The Archer - Ona Batlle

Start Of Something

Charlotte's POV

Ona was arriving at my apartment for six o'clock, so I had just a few minutes left to get ready.

We'd had a free day today, I'd spent my morning in Jana's apartment watching Neighbors, I'd been practically raised on it, back in Australia, but my Spanish friend had never heard of the sitcom before I told her. Though within a week we were already half a season through, it looked like Jana would go through some sort of withdrawals when we finished all of the series. 

I quickly applied some lip gloss and dusted some blush onto my cheeks, looking at the time to see it was two minutes to six but I figured Ona wouldn't be here just yet, no one was ever perfectly on time. 

Rex was following me around the house like usual but with these big, wide eyes reminding me to feed him. He was a rather large dog and I was a rather short person, so when he nudged his head towards me, his nose nuzzled into my waist making me chuckle. 

"Come on then," I smiled down at him, playing with the longer tufts of hair on the top of his head, "Be quick though."

And almost as if he could understand me, he quickly ran towards the food bowl with all the excitement of a new born puppy still waiting to grow into his paws. Though just as I leant down to retrieve his bowl, there was a knock on the door, making me pause, for some reason my heart stopped and my eyes slightly widened. I looked back to the clock, it had only just struck six, right down to the very last second; Ona lived in the building, maybe she was just a very prompt person. 

With the smallest clink I put the bowl back on the floor, walking towards the door and taking a deep breath, trying to gulp back the air, it felt heavy in my lungs. As I opened the door, Ona was waiting with a smile on her face and hands tied behind her back, looking warm as ever with that slightly awkward charm. 

"Hola," she waved, "Am I early or something?" Ona asked, probably because she'd seen the look of quiet shock on my face.

I shook my head, "No, you're right on time."

Ona sighed, her smile widening. Even though we were standing in silence, it didn't feel like it, just noticing the details of her expression and how the sun had kissed her cheeks, filled this doorway with more to admire than ever before in the weeks I'd spent here; I didn't need noise to distract my mind for it was already in a world of its own. 

"But I am running late," I snapped myself from that dream reality with a smile playing on my lips as my fingers clung to the door, "I was just about to feed my dog."

Ona tilted her head to the side, "You have a dog?"

Just at that moment, Rex poked his head around my hip almost as if he'd been summoned, also wanting to know who'd interrupted the favorite part of his day. 

"This is Rex," I laughed, ruffling his ears.

Ona's face lit up, well her face always seemed bright and golden, but now it really came to life as she leant down, "Oh he is so lovely."

I smiled at the two of them, Rex seeming eager to be fussed and Ona somehow seeming even more eager to make a fuss of the Golden Retriever.

"Come in while I feed him?" I offered, not wanting to leave Ona standing in the doorway. 

She slowly stood up, nodding.

I stepped aside so the slightly taller brunette could make her way in, though I gently took the back of her arm to make sure the door wouldn't hit her as it closed, she seemed to freeze at the contact, I quickly pulled away.

"I'll be two minutes," I assured her, clicking my fingers for Rex to follow before he obediently sat down, much quicker than normal as if to prove to our guest that he was a well behaved boy. Soon Rex was fed and I'd washed my hands, ready to go but when I walked back into the hallway, it seemed I didn't quite have all that I needed.