Meet Me At the Swing Set

Chapter 5

Catalina's POV

"You've been reading that book for days now. I'm disappointed." I tut, as I sit down in the swing next to Lennox. He put his book down with a frown. "Your face is going to get stuck like that someday." I muttered.

He just returned back to the book.

"I finished that book in one night when I was reading it."

That got him to give me his full attention. "You've read this book?" he asked, with an undertone of excitement. I knew that tone. "Can you give me a spoiler? I literally can't take it."

"Fire away." I laughed. He started rambling, and I listened to him, watching his face light up like he was having the time of his life. He looked beautiful when he smiled.

"Only you would ask a girl to meet him at an isolated park so you could talk about a book series. But I'll let it go, because you have good taste." The smile that he gave me made my heart flutter, and I looked away from him, trying to get the feeling to stop. I played with the ends of my braid, which rested over my shoulder.

I opened the leather bound journal that I brought with me, taking a deep breath before I turned the pages. I traced a finger over one of the outfits I had drawn over one of the pages, thinking about how it would look in real life.

"Are you into fashion designing?" his voice made me jump, and I looked at him. He was leaning towards me to look at my designs, his nose almost brushing my shoulder. I nodded, since I had suddenly lost my verbal intelligence. His breath fanned across my face as he backed away, and I gripped my book tighter so I wouldn't say or do something stupid.

The only person apart from us in the park was the old man who sat a couple of benches away from us. He seemed to be busy staring at the horizon, but I caught his eyes flickering over to us almost sadly once in a while. "These designs are actually really great." He said, smiling boyishly. The compliment made me smile like a little schoolgirl.

Uh....... aren't you a school girl?

"Thanks." I breathed. "I, uh, have been working on this for a lot of time now. My father has this stupid gala thing, and he said I should design the dresses for me and my sister. I'll probably just, I don't know, get something pretty but basic, and sew it up." His eyebrows raised at that. "When is the event, exactly?" he asked.

"Next Thursday." I say. He cursed under his breath, and placed a hand to his forehead. "You couldn't possibly be preparing for the moonstone exhibit, could you?" My eyes widened, and I swung back and forth, looking at him. "The Carsons. Oh my God, of course it had to be your family." I muttered.

He glared at me. "What is that supposed to mean?" he demanded. "Stop being overdramatic. I don't mean any offense and you know it." He sighed, and swung back and forth along with me. "So I guess we're seeing each other Thursday night, huh?" I say.

"Yup, but at least I'll get some company. It's boring at these things." I simply nodded, and mentally crossed off the dress I was just looking at. There was no way I was wearing that with Lennox Carson present. Nope, I was going to wear something so much better.

I wasn't sure why, but it was just something I had to do. "Is there a reason why you called me here today?" I ask, twirling the ropes of the swing around each other so I could spin.

"Nope. I didn't really have anything in mind. I just wanted to hang out." He admitted, and one side of my mouth quirked up. "You are something else, Glasses. Truly." None of us spoke after that, both of us busy in our own world, and enjoying the silence.

I kicked the dirt as I drew the perfect dress, writing down notes and adjustments alongside.

I was suddenly looking forward to this stupid formal thingy.