Part of the Plan (Book 2 in the 'part of' series)

Chapter 18 hints

Chapter 18 hints

"Come on, it's not like you have anything to hide." Emi said as the door started to open. It looked like a very normal teenager's room, if that teenager were to be a millionaire. The walls were a calming forest green, it was complimented wonderfully by most of the furniture which were varying shades of wood.

The bed was about twice the size of my own with green and brown covers. Just above the bed hung many different dreamcatchers which seem to be handmade. This room must be at the back of the house as the magnificent window showed a scenery which I didn't quite recognise.

I wasn't going to enter the room but Karim gently pushed my back, indicating that I was allowed. I took gentle steps, feeling like my shoes were too dirty for the floor. It was a feeling that I held since I entered this house. A desk rested against the same wall as the doorway. Three oval paintings caught my eye just above it.

They were wolves, They were stunning. Oil paint was the medium which was used and it was as though they had been painted directly onto wood, like a part of a tree. The one in the centre was bigger, It had features which reminded me of something I couldn't quite put my finger on. The other two were a little bit smaller, they weren't too different apart from the one on the left had blue eyes instead of brown.

"Your room is wonderful." The comment slipped from my lips before I could catch it. My cheeks were a light pink colour but I continued to look around, not wanting to invade his privacy but to see if I could get to know him slightly better. "I appreciate the fabrics of choice." Emi chuckled at me and shook her head as she sat down on the chair next to the desk.

"I told you he was a woodshop nerd." I sent her a joking glare as the two fo them laughed lightly. Every time I looked over there the wolves caught my eye. I tried my best to distract myself from this by looking at the other ornaments. It seemed that the outdoors and forest was a constant theme here. "Awe look at him, he's fanboying." I rolled my eyes and presented her with a finger as Karim chuckled.

"I'm taking this all as a compliment." He sat down on his bed and continued to watch. He was trying not to show that he was watching me, he had his head down but his eyes were visible still as they watched me wander around. "It's quite a unique style." Emi and I both let air escape from our noses, though It may have been for different reasons.

"Yes because nobody wants to feel like a bear is going to attack them in the middle of the night." Emi jokes. That didn't help my mind being distracted from the forest but it did lighten the mood slightly. Outside, I could see a pool which was covered up along with some pretty normal outside furniture.

"I don't feel like I'm going to be attacked by a bear." Karim sounded a little bit offended. "I'd be able to fight off a bear." A light laugh escaped my lips at the confidence he held. Uncertainty was hovering in my mind, I wasn't sure if he was being serious or not.

"I'd pay to see that." I gave a nod and started to back away from the window. "But it's calming and peaceful. Questionable-" I pointed to the animal pelt-like rug on the floor "-but cool." He flashed me a small smile as I reached the desk and stood next to where Emi was sitting. "And yes of course I must admire the woodwork."

Emi burst into giggles. "In true gay fashion, he's admiring the wood." My face shone red like a fire extinguisher. I scrunched my eyes shut and took a sharp intake of breath before opening my eyes and looking down at her shaking form. The joke was something which would usually fly past me,. But she had said it so many times I knew what it meant.

"And I'm not ashamed of it sweetheart." I gave her a wink which only caused her to giggle more. I couldn't help but join in. I liked being somewhat flirty if i'm honest and it was really easy to be flirty with Emi without it being strange. She made it very aware that she had no interest in my gender pretty early on in our friendship. Furthermore, it just came naturally. Karim snorted from where he was sitting on the bed.

"Well, that's one thing I'll definitely remember." He flirted slightly. I bit my lip and my eyes wandered down to the floor. "What? Unaware that others can flirt just as well?" I looked towards Emi who had a twinkle of mischief in her eyes. I hadn't been expecting that at all.

"Karim, you flustered him." Emi started to baby me as she stood up and ruffled my hair. My stare was one of someone who was not impressed at all. Karim just chuckled but stayed where he was as Emi went to pinch my cheeks. I was swift to stop her from doing so.

"You really wanna try that right now?" My eyebrow was raised and my tone was challenging. Of course, I was joking. I wouldn't actually do anything violent or out of the ordinary at a large party such as this one. "You want to go all grandmother on me? I can act like a toddler when I want to." I pouted and crossed my arms.

"Nope, I won't risk it." She shook her head and grasped my arm again. Karim was next to be addressed. "Should I tell mother and father that you're busy?" He gave a grateful nod. I was then led out of the room by my arm. "Let's go to the game room."

"Goodbye Karim." I exclaimed rather loudly as I was pulled from the room. A chuckle and farewell reached my ears before the door was shut. "Well, that went well." Emi was bouncing slightly, it had been the most excited I had seen her all evening.

"It went exceptionally well. Don't worry, I won't tell him you have a crush on him." I denied that immediately. I know that he's attractive and that he was pretty cool. He seemed rather nice and I would like to get to know him more. I wouldn't consider what I had to be a crush at the moment.

The rest of the party went by pretty smoothly, I didn't have to interact with anyone new and all seemed to go by in a blink of an eye. The night had drained me, even more so when I had to drag my father home. My father seemed to be having a rather wonderful time socialising and interacting with people. I was extremely tired that night, but I couldn't sleep. There was one thing which weighed my mind down.

The picture of those wolves. They were so prominent and life-like, it was almost as though they would start to move at a moment's notice. They were far too similar to the wolf that I had seen in the forest. Of course, they were just regular wolves, they had differences but nothing to tell them apart from others unless you looked very close.It was the shine in their eyes which drew me in. The awareness that they held, the emotions.