watching this unfold, Klaus couldn't help but feel for Rose, recognizing that her life was quite stressful due to the constant attention she received.

A few minutes later, Klaus and Rose found themselves at yet another store, which Rose assured would be the last stop for her shopping expedition.

Upon entering, Rose immediately set about searching for clothing items to add to her growing collection. After selecting a few pieces, they made their way to the dressing room, where Rose could try on her choices while Klaus sat by and waited.

As Rose continued to try on the clothes, their conversation flowed. They delved into the topic of the Divine Tournament, and as expected, Rose eventually commented on X's remarkable power during the event. Their discussion revolved around X for a while until a sudden realization struck Klaus, prompting him to comment on it.

"You know," Klaus began, "X's final transformation is kind of similar to that 'Rage Charm' thing you used in your fight against Iris."

"Rage Charm?" Rose asked with a smile. "Is that what you're calling it?"

"Does it really matter?" Klaus responded.

"Not really," Rose admitted. "And I can't say for sure if they're truly similar."

"Well, judging by how they both seemed to be fueled by rage, that's what I meant," Klaus explained.

As he spoke, Klaus's thoughts drifted to what IV had shared with him about how rage served as a potent source of power for demigods. It all made sense to him, especially when he recalled various battles he had witnessed involving fighters like Trent and Lance.

The duo continued discussing the tournament for a few more minutes before their conversation gradually faded into silence. In the midst of this quiet, Klaus decided to express something that had been on his mind.

"By the way," Klaus began, "I didn't want to say anything, but you really handle all the attention quite well."

"Yeah, I've gotten used to it," Rose replied.

"I guess that's why you tell those guys you're already in a modeling agency?" Klaus inquired.

"Yup," Rose confirmed. "It's easier than just saying no, especially when most of them persist even if you do decline."

Klaus understood her rationale, realizing that she had developed effective responses due to her frequent encounters with such attention. However, as they continued to discuss the topic, Rose decided to elaborate on a few things.

"You know," Rose began, her voice carrying a reflective tone. "I used to thrive on attention and long for it, but I've changed."

Klaus, genuinely curious, asked, "Why is that?"

A soft smile graced Rose's face as she replied, "Because of you, dummy."

Klaus listened intently as Rose continued to express herself.

"I used to always seek praise and bask in being the center of attention wherever I went. I was afraid of solitude and being alone all my life. Until I met you, who made me realize that it's honestly not so bad."

Klaus remained silent, his attention focused on her words.

"I used to have a strong aversion to you, but I knew that I had to understand you before I could genuinely judge whether I despised you or not. But recently, the only thing I can say I despise is the attention that I've always craved all my life. And it's all thanks to you," Rose confessed. "That's why I fell for you."

Klaus felt like he had to say something at this point. But before he could respond, Rose spoke again, her smile never wavering.

"Oh, relax," she assured him. "I'm not trying to persuade you to like me or anything. I'm honestly more than okay with being just friends with you."

Klaus found himself pleasantly surprised by Rose's heartfelt sincerity. Though he had numerous thoughts and feelings in response to her revelations, he chose to hold them back out of respect for the depth of her emotions. Rose, undeterred, carried on with her explanations.

"What I'm basically trying to say is that I'm more in control of my emotions now," Rose explained. "During the tournament, I realized that my emotions were where my power was drawn from. So, I've been working on mastering and controlling them, including my feelings for you."

Klaus felt an overwhelming sense of pride and admiration for Rose. He recognized the profound meaning behind her words and her newfound commitment to mastering her abilities, which brought a genuine smile to his face.

With a hint of humor, Klaus broke the silence, "You know, I'd have complimented you, but I don't want what happened last time to happen again."

Rose burst into laughter, understanding his reference. "Okay, dude," she said between giggles, appreciating Klaus's jest.

Klaus's smile remained as Rose's laughter filled the room.

Eventually, Rose finished trying on her chosen clothes and made her selections. As their mall excursion concluded, Klaus accompanied her back home, the sun casting a warm, evening glow.

Upon their arrival at Rose's house, Klaus was warmly greeted by Rose's mother, who couldn't resist hugging him. After the compliments and flirtatious banter from Rose's mother, Klaus finally bid his farewells to Rose before heading back home.

The sun continued its descent, painting the sky with vibrant hues as Klaus made his way back.