SOULS WITH SCARS | Ryan Clarke

5

Blair

His front door swings open instantly as I knock on it. The fragrance of the banana almond bread spreads everywhere and I'm automatically only focused on that. He lets me enter the house and shows me the way to the living room.

"Hey, welcome again."

"Hi," I smile. He reaches his hand out for mine and I just look at his hand. "Really? Handshake? What about a hug?"

The room is filled with his laughter and once again I feel the butterflies. "I think a handshake is for the best." He takes my hand and shakes it. I keep looking at his hand and chuckle. "Okay, okay I was joking. Come here," he says while pulling me closer to himself. He wraps his arms around me, surprised I freeze. A few seconds pass and my arms snake around his waist. Without a second thought, I subtly inhale his fragrance. I don't know what made me do that, but it happened. He smells like a mix of sweet and woody perfume. "Weren't you taller than this?" he laughs.

I look up at him with narrow eyes, "I'm five-six."

"Five-six? You're like a minion."

Removing myself from him, I sit on the couch. "A minion?" I look at him with raised brows.

"They're short and cute, just like you." He smiles.

"I'm not sure about how cute they are."

"You don't like them?"

"I do, but not as much as how weirdly good you smell with the mix of the perfume and the bread," I laugh softly.

Surprise is painted all over his face, "It's a French perfume. I'm glad you liked it, I wasn't completely sure if it was good."

"It reminds me of New Orleans."

His curiosity shows as he raises his brow. "New Orleans? It must be fun to be there."

"Oh, definitely! It's one of my favorite places in the world," I say. My memories of the people out on the streets enjoying the light, art, and music return to me. I miss it all, but at the same time, I'm happy that I got away from there. New Orleans was not good for me.

Ryan shakes a hand in front of my face, I apologize for zoning out. "How is it, New Orleans? You seem like you miss it."

"It's a stunning city and I do miss it. I lived there for about seventeen years. It's not easy to move from somewhere you considered home..."

Silence fills the room. Neither of us looks at the other. Just silence. Suddenly I feel his eyes upon me and I look at him. It's like he wants to tell me something, but hesitates.

"I missed you, Cora. It's nice to have you over again, thank you for coming. I'll visit you one day too," he chortles.

"I missed you too." I smile and as I feel my cheeks burn, I look away. "And my doors are always open for you. I enjoy your company, I haven't enjoyed anyone's company for years now."

Looking at the ground with a grin, he blushes. "Speaking of New Orleans... Are there some places you would recommend me to visit?"

"Maybe if you want, I could show you around?"

"I would like that," he says and smiles. "I really hope I don't ruin our friendship."

"I don't see any way for you to ruin our friendship so far."

"I hope so." A sigh. "I want to know more about you. I want to know what makes you happy, sad, angry. Where you would like to be in ten years. I want to know everything about you." How do I respond to that? He is such a sweetheart, who deserves a true friendship and here I am crushing over him.