ALL FOR LOVE.

Chapter Two: A Little Bit Too Comfortable.

The following day was a Saturday, Isabel was in no hurry to get out of bed. She sat up, grabbed her cellphone from the nightstand and leaned on the headboard, she dialled her mother's number and waited. After the third ring Phil picked up.

“Hey Izzy, when are you coming home? I miss you.” he started with his usual lamentation.

“Good morning too Phil, I slept well thank you for asking. ” she had always told her younger brother to always greet people first before he could tell them what he wanted but clearly he was forgetful.

“I'm sorry Izzy, how are you? ” he apologized remembering what he was taught.

“It's alright Phil, how are you, and mum? ”

“We are okay, we just miss you, mum is baking me a cake. ” he said excitement evident in his voice.

“Oh wow! What's the occasion?”

“I got all As in the mid term exam! Can you believe it?  I beat everyone Izzy!”

“That was really great little man, what can I get you when I come home next? ”

“Well, I have always wanted a bike, can you get me that? ”

“You got it, keep up the good work okay, and tell mum to keep for me a piece of the yummy cake. ”

“Okay Izzy, I love you.”

“I love you too Phil, bye. ” she hung up and smiled widely as she envisioned her little brother jumping up and down after she promised to get him a bike. He, together with her mother were the most important people in her life,  not forgetting Stacey, they had come a long way and she knew she could relie on them when things went South. It was the same reason that had kept her strong till now, she was even surprised that she had not yet broken down after loosing her job. She knew it would be difficult to get another job but everything seemed fine.

After freshening up,  Isabel went down the corridor to the living room.

“Just in time, your breakfast is ready, lunch in the fridge, you just have to do the laundry and clean up the house. ” Stacey winked at her as she grabbed her keys and started walking backwards to the door.

“Yeah, good morning too bestie.” she said getting into the kitchen. The plate of pancakes sat invitingly at the kitchen isle, closely were the sausages which were cooling off slowly, not to mention the plate of scrambled eggs that aroused her appetite. She reached for the kettle and poured herself a cup of coffee before grabbing a plate and served herself. She started digging in, moaning to the sweetness of every bite. She felt blessed to be living with a chef, and a very good one at that. The knock on the door distracted her and she groaned before standing up and leaving the kitchen for the door.

“Hello Isabel, can I come in? ” Sam asked a blankfaced Isabel who was caught up between letting him in, a reminder that she had lost her job that which she was proud of. As much as she wanted to close the door on his face, she could not. Sam was her coworker, ex-coworker, he was freaking handsome and kind too. There was a time he had asked her out, on a date, but she had declined the offer, she did not believe in going out on dates with coworkers, it could easily destroy their working relationship if they were to disagree later.

“I am terribly sorry to just show up like this, I wanted to make sure you are doing fine.” Sam explained.

“ It's fine, come in. ” she said moving aside so he could get in. She closed the door behind her and followed him in.

“I was actually having breakfast, mind joining me? ” she offered.

“I'd love that. ” He smiled and followed her into the kitchen. Although he was not very hungry, Sam could not say no to the amazing breakfast that laid in front of him. He groaned at the first bite and looked at Isabel appreciatively. “You are a great cook. ” She smiled and they continued eating in silence.

After Sam insisted on helping cleaning the dishes, Isabel went ahead and sorted the clothes for laundry. A while later she joined him in the living room.

“I can see you have gotten yourself a little bit too comfortable.” she said while taking a seat across from him. It was weird having a guy in her house, let alone feeling as comfortable as Sam was right now. She started to think if she was being too soft with him.

“You have a nice place.” he said looking around.

“Yeah, I stay with a friend. Why are you here Sam? ” she asked looking straight at him.

“ I wanted to make sure you are coping just fine, with you loosing your job, I know it's tough.” he said delicately.

“I will be fine. ” she said curtly not wanting to talk about it, the more she thought and talked about it the more chances of her breaking down, the last thing she wanted to do.

“Maybe you should make some applications you know.” he said confidently.

“I don't know. ” she shrugged.

“Where's your laptop?” he asked with a start.

“Wait..what?” she quickly stood up and went after him to the dining area where her laptop sat quietly on the table.

“Password please.” he was being serious about making applications and Isabel wondered if she should let him do it.

“Izzy...Uh... lower case.” she said and stood behind him, staring at what he was about to do.

“Izzy?  Is that short for Isabel? Huh!” he mumbled to himself, loud enough for Isabel to hear. She just rolled her eyes and helped him access her numerous application letters she had written for situations like this. He ended up sending the applications to more than five companies. She was glad that at least somebody cared.

“Thank you, Sam, I appreciate you trying to help. ” she said looking at him as they walked slowly to the living room.

“Can I get a hug? ” he asked standing still and opened his arms wide.

“Seriously Sam? Is a simple thank you not enough? ”

“Well you know me, I can be persistent.” he was right about that and Isabel understood just that. She decided to push every other thing at the back of her mind and maybe deal with it later. She gave in and embraced him.