Brown ✔

Five.

"Come on Kidjo, just one more"

"But it's so hard"

So here I was climbing stairs with Chris. Yep, you heard right. Climbing stairs. I made a deal with Chris that I'd join him on his morning walks and workout on weekends and I'm regretting ever making this deal.

***

"Come on, it's just a spider" I said like it was nothing "just pick it up"

"What if it has poison in it and I end up paralyzed for the rest of my miserable life? " he asked as I watched the visible fear on his face. I just found it really amusing that Mr. Strong and mighty was scared of a harmless spider.

"Okay, I'll make you a deal" I found myself saying. His eyes narrowed suspiciously. "If you cannot pick up the spider, you get to wear only the clothes I pick out for you to school for a month and if you prove me wrong and pick up the spider, " I paused and chuckled at the anticipation on his face " I'll join you on your weekend walk this weekend "

"Weekends"

"Uh?" I asked as confusion graced my face "what do you mean by weekends?".

He straightened from his crouch on the floor in my kitchen and moved closer to me. Towering over me and I cursed my height for once. I turned to walk away but he put his hands on either side of me, trapping me against the counter. He leaned in. I froze as my mind went numb.

"If I prove you wrong and pick the spider, you will workout with me on weekends until I say you're free" he whispered as his lips were pressed against my earlobe with his breath tickling me, making elephants stomp in my tummy( what?Butterflies are overrated).

"Deal" I replied breathlessly. He brushed his lips against my ear softly. Either that or I imagined it. He slowly pulled back enough to look into my eyes as I looked at the ground.

***

So here I am in gym attire.

"Just one more round" he said calmly making my irritation grow. I panted as I ran down the stairs and ran back up.

"Good" he said handing me the water. I didn't bother responding as I gulped the water greedily.

"No no no" I felt the water bottle being snatched away from me. My anger surfaced.

"I wasn't finished with that" I managed to say after recovering from my earlier panting state

"We still have the whole morning before we're done so you might want to save this for later okay?".

I didn't respond as I thought about it.

"You know what? "

"What" I muttered through clenched teeth.

"Let's take a break"

"Let's go home. I'm due for a well earned shower" I said while loosening my wild hair from it's bonds and retying it. No response. I looked up to see Chris starring.

"Chris" I said his name after I stood directly in front of him.

"I want to go home" I crossed my arms in front of me"please, I'm tired " I whined

"Okay" he said at last after looking at me like he had spaced out or something.

"Lead the way."

"Okay, follow me " he replied his voice deeper than usual as he cleared his throat silently but I still heard

"Is anything wrong?" I asked

"Why would you think so?" He asked back.

"Don't answer a question with a question"