Stay Peachy

Chapter Four - Cherub

"What about this one?" I lean back on my chair and Zack clambers over. One arm on my shoulder and the other on my desk.

"Oh yeah, I like that one," He nods in approval at the bed frame. "It's cheap as well." I roll my eyes and look up at him.

"Zack, I don't care about the price I care about you having a good bed." He lifts his hands in defeat at my scolding.

"What are you two doing?" Sienna tilts her head slightly her eyes glancing to the screen.

"Shopping for a bed frame so Zack doesn't have to sleep on the couch." I answer and she clicks her tongue before pausing at something on her laptop.

"Eden?" the panic in her voice sends me onto high alert, "can you schedule a meeting for Mr. Blanchet right now?"

"Yeah, of course," I hide all of the other tabs on my browser and open the shared calendar between me and Mr. Blanchett, before doing what she asked once she had sent me the details, notifying our boss to what's happening.

He burst out the door with a strained expression as the elevator dinged before opening.

"Who's that?" I whisper to Sierra.

"It's his boss," she cleared her throat as we looked at the woman, she had a good 10 years or more on Mr. Blanchet.

He welcomed her into his office and we all relaxed once they were out of earshot.

"That was-" Sofie started.

"Intense." Zack finished.

"That's twice this month, she's only supposed to show up every two months." Sierra huffed.

I chuckled and clicked onto the browsers again, accidentally clicking on a news outlet and seeing a familiar face on an article.

Just out of curiosity and self hatred, I clicked onto it. As I skimmed over the article I read about the latest sightings of Julia Manuel and Kira. Attached were pictures of them kissing and holding hands, being affectionate.

Much more than she was with me.

A feeling built up in my stomach and it was venomous. I burned with envy, anger, sadness, betrayal.

I guess curiosity did kill the cat.

•

"Eden!" I heard someone shout as I push open the door. When I turned around, Sierra stood in front of me, disheveled and out of breath. "Can I ask you something?"

"I'm meeting my parents, I can't be late. I'm sorry," I watch as she clenched her jaw.

"Oh, it's fine," she trailed off. "I'll talk to you tomorrow then."

"Yeah, see you tomorrow, Sierra," I start to walk away. When I glance over my shoulder she's still standing where I left her. Her eyes telling me there was something she wanted to tell me but didn't know how to say, "See you tomorrow." I mutter under my breath as I push through the streets.

"How's my little cherub?" my dad wraps his arms around me and I roll my eyes, trying to break away.

"Fine dad. I'm just worried about you," his arms loosen at my response and I break free. A small frown placed at his lips for two seconds before he noticed his mask broke and he pulled me in for another bone crushing hug.

"What do you mean? I'm doing fine."

We both know that's a lie.

What we both don't know if it's to comfort me or him.

"When is it happening?" I ask and he clears his throat letting me go.

"Soon."

"How soon is soon?"

"Next month," he tries to hide his grin.

"Holy shit dad!" I pull him tight and now I'm the one giving him a bone crushing hug. We stay hugging onto each other for what feels like an hour but when I glance at the clock it's only been two minutes.

Little did I know how naïve we were.

I push into my apartment and drop my bag next to the door before locking it. I turn around and Zack and Sierra are sitting on the sofa.

"What's going on here?" I ask and Zack glanced between me and Sierra. Her eyes never leaving mine.

"Sierra's gonna help me with some things," he cleared his throat and stood up, grabbing his jacket and moving towards the kitchen.

There was a tense atmosphere. A heavy fog that settled as I look back towards the girl
on my couch. Something went down before I came in.

She looks me up and down before her tongue darted across her lip, "can we talk now?"

I nod and swallow the lump stuck in my throat.

Suddenly I feel like a stranger in my own home, not sure if I wait for her to tell me to sit down or to just go for it.

I finally make a start to sit down as she stands up and stops me, holding me at my elbows.

"In private?" she whispers, glancing over to Zack who's staring at her, his eyebrows pulled together and a frown sits on his lips.

I show her the way to my bedroom and when she slinks into the room, I close the door and slowly spin around to face her.

My breath catches in my throat as I watch her step closer towards me.

"What did you want to talk about?" My eyes dart from her eyes to her lips.

"I swore an oath to never get about with an American," she smiles and chuckles at her comment, "but here I am, I want you."

Her words make my eyes widen and my mouth part. "What happened with you and Zack?" I change the subject, not sure if I could handle where it would go.

"Nothing."

"What happened with you and Zack, Sierra?" I repeat and she leans her head in the nook of my neck, her lips pressing against my neck and I let out a shaky breath.

"We had an... argument," her lips tickled my skin as she spoke.

"What about?"

"You." She lifted her head so our eyes met, "I asked him about you and he had a go at me. Just tell me if I've gotten the wrong impression, tell me if you'd rather us just be friends and I'll be the best friend you could ask for. But, it's been driving me insane since I met you wondering what you taste like."

I let my eyes flutter shut and the swirling in my stomach made me feel sick.

"I can't." Was all I could say. The moment bringing me back to Julia's office, when she had kissed me for the first time.

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Just been on holiday so i'm inspired and ive been reading more again so, enjoy!

(when i originally published this i was drunk so apologies for any mistakes that anyone had caught - i'm looking at you "farted across her lip")