Persephone- Completed

Fourteen.

"You did not." He cackled from the other side of the island. He'd taken over cooking and I'd been demoted to sit here and not touch anything.

"I did. Just dumped the ice coffee over him and ran home."

"So why didn't you guys just stay broken up?" 

"I loved him I guess. Hindsight is a horrible thing because that was when he started changing." I shrugged and started chopping the cherry tomatoes. He spun around and glared at me "Oh come on. Let me do something. I was supposed to be cooking." 

"And then you started a fire." He smirked, turning completely. "Put the knife down." 

"I'm not sitting here not doing anything." I raised my eyebrows at him and he sighed, the smile on his face had finally come back and it didn't feel awkward now. I was so glad we'd moved past whatever was making it awkward. It felt easy now. Like he had been a friend for ages. 

"Fine, cut away but if you even get close to cutting yourself I swear to god." I could tell he was rolling his eyes. 

"Drama queen. I've lived alone since I was 16. Do you think I've had other people cooking for me the whole time?" 

"No. But I don't know how you survived." 

"It wasn't that bad." 

"YOU SET THE CHICKEN ON FIRE." He spun quickly, pointing at the pan in the sink filled with water. 

"I DIDN'T MEAN TO." I looked at the pan and burst into laughter again. He followed as he held himself up against the counter. 

"Okay we have to stop, because I'm starving now." 

"Me too." 

"Then just sit quietly whilst I cook for us both." I squished my face together, bopping to the music. I loved this song. I started sing along, just above a whisper whilst cutting tiny tomatoes into quarters. 

"So what if I left you instead
And all of the tables they turned?
What if the end of us meant
That you were the one who would get hurt?
Bet you'd take back what you said
And tell me how much that you've learned
If I could get into your head
And plant the same seed that you did
What if I left you instead?" 

"Sing louder." I looked up at him, my eyes getting wide that he was even able to hear me. I was being quiet. 

"Sorry." I felt my face get hot and he smiled at me. 

"Why are you apologising?" His head tilted and his arms were spread out wide on the counter top. "I was enjoying listening to you." 

I sat silently, staring at the cutting board. I suddenly felt ashamed and embarrassed that he was even here. 

"Pops? Look at me. Please?" I put the knife down and did as I was told. I looked up slowly. My heart was doing full on somersaults. "Don't be sorry." I looked into his eyes for a few seconds before going back to avoiding eye contact. "Is Poppy your full name?" I looked back at him, my expression changing to a confused one. "I've heard people say it's a nickname."

"It's a nickname." He nodded staying stood. He was just trying to distract me from the embarrassment. 

"What's it short for?" 

"Do you really want to know?" 

"Of course I do. I wouldn't be asking if I didn't." 

"Persephone." 

"As in Hades' wife?" 

"Yeah." 

"It's pretty." 

"Its long." He chuckled before turning back to the oven. 

"It is. But it's pretty. I love her story." 

"You know it?" 

"Who doesn't."

"A lot of people."

"I do. And I think it suits you now." 

"How so?" 

"Well you were with the devil right? God of the underworld. Well known bad guy. And then you break free and your life is suddenly filled with love and you gain more from not being with him." 

I let out a deep breathe, my head looking at his as I let his words sink in. He was right. 

"I don't think Poppy suits you." He turned and looked at me. 

"What's that supposed to mean?" 

"I want to give you a different nickname." He bent down so his elbows were supporting his tilted head and he was looking at me deeply. "Just for me." 

"Weird request but sure." He thought about it. Staying still, looking at every part of my face as he did. It was making all the hairs stand up on my arms. Yet the thought of him having a nickname only for the two of us, I couldn't explain it. 

"Seph." 

"Seph?" I raised an eyebrow. "You're going to call me Seph?" 

"Yep." I rolled my eyes and shook my head. "You love it don't lie." 

"Fine." I smiled and handed him the tomatoes. He took the bowl from my hand and put it down on the side. "Do you want another drink?" I looked at his empty glass on the side and he did too. He nodded and I leaned over. My knees on the stool, I could only just reach it. He chuckled and pushed it towards me slightly. I pulled it back and stuck my tongue out at him cheekily as I turned to the fridge to add Ice. 

"Food won't be long." I looked over my shoulder and nodded as I poured a little too much vodka into each glass and topped it with coke. "Are you trying to get me drunk Seph?" 

"No." I slide one across to him, smiling ever so slightly. "We've just both had a crappy week. I think we need to chill before we go tomorrow."

"It has been a couple of weeks hasn't it." He took a sip of the drink and coughed "Jesus." He looked up at me and I laughed. "Remind me to not let you make drinks whilst we're there. We'll be out of alcohol before Monday." 

"We're not going to the middle of nowhere." I laughed at him. "It's my house though. I aren't doing any shopping runs. You guys can."  He chuckled at me and I took a sip of my own drink. 

"I looked the place up on maps." 

"Oh yeah?" 

"It looks really nice." 

"It is. One of my favourite places to go."