ɢᴏᴏᴅ ʟᴏᴏᴋɪɴɢ (Enoch O'Connor x Reader)

Chapter Five

     Breakfast was the same as usual. Kids of all different sizes grabbed and pushed each other for whatever was on a silver platter. My forehead collided with the table as I silently cursed myself for waking up so early.

     Miss Sparrow placed down her knife and fork, "Late night, Miss (L/N)?" "Early morning," I mumbled. I wasn't in the mood for a conversion. "I never knew you were a morning person," James joked as he took a sip of juice. I picked up my head from the table and glared in his direction. "I'm not."

     I decided I had enough social interaction for the morning. Considering the events of earlier, I had it. I turned my head forward to stare directly at Enoch. He stared back. Abruptly, I stood up with more force than intended to, knocking down my chair in the process. I turned on my heels and pushed open the two wooden doors with my shoulder and stomped out for the second time that day.

     I rushed up the staircase and hurryingly got into my room. I closed the door behind me and sank down the back. "Well that was a little dramatic," I muttered. I took a few deep breaths and let myself calm down. I looked out to my window and stood up from the ground. I walked over and leaned against the frame. I watched as a couple of Miss Peregrine's kids passed a ball around. They must've finished breakfast shortly after the little show I put on for them. I saw James approach them, probably asking to join. I guessed he must've sensed me watching them because shortly after he looked up at me and gestured for me to come down.

     I started towards the door of my bedroom and ran down the steps of the house. I opened a door that led into the backyard and jogged up towards the bunch of boys.

     "Need another player?" I asked a little out of breath. "After what happened this morning I'm afraid to say no," Hugh replied. With him and James I also noticed Millard and Horace standing at their sides. "Oh thank god," Horace said breathlessly. "I just got this suit cleaned, I'm not risking it anymore." And with that Horace turned away and disappeared into the house.

     After a while the sky started to turn into a dark grey, telling us to retreat back into the house. We ignored it though. We continued our small game of soccer until we had no choice but to go back inside. The rain poured on us like a bucket of water, angry that we didn't go back in when it warned us to. Like lunatics, we rushed back into the house. We pushed one another to the ground in the process, trying to slow them down so they wouldn't be able to get in first.

     I guess James has the longest legs because he was the first one to get in. The door we entered through led to the sun room. I would have to say it was my favourite room in the entire house. The whole atmosphere and the way the little water droplets would race one another down the giant windows was calming. The room consisted of velvet love seats and sofas, all different colours and designs. Mysteriously it all worked together. Terracotta pots filled with humid soil and plants of all different species were scattered throughout on wooden tables, shelves and on one another. Woven rugs lay on top of each other covering the hardwood floor almost entirely, only a few spots remained unhidden letting you know it was cedar. Bookshelves filled with jars of who-knows-what and books towered over me making the place look enormous.

     The four of us were soaking with rain water. James shook his head like a dog getting the others wet. I laughed and playfully slapped him on the shoulder. "Get away from me you imbecile." He laughed and put an arm around my shoulder. We were so caught up in our own little world we didn't even notice that more people were in the room with us.

     I turned my head to see, who I presumed were, Jake, Olive and Emma. Of course there was also Ezra and Enoch but I knew both of their names confidently by now. I walked out from under James' arm and went to go sit on one of the couches. "Wait," I heard a soft voice say. I looked over at one of the sofas. "Let me help," Emma said while standing up. " And you three too, get over here." The four of us lined up beside one another like soldiers in a bootcamp. Emma than pursed her lips like she was about to whistle us a little tune. I was confused by the whole situation. I was about to ask her when blew a great gust of air towards us. My face scrunched up in surprise as my hair flew back. In a matter of no time the four of us were no longer drenched in cold rain water.

     "Huh, nice," I said amazed. I plopped down on the love seat behind me and slouched down. No one said anything. "So," I said dragging out the o, "Whats up, what's the story." "Pardon," Olive replied. "Like, your story, where ya from," I said. "Oh," she replied timidly. "Jakes from the future," Ezra popped up, "2016." "Really?" I sat up in my chair and leaned forward a bit. Now I was intrigued. "What's it like?" I Asked him. "Well," he started. "I mean it's not too different from now, technology's advanced and so has some other things." He wasn't the best at making conversation. So I tried to keep it going. "You know," I started. "I would still be alive if I lived in the present," I told him. "Here we go again," a voice from behind me complained. "Really," Olive asked. She seemed to be more comfortable with all of us now. "Ya, I was born in, what, 1948, so that would make me...68." I said proudly. "But forever am I stuck as a teenager," I dramatically plopped back down into the chair, obviously joking. "So are we dingbat," James said. "Mmmm." Was all I mumbled.

     Our small little group exchanged stories until suppertime. It was a great few hours spent getting to know the other kids. The ice was broken and for however long they had to stay with us was fine with me. I even caught Enoch smiling once or twice. All the tension between us melted away as we would exchange words and ask questions. It was nice getting to know new faces.

     "Children!" I heard Miss Sparrow yell. "It's time for Dinner." One by one, each of us got up to wash our hands and make our way to the dining room. Soon enough only Enoch and I were left. I went to stand up when he spoke. "I'm sorry for the way I treated you these past days, I hope you didn't take too much offense," He said.  "It's cool," I replied. I really didn't know what to say next. He reached out a hand. I looked at it and than him. "Friends? Or at least acquaintances?" He inquired. "Friends," I said while shaking his hand.

     "Now," I spoke up. "Why don't we go to dinner." He looked me in the eyes. "That's a fantastic idea."