Elements

39. stand off

Supper goes over fine, we fill them all in on our escape and how we found out about them and this place before wrapping up.

"Malek, Aaron, we're going to get new wood for the fire" Ledger says standing with cliff from the table

Malek nods and I feel him rest his hand on the inside of my leg as he squeezes it before standing and walking around the table to meet them.

Nova and Willow stand from from the table and start picking up the plates and food moving it to the kitchen to clean.

Me and Jesse stand, Holly following suit as we start clearing up too

I bring the dishes to the sink when I see Malek unbuttoning his shirt before laying it down on the couch so he doesn't ruin it carrying wood.

I hear willow whistle as her and nova laugh and my stomach twists.

He grins and follows the boys outside as the walk out of sight.

"He's fucking hot" Nova says and it makes me grin knowing what I know. Nova kind of gives me Jesse vibes and I'm sure I will eventually like her, as long as they don't come between me and Malek.

My head start to race through thoughts now realizing me and Malek aren't even actually official, I've just been assuming we're exclusive.

We've had sex twice and have hung out together a lot but there was also no one else around back then. Can I even be offended if he likes Willow, she's beautiful.

As we load the rest of the dishes in the dish washer and Jesse and Willow move everything left over into Tupperware the boys enter back into the house carrying wood as they move it to the rack beside the fire place

"Got enough wood for the whole year" Nova says laughing

"One big trip, hell of a lot less little trips" Ledger says grinning and she smirks back.

I catch her watching Ledger as he comes around to the kitchen and washes his hands in the sink beside her. He looks down at her and she smiles back up at him? They have to be a thing.

I nudge Jesse and she is already watching with a smile on her face, guess Aaron might be in the clear.

I continue cleaning up as everyone filters out of the kitchen, ledger and Nova disappearing off somewhere.

Aaron, Jesse and Malek sit on the couch in-front of the fire place with Willow and Jeremy.

"Want some help" I hear and I turn startled to find Cliff coming around the island towards me and my heart jumps out of my chest.

"I'm basically done" I say hand drying some utensils

He doesn't say anything and leans against the island beside me.

"I'll put away" he grins and I nod, handing him some stuff, I definitely don't know where it goes

"What do you think of everything" he says after a moment looking down at me, he's quite tall

"It's all a little crazy" I say and he laughs a little

"Little bit" he agrees

"I hope the girls aren't scaring you" he says still staring down at me

"No they are fine" I say honestly

"So it's just the guys then" he says and I look up at him and he laughs

"Sorry" I say as my cheeks go red, I shoot my face back down to the sink and continue drying

"or maybe just one guy" he says and I can hear the amusement in his voice.

Suddenly I see Malek as he enters into the kitchen as he leans up against the other side of the sink beside me, scaring me too. I jump slightly, looking over to him as he also has his shirt off still, looking past me to Cliff as he crosses his arms, mimicking Cliff.

"Hey man" Cliff says not moving after feeling Maleks cold presence

"Hey man" Malek says back to him

"If your going to hang around, might as well grab a cloth" Cliff says simply after a moment

"It's fine I'm done" I say handing Cliff the last knife, thanking the universe I can finally end what ever this is.

"We're probably watching a movie later, you're welcome to join" Cliff says completely ignoring Maleks presence as he looks down at me.

How is he not scared of Malek he's literally fire, ohhhh Cliff is rock! He overpowers Malek and he knows it.

"It's been a long day" Malek says answering for me

"Wasn't talking to you, don't you have Holly to entertain anyways" Cliff says leaning off the island before leaving into the living room without another word.

So it isn't just me noticing them talking a lot.

"Stay away from him" Malek says still watching Cliff with a clenched jaw

"You can't tell me to stay away from people we live with" I say rolling my eyes but he doesn't say anything

"You going to explain Holly yet?" I say looking up at him but he doesn't say anything.

"It's been a long day, you should go to bed then. I'm watching the movie" I say exiting out of the kitchen and walking into the living room, sitting down between Jesse and Cliff. Cliff grins as I sit down.

"We watching a movie?" Jesse says smiling, she loves movie nights.

Willow grabs the remote and turns on the Tv before going to netflix, thank god.

I watch as Malek comes around the couch and sees there's no room beside me so he sits down next to Holly, making him also between Willow. I roll my eyes and refuse to look at him as Willow starts a movie.

The sun has now set and the windows outside shine into the dark forest and above us the stars are visible out of the skylight.

I watch as Cliff then reaches over on the couch and grabs a blanket before laying it out, throwing me some.

I catch Malek as he's watching me carefully.

"Thanks" I whisper to Cliff and he grins to me

"I don't think your boy Malek likes me talking to you" he whispers back and I let out a small laugh

"No" I say agreeing with him

"It's not going to stop me" he says looking down at me and I feel the pull. Stop.

"If he ever does anything to you, tell me" Cliff whispers to me as he looks across the room at Malek as they appear to be having a stand off stare? What the fuck is happening

Cliff eventually looks away from Malek towards the TV and continues watching the movie. Who the hell is this man I've never met someone so straight forward

I can feel the intense atmosphere in the room and my stomach twists at the thought of going back into the room with Malek, he's not happy.