Sofia (OUTDATED)

by BUBSILLY

Summary:

The bears hear of a new coffee shop that had opened just a few days ago. For Grizz & Ice, the visit to the café wouldn't be any more than a simple adventure, but for Panda it would be more than that — As he lays his eyes on Sofia, the waitress.

Would it be another temporary crush of his? Or something more?

He is hopeful, and will try his best to impress the beautiful girl he just met.

Chapter 1: Love at first coffee

Notes:

An introductory chapter. Thank you for reading!

It was a sunny afternoon, and a busy one at that - The bears were eagerly searching for a coffee shop that had recently opened around the bay area, craving for some mocha.

Being guided by Panda's GPS, the bears walk in a continuous but quick pace, hoping to arrive soon. 

 

" Okay, only a few more steps and we're in! " Panda exclaimed.

 

" Hooray! I really need my mocha fix right now, " Grizz said, with a bit of exhaustion. " All this walking is tiring me out, and I still have a lot of work to do at home, "

 

" And by 'work' you mean watch Action Buddies for the tenth time? " Panda asks, quite unfazed.

 

" Ice Bear will order three coffees. " Ice Bear said.

 

After what appeared to be an endless walk, they finally arrive at their destination.

 

" Agh, Finally! " Panda said with relief. 

 

The four bears went into the cozy-looking café, with an interior design that would make you think of an art student's dream. It was messy, yet arranged in a way that made it look quite appealing to the eyes.

Grizz looks around, sniffing the air.

 

" It smells like cookies in here " The bear said, complimenting.

 

" Come on, let's find a table! I want to check the entire menu. " Panda exclaims.

 

" Ice bear wants a croissant. " Ice Bear says, in his usual monotone voice.

 

The panda, the grizzly and the polar bear all sat down together at a table near the windows, having a clear and perfect view of everything outside. What a charming place.

 

" So, what's everyone having? " Grizz asked.

 

" I'll have a cappuccino and a strawberry cheesecake. " Panda answered.

 

" Ice Bear will have a coffee with lots of sugar, and a croissant. " Ice Bear responds right after.

 

" What about you, big bro? " Panda asks Grizz.

 

" Well i uhh.. " The bear thinks, ticking his chin with his paw, wandering through the menu again. There were so many options, and knowing Grizz — It would be a while until he chose what he wanted.

 

" Come on Grizz, we don't have all day.. " Panda says, annoyed.

 

" I uh.. " Grizz responds, still thinking. The bear for sure was having a field time deciding.

 

" Oh, come on Grizz ! There must be something that you feel like getting ! " Panda says, quite rude.

 

" No, i know what I want! I want uhh.." The bear says, looking around at the café. He was getting nervous.

 

But not too far, a waitress notices the bear's dilemma, chuckling to herself. She decides to gently approach, making sure to sound as friendly as possible.

 

" Hi! May i help you guys? " The waitress says, approaching the bears' table.

 

" Uh yeah! " Panda answers, with an irritated tone, his eyes shut for a second.

 

" You see, our brother is having a hard time choosing a drink, can you recommend something sweet, but not too— " He trails off, looking at the waitress. She was.. very beautiful.

 

The waitress was a tall brown cat, with spots on her face and shoulders. Her hair puffy and short, looking just like a hazel cotton candy. Her eyes deep and piercing, caramel colored. 

He has never seen someone like her, and knowing how Panda is..

 

" ... Uh.. " Panda stutters.

 

" Not too what? " The feline waitress asked, confused.

 

" Too.. Sweet! Yeah, not too sweet! " Panda responds.

 

" Okay then, let's see.." The cat trails off, going over the menu.

 

" How about a Caramel Macchiato? It has just the right amount of sweetness, and the coffee is quite bitter. " She says.

 

" Yeah! A Macarel Cacchiato sounds great, haha ! " Panda says, tripping over his own words.

 

" Ice bear is embarrassed for Panda. " The polar bear thought, raising an eyebrow.

 

" Oh, okay, so three coffees and a cheesecake? " The cat asked.

 

" Uh yeah, yes! Three coffees and a catcake— CHEESE! CHEESECAKE! " Panda responds, immediately correcting himself mid-phrase.

 

" Okay ! Will be back in a few! " The cat says, going back to the counter, giggling a little bit.

 

Panda was blushing, his face looking like a tomato. He felt extremely embarrassed. What has gotten into him?

 

" Wow, dude, what happened there ? " Grizz asked, curious.

 

" Dude.. She's beautiful ! " Panda replied excitedly.

 

" That was weird. Ice bear is worried for Panda. " The polar bear says with a hint of genuine worry ( and second hand embarrassment ) in his voice.

 

" Aww, PanPan is in love !" Grizz teases.

 

" Café romance. Classic. " Ice Bear added.

 

" I wonder if she has a name.. " Panda trails off.

 

" Of course she has a name, dummy. Everyone has one. " Grizz responded, unamused.

 

" I know! It's just that.. I wish I could get to know her more. " Panda said, resting his head on the palm of his paw.

 

His mind was playing a whole movie. The dates they could go, the things he could show her, the life they could have together. He was already thinking of the future before even asking her name.

 

" You can! ...If you talk to her. " Grizz says, smiling.

 

" Yeah.. Maybe you're right, big bro. I just need to talk to her." Panda responds.

 

A couple of minutes pass, and the waitress returns with the bears' orders, placing the cups and plates in the rightful place.

 

" Alright! All here, hope you enjoy your meal. " The waitress says.

 

Grizz immediately stares at Panda, Raising his eyebrows as if telling him to make a move. It was as simple as can be, he just had to try.

 

" So uh.. what's your name? " Panda asks the girl.

 

" Oh! My name is Sofia. " She replies with a smile.

 

" Sofia.. " The bear whispers, looking mesmerized.

 

" And what would be you sire's names? " She asks.

 

" Uh, i'm.. I'm Panda! This is my brother Ice Bear, and my other brother Grizz. " The bear answered.

 

" Oh, a trio, I see! I hope you enjoy your meals, fellas! " Sofia says.  " And if you need anything, just call me. " She adds, ready to go back to the counter.

 

" Wait, wait, wait ! I— Uh.. " Panda exclaims, interrupting the girl.

 

" You see.. I was wondering if.. I can have your numb.. Uh.. " The bear asked, or at least, tried to.

 

" ..My numb-uh? " Sofia asks, confused.

 

" Yeah, your numb-uh. Your numb-uh-er. " Panda says, and for the life of him, he couldn't even finish his sentence.

 

" My.. numb-uh-er..? " The girl replies, getting more confused by the minute.

 

" Ugh, no no, I mean your number, I wanted to ask for your number" Panda finally spills it out.

 

" Oh, why didn't you just say so? Here, let me get a napkin. " Sofia says, getting a napkin from her pocket.

 

The cat writes down her number and gives it to the bear, who grabs it as fast as lightning.

 

" Thanks ! " Panda said, with a smile ; Watching as Sofia waved at him, going back to the counter.

 

" Wow. " Grizz says shortly, giggling. " She's got you wrapped around her finger, man. " Grizz adds, teasing his brother.

 

" Haha, very funny. " Panda replied, rolling his eyes.

 

" Ice bear approves. " Ice Bear says, being supportive of his brother despite the slight embarrassment.

 

The bear was known for falling in love pretty easily, especially when a pretty girl caught his eye. He wanted to shoot his shot, maybe show Sofia that he is indeed cool. He usually is a mess around anyone whom he falls in love with, even the slight crush being enough to make the bear's heart flutter.

He calls her over to their table, and with a cough to clean his throat, he asks.

 

" So, do you come here often, or..? " Panda asked, trying to start a conversation.

 

" Well, i work here, silly! "

 

Grizz and Ice both facepalm. Oh, he truly was fumbling himself there.

 

" Right. " Panda replied, blushing.

 

" Uh, sorry ma'am ! Thanks for being so quick with our orders. " Grizz interrupts Panda, really wanting to get this embarrassing interaction over with.

 

" Oh, no problem! It's my job. " She replies, giving the trio a small smile. " If you need anything, call me. See ya! "

Sofia waves at the bears, returning to the counter.

Panda's eyes followed the girl, his stare fixated on her.

 

" Gosh Damnit. " He was slightly frustrated.

 

" You should probably learn how to not look like a blushing mess around the ladies, bro. " Grizz said. Despite it sounding sarcastic, it was genuine advice.

 

" Ice Bear agrees. Panda needs consistency. " The polar adds

 

" Yeah yeah, I get it, whatever. Let's eat now, i'm hungry. " Panda replied.

 

The three bears ate their food in silence, only breaking it when talking about the quality of the food. It was delicious, indeed.

A couple of hours pass, and the trio was ready to head home.

 

" Hey, I think we should come back here, the food was great. " Grizz said, complimenting.

 

" Mhm. " Ice Bear agrees, snatching a few of the free bread samples available in the table.

 

" Well, what are we waiting for? Let's go! " The Grizzly exclaimed.

 

As they were heading home, Panda had a sudden idea, and he was determined to follow it. He was going to text Sofia, no matter how much his brain tried to convince him not to.

As they head back to the comforts of their cave, Panda pulls his phone, shaking ever so slightly. 

He still had the napkin with her number, all he had to do was text.

 

" Uhh, I'll go to my room now, PLEASE do not interrupt me! " The bear says, and without saying anything else, he storms off to his bedroom.

Grizz and Ice Bear watch him as he runs off, both having the same thought.

 

" Oh boy, here we go again. " The Grizzly thought.

 

He locks the door, flopping over his bed and eagerly typing her phone number, adding her to his contacts.

All he had to do was say 'Hello' and maybe send a few emojis, be charming and nice.. It couldn't be THAT hard, could it? 

His mind was spinning. He had done this so many times, he learned so much from his previous fumbles, he can do it. He knows he can.

 

'Hi! Sofia? It's me, Panda! Y'know? From the Café. I hope to hear back from you soon, haha'  He types, pressing 'send' at the speed of light.

 

" You did it Panda. " He tells himself, with a hint of pride to his voice. He was feeling confident.

And to his surprise, voi-lá ! she replied.

 

'Hello! Nice to see you again :)' 

'I didn't expect you to actually text, haha.'

 

What did she mean by that? Did she think he was just being a weirdo? He had to keep the conversation going somehow, and show his interest.

 

'Oh, surprise then! Haha, i felt like just saying hello.. y'know? Because i'm a cool guy and i—'

 

He immediately deletes it. Trying again. And again. 

He had absolutely no idea what and how to say what he meant to. He can't express himself properly, he can't convey everything inside his mind, he can't even hold the phone without shaking. Classic Panda..

 

'I just wanted to say hi! You seemed cool, so why not text, right?'  He presses send. He shouldn't overthink so much, and instead, just go with the flow.

 

'Say.. Uh, would you want  to hang out someday?'

'Me and my brothers want to go for a picnic this saturday.'

'I mean, ONLY if you're up for it.'

 

He excitedly awaits for her answer. He has done this so many times, but he had faith this would go well. He was going to do everything differently. He was not going to mess up his chances this time.

He mentally tells himself that he's doing well, that he's giving out the best first— Well, second-first — impression as he possibly can.

 

She's typing.

 

'Sure! I would love to!'

He jumps out of his bed in joy, exclaiming loud 'Woohoo' sounds while running around his room

 

" I have a date! Yes! " He repeats over and over, full of hopes that not only it would be worth it, but it would also be the start of a bright future for him.

Grizz and Ice overhear the loud, cheerful screams coming from his room, and with a common stare, they both say to one another.

 

" Guess he did it. "

Chapter 2: We're gon' be chillin'

Summary:

Saturday finally comes! Panda, Grizz & Ice are excited to hang out with Panda's new (crush) friend, Sofia. The four have a picnic ahead of them, and can't wait to have as much fun as can be.

...However, Grizz seems to be stealing Pan's spotlight! He can't let jealousy take the best of him though.

Saturday, 9 AM. Panda, Grizz and Ice Bear all wake up in their respective beds.

Ice Bear is the first to get up, heading straight to the shower. Grizz stretches and yawns, but makes no move to leave his bed.

Panda however , upon hearing the loud 'beeps' of his his alarm clock, immediately jumps out of his bed. Today is saturday, the day where his brothers, and himself , would have a picnic. 

And the best part of it all, Sofia would be there, alongside them.

After his shower, Ice Bear heads to the kitchen, where he proceeds to prepare a healthy breakfast.

He opens the fridge and sees it's quite empty, aside from a few condiments. He looks deeper and only finds a bag of frozen peas, a few ice cubes, and an unlabeled casserole dish.

 

" Ice Bear can work with this. " He says, before Panda immediately storms onto the kitchen, making Ice Bear jump a little.

 

" Gah! " He screams, although in a low tone.

 

" Ahh! Sorry Ice, but we don't have time for breakfast, let's go grab some muffins or something.. " He says, rushing his brother to leave the kitchen.

 

" Why? " He asks, confused.

 

" We have a picnic today! We've got no time to lose! " Panda responds in a hurry.

 

" Ice Bear would rather have breakfast first, and then go out. "

 

" No! " Panda insists, " Come on, we'll go and buy something along the way. "

 

" Okay... " Ice Bear reluctantly agrees.

 

In the perfect timing, Grizz finally gets out of bed and enters the kitchen.

 

" Uhh... what's going on? " He asks, seeing his brother's in a hurry.

 

" Picnic! Park! " Panda says, impatiently.

 

" Yeah, sure.. I forgot about the picnic, but why are you so—"

 

" Let's go then! " Panda exclaims, not even letting Grizz finish his sentence, leaving the cave and running straight to the forest.

 

" So, we're not stacking today? " Grizz asks, confused as to why Panda just ran out so excitedly.

 

" Ice bear assumes so. " Ice replies.

 

After a while, the three brothers reach the park. Grizz and Ice Bear walk behind a hurried Panda, who keeps checking his phone every minute.

 

" Come on, Slowpokes! You don't want to be late, do you ? " Panda asks, motivating them to walk just a little bit faster.

 

" Why is he in a rush? " Grizz asks.

 

" Ice Bear does not feel like running. " Ice says, with a slight frown on his face.

 

Panda was the one that suggested the idea of a picnic. And although his brothers don't seem very interested in going, Panda himself is really looking forward to it.

And he was really looking forward to it for two reasons: One, the three brothers had not gone out together in a while, and two, Sofia would be there.

He'd been talking a lot to her these days, and they seemed to have become friends. He didn't really know how to feel about her, he did know he liked her, though. She was pretty cool, that's all that matters.

The three bears enter the park, and Grizz quickly spots Sofia, waving at her. She was standing under a large oak tree, holding a basket in her hands.

 

" Oh! Over here! " She spouts, noticing the three bears, and waving.

 

Panda excitedly pulls Grizz and Ice Bear, and the three of them quickly approach her.

 

" Hello again, Grizz, Panda, and... " Sofia greets them, smiling.

 

" Ice Bear. " He replies, with a bow.

 

She giggles, bowing back to him. The girl gently places the basket down, filled with lots of different types of food.

 

" Whoa! Look at all the food you've got there! " Grizz exclaims, taking a good look inside.

 

" My parents insisted on preparing everything. " She replies, " They're a little bit too much sometimes... "

 

" Oh, there is nothing like too much! " Grizz says, confidently. 

 

Sofia seems to be having such a great time already, smiling since they arrived. Her eyes sparkled a lot when she saw Panda, and although that made him feel happy, it also made him feel a little bit uneasy. What if she's just trying to be friendly? Is he reading too much into it? Is it too early to think of something else?

 

He doesn't have much time to dwell on these thoughts, however, as his brother interrupts him.

 

" Come on, Panpan! " He says, clapping his paws together.

 

" Ah! Right. " Panda quickly gets back to reality, and the four of them sit down, ready to have a wonderful picnic.

 

Grizz is making jokes here and there, and it's noticeable how much Sofia seems to like said jokes

Ice Bear and her are getting along very well, discussing a variety of things, mainly about food. 

Even though she's getting along pretty well with both of them, Panda can't help but just watch. He doesn't know what to say, but doesn't want to feel left out either.

 

" Hey Sofi—" Before he can finish, Grizz grabs Sofia by the arm.

 

" Here's the lake i told you about! It's the same lake i fell in last week! " Grizz says, pulling her a bit closer, both running towards the lake.

 

" Ah, uh.. " Panda says, being left alone with Ice Bear, who was already eating.

 

" Uh.. I'm gonna get something to drink. " Panda says, heading over to the basket, where the food is.

 

" Ice Bear can drink from a nearby river. " He says, but Panda doesn't listen, as he's already picking up a bottle of water.

 

He walks towards the lake, and sees Sofia and Grizz throwing stones and skipping them across the water.

He notices how happy Sofia seems to be, and his heart flutters. But he feels something else, a little bit of jealousy, but he tries to ignore it.

 

" Hey, Panman! " Grizz exclaims, waving and calling out to his brother.

 

" H-hey. " He replies, walking over and joining the two.

 

" Sofia was telling me that her brother can skip a stone a hundred times! Can you believe that? "

 

" Haha... no way. " Panda laughs, trying his best not to show his annoyance.

 

" Oh yes! It's true, I saw him do it once! He said it all depends on how hard you throw it. " Sofia says.

 

Panda picks up a stone, and throws it as hard as he can, and it sinks right away.

 

" Aw man.. " Panda says, frustrated. It could've been his best attempt at impressing her.

 

" Don't worry bro, i'm sure you can do it if you keep practicing. " Grizz says.

 

" Uh... maybe.. " Panda crosses his arms.

 

He is getting more and more bothered, and his face shows it. 

As the day goes on, Grizz and Sofia are becoming buddies, having a great time ; while Panda is stuck with his thoughts, and to his dismay, not being as cool as his older brother.

 

Ice Bear notices Panda's grumpy face, deciding to talk it out, not really helping either.

 

" Ice Bear would not be sad. " He says, as he eats a piece of fish.

 

" Well, I'm not sad! I'm just thinking, that's all. " Panda replies, crossing his arms.

 

" Ice Bear would stop thinking. "

 

" No, Ice. You're not understanding, This—"

 

" Guys, guys! Check it out! " Grizz interrupts the both of them, showing them Sofia's phone.

 

" What? " Panda asks, raising an eyebrow.

 

" It's a new video game console. It's supposed to be coming out this year. Isn't that amazing?! "

 

" Yeah.. Sure. " Panda replies, with a sigh.

 

Grizz and Sofia start chatting a lot, and Panda is a little bothered by it. But he can't just say anything, or make it obvious that he's bothered by it, and ruin the day for everyone.

 

" Panda is not eating? " Ice Bear asks.

 

" I'm not hungry, okay? " He says, sounding grumpier by the minute.

 

" Ice Bear wants to know why. "

 

" Why do you want to know, Ice? It's not important."

 

" If not eating is not important, then thinking is not important. " Ice retorts.

 

" That's different. " Panda says.

 

Ice bear immediately connects two and two together, and comes up with a conclusion.

 

" Ice Bear thinks that Panda is jealous. "

 

" W-what?! N-no! " Panda exclaims, blushing.

 

" Ice Bear knows that Panda is jealous. "

 

" How do you know that? " Panda asks, raising an eyebrow.

 

" Ice Bear can tell by the way Panda looks at Sofia. "

 

Panda's eyes widen, and he blushes even more.

 

" I'm not jealous, okay !? It's just.. that.. "

 

" Ice Bear knows that Panda is jealous. "

 

" Okay, fine! Maybe i am a little bit jealous. " Panda finally admits.

 

" Why? " Ice asks.

 

" Because! Grizz is having a great time with her, and she's having a great time with him. Meanwhile, i can't even say anything without feeling like an idiot. "

 

" Ice Bear thinks that Panda should stop thinking. "

 

" I know ! But.. AGH! " Panda groans.

 

" Ice Bear thinks that Panda should stop trying too hard. Sofia likes Panda's company, and Sofia likes Grizz and Ice's too. But Sofia likes Panda the most. " Ice says, reassuring him.

 

" R-really? " Panda asks, surprised.

 

Ice Bear simply nods, patting his brother in the back.

 

" Thanks, Ice. " He smiles.

 

" No problem. " Ice Bear replies, smiling back.

 

After a while, Grizz and Sofia, who left for a bit, come back, and Sofia sits next to Panda.

 

" Hey, Panpan! " She greets him, with a big smile.

 

" Oh, h-hey. " He replies, a little bit nervous. " I hope you're having fun. "

 

" Yeah, i sure am! Your brother is super nice and— " 

She immediately notices the bummed expression on Panda's face.

 

" Is something wrong? " She asks, concerned.

 

" Oh, no. Nothing's wrong. I'm just... thinking. " He replies. 

 

Panda didn't want to admit it, but he was jealous. Jealous of his brother, and how well he was getting along with Sofia.

But Ice Bear had reassured him that it was okay, and that he shouldn't worry too much about it. And so, he takes a deep breath, and tries to calm down.

 

" Thinking? About what? " She asks.

 

" Well, uh... I was just thinking about how nice it is to have a picnic with you guys ! You seem to be getting along with eachother so well.. " He says, looking at Grizz and Ice Bear.

 

" Yeah, they're really nice. " She smiles, placing her head in his shoulder.

 

" You're cool too, y'know! You've been awfully quiet for someone who is so chatty via text.. Come on, Let's have some fun! " She says, grabbing his paw and pulling him towards the rest of the group.

 

Panda's heart flutters, and he smiles. He's glad that she likes him too.

The four of them continue to enjoy their picnic, and eventually, it starts to get dark.

 

" Well, I guess it's time to go home. " Grizz says, stretching.

 

" Yeah, me too. " Sofia says, packing up her things.

 

" It was really nice to meet you, Sofia. " Grizz says, hugging her.

 

" Likewise! " S he replies.

 

" Sofia! " Panda calls out, running up to her.

 

" I just wanted to say... Thanks for coming today. I know you were probably busy, but I'm glad you came. " He says, smiling.

 

" Of course! I wouldn't miss it for the world. " She replies, giving him a hug.

 

Panda's heart skips a beat, and he blushes. He hugs her back, enjoying the moment. It was the closest he had gotten to her today, and even though his jealousy nearly got the best of him earlier, he's still happy.

 

" See you later, Panpan! " She says, before walking away.

 

" Bye! " He waves goodbye, watching her leave.

 

" You're lucky, Panman! " Grizz says, slapping his brother's back.

 

" Ouch! " Panda exclaims, rubbing his back. 

 

" Ice bear knows you'll be in good hands. " Ice bear says, approaching Grizz and Panda.

 

" Come on, guys! She's just a friend. "

He says, watching her leave in the distance. The way she walked away with such elegance. He was truly mesmerized by her.

 

"...For now."

 

Notes:

Thanks once again for reading!

Chapter 3: Overthinking

Summary:

Panda admitelly confesses to himself: He's in love. What he doesn't know is that Sofia likes him as well. Her mind wanders to overthinking, and she's as much of an awkward mess as our dear Panda Bear.

Notes:

* This is a considerably shorter chapter !*
Just a little bit of build up, focusing more on Sofia herself! Enjoy!

It's been a few days since the picnic with Sofia. Panda, Grizz and Ice Bear have been spending their days in the park and doing the same old things they did before the picnic. It was getting a bit boring to be honest. The days felt longer than ever, and Panda couldn't stop thinking about what happened that day.

Grizz walks towards the cave, opening the door gently, holding a few bags of groceries in his arms.

 

" Agh ! These things are quite heavy.. I overdid a little in buying food.." he says while trying to keep his balance. He enters the cave, closing the door with his tail. 

 

"Guys, I'm home! I brought you guys something sweet!", he exclaims while taking out a bar of chocolate from one of the grocery bags. He then starts walking around the cave, searching for his brothers. The cave is silent, as if it were empty. 

 

"Huh? Where are they? They're usually in the kitchen by now.." Grizz wonders while placing the bags down on the table.

 

He opens the fridge, seeing Ice in there, as always. He's laying in the freezer, as if he were sleeping. He was breathing, which is a relief. Ice can only tolerate so much heat.

 

"Icey, bro! Wake up, I bought some good stuff!" Grizz exclaims as he approaches his brother, trying to wake him up.

 

Ice opens his eyes, sitting up as he looks at Grizz. "Ice Bear is resting."

 

"I brought some candy. Do you want some?", he asks.

 

"Ice Bear wants some." he replies, his face not showing any emotion.

 

Grizz chuckles, and hands Ice a candy bar. Ice takes it, opening it and biting into the soft chocolate. 

He then closes the fridge, leaving Ice in the it ; After all, he has already disturbed his rest too much for today.

He paces around the kitchen, tapping his chin and wondering where in the house Panda could possibly be.

 

"He's not in the kitchen, so he must be in.. his room!", Grizz says as he starts walking towards Panda's room, knocking on the door almost immediately.

 

"Panda! Open up!" Grizz says with a smile, the knocks intensifying as Panda doesn't seem to reply.

 

"Pan Pan! I bought some chocolate, there's even some gluten free ones.. Your favorite ones! — i think.." Grizz says, trying to convince him to open the door.

Suddenly.. a giggle. Panda is defiantly awake.

 

"Open up, Pan Pan! I know you're awake, I can hear you.."

 

"N-No, I'm asleep.. go away, Grizz.", Panda says, trying his hardest not to giggle again.

 

"C'mon, Pan Pan. You won't get any chocolate if you don't open the door !"

 

Panda giggles again, opening the door ever so slightly. His eyes were sparkling, he looked really happy.

"Sorry bro, i was a bit busy. I was talking to Sofia, she sent me this funny cat meme and.. and.."

 

"And you got a little distracted?" Grizz said, trying to finish Panda's sentence.

 

"I wouldn't say distracted.. " Panda replies, giggling once more. He seems to be really happy, what could these two even be possibly talking about to make him so joyful? 

 

"More like.. In love, then?" Grizz rapidly replies, smirking and poking his brother.

 

"Haha, Very funny" Panda rolls his eyes. "I just really enjoy her company, okay? We've been texting a lot since the picnic, and she's very funny! She's also very smart and has great taste in music and.. "

 

Grizz interrupts his brother. "Sounds like you have a crush.." he teases.

 

"Just a little, maybe.." Panda replied, blushing.

 

"Aww, is Pan Pan in love? How cute!", Grizz teased more, ruffling his little brother's fur. "That's the longest crush you've had! I'm glad you're enjoying her company, Panda."

 

"Well, we've been talking for a while, and I just feel like we get along perfectly, and we have a lot of stuff in common, and..." He trails off, fumbling with his paws.

 

"It's okay, Pan Pan. Just let it out.." Grizz said with a smile, giving Panda a pat in the back. "You REALLY like her, don't you?"

 

"Yeah, I do." Panda sighed, looking at the floor. "This is so weird! Usually no one reprocicates my feelings, but she seems to enjoy talking to me as well? Do you think she's into me?"

 

"What do you mean by that?" Grizz asked, raising an eyebrow.

 

"Like, that she knows i like her, and she's showing that she also likes me..?" Panda said, his paws shaking a bit.

 

"Well, if she's into you, then what's the problem? Go for it, Pan Pan! You don't have to worry about the outcome, she probably likes you just as much as you like her! Just follow your heart, buddy." Grizz encouraged his brother.

 

"My heart.." He thought out loud. "Kinda cheesy, but advice is advice!" Panda chuckled, hugging his big brother. "Thanks, bro. I'll go for it.."

 

"Anytime, bro. Now, how about we eat those chocolates?" Grizz said with a grin.

 

The two walk towards the kitchen, and for once in a lifetime, Panda leaves his phone in his room, focusing on calming down and just enjoying the delicious treats his brother had bought.

 

Meanwhile, Sofia's in her apartment, looking at the ceiling. Her mind's blank, and she can't focus on anything else. She's been like this since the picnic, she hasn't been able to concentrate.

She gets up from the couch, picking up her phone and walking to her bedroom, flopping into the bed.

 

" Am i texting too much ..? What if I'm annoying him or something.. " Sofia thought out loud.

 

She lays in the bed, her eyes wandering around the room. She hums a tune, trying to calm herself down, after all, overthinking is of no use.

Her phone buzzes, a new notification appearing on her lock screen. It was not Panda, but instead , an email. She unlocks her phone, going straight to the text messaging app, sighing.

 

"Come on Sof! Just calm down.. Nobody replies or texts 24/7.." She thinks to herself, in an attempt to stop overthinking.

 

Sofia was collected and fine at the picnic, but in reality, she was as much of a mess as Panda. She saw everything purely as a friendship, or at least tried to.. Something in her heart made her want to believe it was something more, that this could lead to something serious.. But, was this wishful thinking?

She sighs once more, closing her eyes, breathing deeply. She's a mess, and she needs a moment to collect her thoughts. She lays there, motionless, opening her eyes and staring at the ceiling, until her phone rings. She gasps, startled by the sudden noise.

 

" Pan pan! " She eagerly grabs her phone.. To her dismay, it was just an ad for a sale in her favorite store.

 

"Agh.." she groaned, throwing her phone aside. "Goddamnit, Sof! Get your mind together! Maybe he's just busy right now.. You're a mess!"

 

Her own last words make her freak out.

 

" What if that's why? What if that's why he's not responding.. what if he realized i'm a mess !? Oh no.. do i seem desperate ? Am i desperate? — Nah, couldn't be.. Or could it !? No, no, no! You're overreacting, Sof.."

 

Sofia sits up, taking deep breaths, trying her hardest to calm down. She's having a panic attack, and the only thing that can save her is the sound of the ping coming from her phone.

 

"Why am i so anxious!? I shouldn't be.." She says, laying back in her bed.

 

Sofia's eyes were watering, she couldn't stop thinking. Her thoughts were racing, and she was unable to focus on anything else. Her hands were shaking, and she couldn't breathe.

 

"Why am i like this.. Is it because he has shown genuine interest in hanging out with me? Is he different from other people? What is it !?"

 

Sofia couldn't take it anymore, the stress was too much, the thoughts were overwhelming, and her chest ached. 

 

She sighs, rolling over in bed. She feels terrible, she wants to cry, scream, punch a wall, do ANYTHING. It was a bit childish, after all, he just wasn't replying ! He wasn't rejecting her, or purposefully ignoring. It's not like they were dating, it was a friendly interaction. She was overthinking the situation way too much, but she felt the need to be with him constantly, as he made her feel comfortable.

 

Sofia closes her eyes, taking a deep breath. Her heartbeat slows down, and her anxiety subsides. Her mind wanders off to more logical and calm places, and she begins to think more clearly.

 

"Maybe he's just busy.." she mutters.

 

She gets up, walking towards the bathroom. She looks in the mirror, and she sees a tired woman. 

 

"Come on, Sofia! We all know why you're feeling like this.. " She talks with her reflection. "You like him, don't you? And it's okay to admit that ! You get attached to people quite easily, and get heartbroken easily.. that doesn't mean THIS time it'll be the same! Heck, you've been so collected and calm all this time... Maybe that's what attracts him ! Maybe that's why he wants to hang out with you!"

 

Sofia laughs, shaking her head. She finger guns at her own reflection, smiling.

 

"I'm sure everything will be alright, and maybe.. he feels the same" she says, and exits the bathroom.

 

Sofia washes her face, and sits down on the living room couch, grabbing the remote and turning the TV on. The sound of her favorite TV show plays at the back of her mind, soothing her for a bit.

Something inside her chest tells her that Panda might just be different. He has no idea that she enjoys his company as much as he enjoys hers, and Sofia is scared that she's being annoying, or is not interesting enough for him. She can't help but overthink the situation, but her gut is telling her to have a bit more faith, that Panda is a good guy.

Her previous shots at relationships were nothing but shots of failures, and she was used to getting hurt. Maybe, just maybe, Panda wouldn't do the same. After all, he has been nothing but kind to her, and she has enjoyed their time together.

The only thing stopping her from being with him was herself. Her anxiety was the biggest factor. She knew it was irrational, but she couldn't help it. She was scared of the possibility that Panda would end up hurting her, and she was scared of opening up her heart. She was afraid of rejection, and she was afraid of the pain.

One times is a mistake, two times is a coincidence, but multiple times is a pattern. Sofia was not ready to risk another heartbreak.

 

" I'll be honest.. " she muttered to herself. "I think I'm just afraid.."

 

She looks out the window, leaning against the couch. The sun was setting, and the sky was clear. She watches the sun, and she takes a deep breath.

 

"I'm afraid of getting hurt again. I'm afraid of losing someone close to me. I'm afraid of getting rejected. I'm afraid of not being enough. I'm afraid.."

 

She smiles softly, laughing. " But, I can't deny that Panda makes me feel things, things i haven't felt in a while. "

 

She knew what she must do. She must allow herself to feel things.

She gets up from the couch, walking to the window, pressing her paws against the glass. She smiles, looking as the sun sets.

 

"It'll be okay." She tells herself, over and over again. "It'll be okay. It'll be okay.."

 

At this moment, her resolve was set. She would allow herself to open up her heart, and let him in. If she was rejected, she'd pick herself back up. It wouldn't be the first time, and it won't be the last.

What's the worst that could happen? A simple 'no' would not tear her apart, not this time.

 

"It'll be okay." she repeats, and her mind finally goes blank. She has stopped overthinking, and her anxiety subsides.

 

"He's a nice guy.." she tells herself. "I'll allow myself to fall for him, and maybe.. Maybe it'll be okay"

 

"If it doesn't go well, at least I can say that I tried" she smiles.

 

"And hey, there are plenty of fish in the sea.."

Sofia closes her eyes, allowing herself to relax. She's happy.

 

"Maybe he's just busy.. I'll check my phone later ! For now, focus on yourself Sof! Focus on yourself.. "

 

Sofia turns her head away from the window, walking to the kitchen. She opens the fridge, taking a cold soda. She managed to be at ease, and decided to distract herself from her own thoughts.

Not everything had to be bad, Not everything had to hurt. After all, Sofia had a crush, and she was allowed to feel it. She was allowed to enjoy it.

Bad experiences exist, but they serve to make us stronger, not to make us fall. 

This time, she was determined to rise up. To not let anything break her again. She would allow herself to feel.

Chapter 4: Movie Night

Summary:

Panda and Sofia finally get to spend some time together. But.. Everything goes much better than expected!

It's been a few days, mayhaps weeks since Sofia and Panda have spoken in person. Grizz and Ice constantly motivated him to ask her out again, while Sofia was trying to motivate herself to ask him out instead.

The bear brothers both knew how much they enjoyed spending time with eachother, even if most of the time, due to their own awkwardness, it was through a phone screen.

 

It's now evening, and Panda is laying down on his bed, doing nothing at all. Grizz and Ice Bear had gone out for the night to have some fun on the town, But Panda was not really interested in going on any "fun adventure". At least not at this moment.

He was staring at the ceiling, his eyes shifting to the window occasionally. The lights were dimmed, as Panda did not see any reason to turn them all on. His mind was wandering, thinking about the same old thing that he had thought of constantly over the last couple of weeks.

 

''I should call her. " Panda mumbled to himself, as he reached for his phone and tapped the contacts list.

 

He scrolled through the names until he came across Sofia's. He stared at it for a second before deciding not to, and instead dropped the phone on his belly.

 

"She's probably busy, anyway. I'll call her tomorrow." Panda reassured himself, closing his eyes and relaxing for a second.

 

" But what if she's not? Agh- Come on, Pan pan!" The panda sat up in his bed and turned his head towards the window.

 

"It's dark out, she's probably asleep by now."

 

''Maybe I should call her, just in case she is not."

 

''What am I saying? She's probably an early snoozer. "

 

"But maybe she is awake. "

 

Panda let out a groan, his hand gripping the phone tightly, the other one scratching his cheek. He was contradicting himself in every thought. One yes, two no, one yes, one no, and so on.

 

"Oh my god! Just do it already!"

 

Panda pressed his paw against the screen, and tapped the green button next to her name. He would do it, and there was no turning back now.

"Come on, Come on... Answer already... " Panda said impatiently, his leg twitching slightly.

The panda's face lit up, his ears perking up when he heard her voice.

 

"Hey, Pan pan! What's up?" Sofia said, with a happy tone to her voice. She loved talking to him, and hearing from the same was like music to her ears.

 

"H-Hey, Sofi! I uh, I was just wondering... "

 

Panda stuttered, trying to find the right words.

 

"Y-You free tomorrow? I was thinking that we could hang out or something. "

 

"Oh- Of course, Pan! I'd love to! What do you have in mind?" She asks.

 

"Nothing much, just... Hanging out. You know. " The bears replies, not giving much clue on where to meet or what to do.

 

"Yeah, I know! So... Where should we meet up? " Sofia replied, a hint of anticipation in her voice.

 

"Oh, right! Meet me at the park tomorrow around 4 pm, okay?"

 

Before he could finish, she immediately responds.

 

"If you're bored, i could pop up by the cave right now!"

 

"R-Right now!? " Panda exclaims out loud, a nervous look appearing on his face.

 

"Well, if you don't want to, I understand." Sofia replies, noticing how he was caught off guard.

 

"No! No, It's not that. " Panda replies, his heart sinking a bit at the thought of disappointing her. "Just... Not prepared to have guests."

 

"Don't worry about that, Pan pan! I'll be there in five!"

 

"Five minutes?! Okay, uh— I'll see you soon then. "

 

"See ya!"

 

Panda puts his phone down on his pillow, the call ending. his hand gripping his forehead, a sigh escaping his mouth. But then, he immediately grabs up Miki-Chan, his beloved pillow, and spins her around.

 

"Ha ha ha! I have a date! I have a date! " He sings, a wide smile appearing on his face, his heart beating rapidly in his chest.

 

"Okay, okay... Gotta get everything ready. "

 

Panda places the pillow down, and immediately begins sprinting around the house, trying to get things in order before she arrives.

He makes the couch look neat, fixes his bed, and quickly checks to see if anything looks odd in his room.

 

"Alright.. I think that's good. " Panda says, looking around. "And just in time. "

 

The doorbell rings, and he immediately begins walking towards it. He stops by the door and takes a deep breath, trying to calm himself. His heart skips a beat, the anticipation catching up with him.

 

"It's now or never, Pan pan! "

 

Panda reaches for the doorknob and opens it.

 

"Hey, Pan-Man! " Sofia exclaims, wrapping her arms around the panda and embracing him.

 

"Hi! " Panda exclaims happily, his arms embracing her as well.

 

"Quite fast, wasn't i? " She giggles, as the panda nods.

 

"Yeah, I'm surprised you managed to get here so fast."

 

Sofia lets go of him, and looks him in the eyes. Her look piercing through, not breaking eye contact for a single second. He was drowning in her beautiful caramel eyes, completely hypnotized. Sofia then, starts speaking, breaking his trance.

 

"I missed hanging out with you!" Sofia said, with a sweet smile.

 

"I missed you too... I—I MEAN! Hanging out with you too! " He replies, fumbling over his own words.

 

"So, what are the plans for tonight, Pan McPan Pan?" She says, putting her arm on her hip, a curious look appearing on her face.

 

"I'm thinking of watching a movie together or something.. " He says, kicking his leg around slowly.

 

Sofia lets out a chuckle, and walks past him, sitting down on the couch.

 

Sounds like a plan! What are we watching? Hope it's not lame!" She laughs. "Just kidding. I love pretty much any type of movies! The cornier, the better!"

 

"Right... Well, how about that new romcom movie? It looks pretty cool! " He suggests.

 

"Sure! I'm down for anything, really. " She replies, nodding at him.

 

"I'll go and grab the snacks! " Panda exclaims as he turns around, and runs to the kitchen. After a while, he comes back with a bowl filled with popcorn, and a bottle of soda. Absolutely nothing could go wrong, it was just the two of them, some snacks and a movie.

 

"Perfect timing, Pan Pan! I just found the remote! " Sofia says, smiling at the bear as he walks in, and sits down next to her.

 

Panda hands her the soda, and places the bowl on his lap, looking at the screen as he shifts in his seat to accomodate himself.

Sofia opens the soda and takes a sip from it. Panda then presses the play button, and the movie begins. After a couple of minutes, the panda notices the girl leaning against him, her arm slowly reaching over and brushing against his. She seems to be trying to reach the popcorn bowl, but the sensation of her soft arm against his fur, made his cheeks turn pink, and his body stiffen.

He looked over at her, and noticing the gentle movements she made as she grabbed a bit of popcorn. Sofia was ethereal to him, the way the light of the television shone onto her face, the way her lips glistened slightly after taking a bite, the way her eyes were fixed on the screen.

 

"This movie isn't half bad, huh? " Sofia said, interrupting his train of thought.

 

"Huh? Oh, uh.. Yeah! Yeah, It's not that bad. I like how the.. Uh, plot is going." Panda replied, not exactly paying attention to the movie.

 

"Are you feeling okay, Pan pan? You seem... Kind of distant." She said, her voice laced with concern.

 

"Y-Yeah! Totally. Just thinking about stuff, y'know?" He immediately spouts, his voice nervously cracking.

 

"Stuff like what?" Sofia asked, curious about his thoughts.

 

"Oh, you know... About stuff. " He responded immediately, trying to end the conversation. He was embarrassed.

 

Sofia giggled, and grabbed his paw, looking him straight into his eyes.

 

"What is it, Panda? I know something is bothering you, and if something's on your mind, I wanna help. "

 

Panda was completely baffled, his mind unable to form coherent thoughts. He felt like his soul was being pulled out of his body, and was now floating above the

two. Her hands kneading onto his paw so gently, and her concerned look making his heart skip a beat.

 

" W-Well.. I.. Uh... " Panda began, stuttering, trying his hardest to not lose his mind.

 

"I was just thinking about... T-The movie! Look! That scene is so good, isn't it?" He points out, a nervous look appearing on his face.

 

"Yeah..." She replied, her voice sounding slightly disappointed.

 

Sofia sighed, and leaned against him, her head resting on his shoulder. She wants to know what's inside his head, but he looks so avoidant. Is he afraid of something? Is he feeling uncomfortable near her? What inside his mind right now?

 

Her eyes close for a moment, brushing those thoughts off and just gently relaxing in the warmth of Panda's shoulder. She's trying to get closer to him, and his nerves are going crazy. Panda is a mess right now, not knowing what to do. His mind was screaming for him to kiss her, to hug her, and to tell her how he truly feels.

But his body was frozen in place, his heart was beating rapidly, and he could feel her breath on his neck. The bear was absolutely terrified, unable to even move a finger.

 

Panda swallows, slowly gathering up all the courage inside of him, and wraps his arm around her, his paw resting on her shoulder.

She snuggled closer to him, her soft breathing echoing in his mind.

 

"She's so close... " He thinks, his body shaking a bit, a tingling sensation going up his spine. He was shaking, his heartbeat ascending.

 

"Come on, Pan pan! You can do this! It's now or never!" He encourages himself, and leans towards her.

 

His nose was mere inches away from her head, smelling the fruity scent from her hair. He's now only a few centimeters away from her, and she could feel his warm breath tickling her.

 

"Just... A bit... More... " Panda whispers, his voice trembling.

 

The movie is near it's end, and the scene on display is the finale. Both are still leaning against each other, as Panda watches the characters confess their feelings to one another. It's the perfect timing.

 

Sofia open up her eyes, finishing her dooze, and turning her head, noticing that his face is incredibly close. She could see every detail on his furry face, his nose was twitching, and his cheeks were a bright red.

"Pan.. Pan pan? " She mumbles, a smile creeping on her face.

 

"GAH ! OHMYGOD! SOFIA! I—I'm sorry! " He exclaims, backing up in panic.

 

"N-No, It's fine. I.. uh, didn't mean to scare you." Sofia replies, a small blush appearing on her cheeks.

 

"W-What were you doing, Panda? " She asks, curiously looking him in the eyes.

 

"I was.. Just... Y'know... Uh... I just..." Panda begins, fumbling with his words. He was panicking, not knowing what to say, and was sweating bullets.

 

Sofia giggled, her soft, angelic voice bringing him peace. She grabbed his paw, and pulled him close, very slowly.

Panda couldn't even freak out. His line of thought is interrupted by Sofia's soft, plush lips, pressing against his.

 

his heart stops. He can't believe it. This is the moment he was waiting for, the moment when he can finally express how he feels towards her. It felt like a dream.

 

Sofia pulls back, her hands on his shoulders, as she looks at him, a bright red blush covering her face.

 

"S-sorry..I just... " She says, looking away from him.

 

Panda stares at her for a second, before suddenly grabbing her, and kissing her forehead. Panda could feel his heart exploding inside his chest, the excitement, the anxiety, and the sheer bliss was too much to handle.

 

Sofia giggles, a big smile on her face. She hugs him tightly, her hands resting on his back.

 

"You know, Pan Pan, I think we both wanted this. " She whispers into his ear. " "I was as nervous as you."

 

Panda nods, and nuzzles her neck.

 

"W-Wow. So this was a date after all. " He mumbles.

 

Sofia giggles, her hands brushing through his fur.

 

"Yeah, I guess it was." She responds.

 

The two lay in eachother's embrace, not caring about the world around them.

Sofia's eyes water for a second, as she realizes she has finally did it. Panda's heart beats rapidly in his chest. But despite it all, they haven't properly confessed.. Yet.

 

But Panda already knew, and so did Sofia..

They loved eachother.

Chapter 5: ANNOUNCEMENT

Summary:

Just a little announcement.

So... This is Bubs ! (Author of this fanfiction & owner of the character Sofia)
It's been a long while since i've touched anything related to this fanfiction... Why? Because half of the stuff here is OUTDATED.
I changed the way they met, the place Sofia works on... So it would only be fair if i REWROTE this fanfiction.

So, this one is done and closed. Thank you for reading!