Persephone- Completed

Thirteen.

I pulled the crop top over my head as I ran down to grab the front door. Is he always early? He said 45 minutes and it had only been 35. I hadn't made up the bedroom yet. He'd have to help me. 

I'd spent way too long picking out what to wear. He was coming over to study. Its not like I like him like that anyway. Right? He was cute sure. Okay. Maybe he was stunning. A beautiful example of a man. That smile would make any girl fall to their knees and beg for him to go easy. 

I pulled the door open and he looked up from the floor. 

"You're early." I put my head on the door, my lips naturally pulling up at his presence.

"I can drive around if you need a few minutes?" 

"No it's fine come in but I'll need your help sorting the spare room out. I haven't had chance to make the bed yet." 

"Don't worry. I'll sort it later." I closed the door behind it and I leaned my back against it. This felt weird. The only guy who had been here alone with me was Will. I felt like I should feel guilty for Sonny being here. Like I was betraying Will somehow. I looked over him.

Grey joggers and a plain black tee. We were practically matching. His hair was still damp on his head from a shower. He had this clean look about him. Freshly shaven too. And I could smell his cologne without needing to step any closer. 

Speak Poppy. You're making it awkward. 

"Your hairs still wet." Great observation. How old are you? Ten? 

"Yeah I was kind of rushing about. I didn't want to be late." 

"I can get you a towel?" I pointed to the stairs and he shook his head. 

"It's fine, it'll dry." 

"Did you manage to pack?"  I pushed off the door, walking through to the kitchen. 

"Yeah. Not greatly mind but it'll be fine." I grabbed my bag from the floor, popping it onto the table and pulling my phone from my pocket and connecting it to the speakers dotted through out the house, continuing my moving on playlist I'd found on Spotify. 

"This isn't my playlist by the way. I found it yesterday and just haven't turned it off so I don't know what's going to come on." I put my phone in the middle of the table and sat down whilst he took books from his bag. 

"I'm not judging you for your music taste Poppy." He tilted his head. "Yet anyway." I chuckled. "Oh I brought drinks. I didn't know what you wanted so I got Coke and vodka." I laughed, throwing my head back. 

"Well the vodkas mine. What are you drinking?" He laughed at me shaking his head at me. "Thanks though. I appreciate you getting them." 

"No worries." I stood up and walked into the kitchen, grabbing two glasses from the cupboard. 

"How was home?" 

"Fine yeah. My mother was rambling on about college and responsibilities and everything." He rolled his eyes. 

"Oh I get that talk every time I speak to my dad." 

"So you live alone here right?" I nodded. "Where are your parents?" 

"They work in Europe. They started like 2 years ago. They own a big business together and they wanted me to go with them, to England. But I refused. I have a whole life here and moving there would have meant dropping everything. They don't do cheer over there which was my biggest push." 

"Wait. So your parents have lived half way across the world for 2 years and you've just been here?" 

"Yeah." I placed the glasses, now containing ice, in front of him. "I mean, I have family close by. And when I was younger I had to see them 3 times a week minimum. So I'd drop in after school to see them. Now it's just calls with my parents when they can. We text like constantly." 

"Is that not hard? Not having them here?" 

"Not really, I guess. A little maybe, but I have the best parents. Like I have no restrictions. I'm good as long as my grades are still high and I'm not doing anything, super illegal, they don't really care." 

"Do you see them often?" 

"I go see them over the longer school breaks. Christmas and summer. Summer I'm usually there for a full month. They pay for Mia to come out and we just get to explore England. We can really do it this summer too. Do you know their drinking age is 18?" 

"Really? That's mad." He slid the now filled glass across to me and I took a sip. 

"Yeah. So me and Mia go to pubs on an evening. They do quizzes in them all the time and its the most fun. Just general and random knowledge. We get so confused because they're designed for older people not 18 year olds." I chuckled as I sat back down. 

"I love a good quiz. Do they all have the classic British accent?" 

"They do. It's so hot." I laughed. "I couldn't do anything last time either. Because of Will. I might this summer just to piss him off. He hated me going over there. Used to face time me any chance he'd get and complain about what I was wearing and everything." 

I watched as his smile faded and he opened his book, distracting himself. 

"You okay Sonny? You've gone quiet all of a sudden." 

"When do you leave this summer? To go there?" He held his pen up but against the paper. 

"Um." I grabbed my phone and looked at my calendar. "Mid July. Why?"

"Just curious. What do you do until then? Doesn't school finish like a month before?" 

"Yeah I guess it does." I opened my own book now. "I don't know. I've not really thought about it. Probably a few day trips with Mia and her family." He nodded, starting to scribble down notes. 

"What about you? What are you doing this summer?" 

"I'm not too sure yet. I know what I want to do. It's just a matter of if everything works out right you know?" 

"What do you mean?" 

"Like I can't do things unless other people are free. Like say I wanted to drive down the coast for the weekend. I can't go alone." I shrugged. 

"I'd come with you if no one else will." 

"Really?" 

"Well what else am I going to do? Stare at the ceiling? I have you and Mia. That's pretty much it." I smiled, tilting my head when he looked back at his book. "Are you okay. You don't seem like your smiley self tonight?" He looked up and smiled. 

"I'm perfect Pops."