supernova

Atlas: Chapter 19

I enjoyed being at the hospital with Arabella and surprising her mom with all the decor and the tree.

But why did Arabella's ex have to be there?

I was studying for finals when Michael called me.

"Hey, Atlas, can you do me a favor?" He asked.

"Depends on the favor, but what's up?" I responded. I wondered what he could need from me. It sounded urgent.

"Look, my family and I are going out for dinner tonight. I was gonna stay around at Arabella's for a while but I can't now. Can you go over?" He asked. "Please," He added.

I ran a hand through my hair and took a second to think.

"And why me?" I complained. Its not that I disliked her that much; we just didn't get along too well. "There's Munynyim or Sophia or Daniyal or Kane or—," I don't even know why I said Kane. I knew I wouldn't be too happy with him being there, but Michael cut me off. It's not that I didn't like Kane. But I wasn't exactly his biggest fan either. Especially after homecoming.

Arabella didn't seem to mind him, so that's what mattered, I guess.

"Just go Atlas." He begged.

"Fine, I'm going. I'll leave in ten. I'll talk to you later." When we hung up, I got some of my stuff and put it in my bag as I got into my car.
I rung her doorbell.

"What the fuck are you doing here?" She blurted out. Of course, she was annoyed.

"Michael didn't want you alone so he asked me to hang around for a while. He said he would've done it on his own, but he's going out for dinner with his family. I don't wanna be here either," I stated simply. That's all there was to it.

"You could've just said no. Oh, well. Come in I guess," She said. I took in a minute to take in her outfit. She wore small Christmas boxers with a cropped black tank top and fuzzy socks. I felt her hand grab my face. Her thumb pressing into my cheek and fingers into the other as my chin rested in her palm. "No."

Her cheeks tinged a light shade of red as she said it. Probably just embarrassed. I just show up with no word.

"Whatever, I won't bother you. You can go back to doing whatever you were before," I said.  She rolled her eyes at me before heading to the kitchen and turning off the music.

"Why did you turn it off?" I asked her.

"Because you're here." Yes, but my more obvious question was why did you turn it off because I'm here.

"I wanna listen to it," I said. She rolled her eyes at me again.

"No. Get headphones or something."

I watched her make mac and cheese, I think, from my eyes peripheral view. I watched her look so intensely at it. I didn't even feel myself get up and walk over to her. I put my hands on her hips and spun her around to face me. I felt my fingers press into her waist and I wanted to keep them there.

Wait why are we in this position?

"Don't be a bitch.  I don't want to be here."  I said. I don't know why I said it. Probably because it was the closest thing I had since the last thing she was to me was rude. That was okay though.

"Then don't be here. Leave," She suggested and I leaned in a couple inches and removed my hands from her waist to the countertop she was against. I didn't want to leave.

"I could, but I don't feel like it," I accidentally said the truth. I moved my hands back to her waist and trailed them down to lift her up and sit her on the counter. Her legs were slightly open because of the shape of the granite and I stepped between them, getting close to her.