Deadly

One Simple Smile

Calamity sat up before her alarm the following morning, when she glanced outside it was once again pouring rain causing her room to be even darker than most morning when she woke. She stretched herself in various ways before sliding out of bed and putting on her hoodie, glancing at her phone on the nightstand but choosing to leave it behind as she stepped out into the hall. She found herself shivering and pulling the soft fabric of her hoodie closer and looking down the stairs, she could see a few lights on which meant Adrian was at least still inside.
She slowly crept downstairs, peeking around the banister of the stairs into the living room. It was empty, which considering the sun wasn't even close to rising she would have normally found Adrian on the couch reading by candle light as not to disrupt her sleep. The house itself was almost eerily still and quiet, as if she was simply a lost spirit wandering the hall in the heavy rain. She gave a gentle sigh and moved into the kitchen to find the back porch door left open, causing her to wander over and peek through the small opening.
The room itself had been made into a makeshift laundry and sun room, large double doors leading into the back yard and patio that was still in the process of being built by Lance and his friends. However at this stage it hardly looked like a patio, but was enough to have a very small outdoor chair and table set on the finished stone. The light from the laundry room itself was on, shining through the partially open double doors, and large windows lining the back wall into the rain that was pounding into the backyard. Adrian was sitting on the outdoor set, his arms crossed and one leg folded the other. The small umbrella that rested in the middle of the table thankfully provided him cover from the downpour, his eyes were focused beyond the backyard fence which stretched back towards the hill on the edge of town right before the tree lining.
It was a popular spot to hike up to in the summer time to star gaze from what Jade had told Calamity, but she had yet to venture up that way to see it for herself. His ice cold auburn eyes were staring deep into the darkness of the treeline, the rough black shapes of the trees hardly visible through the rain but she expected he could see more than she could out of his good eye considering he wasn't fully human. She slowly walked her way out onto the porch, quickly taking shelter with him under the umbrella and sitting in the free seat on the other side of the table which earned her a glance.
"You are awake early, I never see you before your bell." His tone was even, and sweet with a hint of concern hidden under the deepness of it. She didn't look over at him, instead she had followed his gaze out towards the trees. She was makeup-less, in her baggy and soft warm hoodie and her sweatpants she had fallen asleep in. Normally something like that would bother her, yet in this moment she hardly paid it mind, he had already seen her skin condition so what did it hurt anyway.
"I couldn't sleep, not that I didn't at all. I just kind of woke up, and realized it was kind of peaceful this morning. Can I sit with you a while like this?" She finally glanced at him, partically squinting to see him as she had decided to make this venture without her glasses or contacts. His eye was soft, as he looked at her. His head gently tilted forward so his curls were slightly uncovering his scar and she could barely make out that both his eyes were fully focus on her.
"I don't have much say in it do I? You are a free person with free will, but if you mean to say 'would you like some company' I would be delighted for you to stay." He stood for a moment, causing her eyes to follow him as he walked around the table and towards the door. "Just a moment, I will make us some tea."
She watched him retreat into the house and out of the rain, waiting until he was around the corner before looking back out in the direction he was looking, her left hand wandering it's way up to her mothers necklace as she gently rolled the chain between her fingers. The look he had given her was lingering softly in her head, she had his full attention, his full gaze and he looked fully present in the moment just with her and no one else. It made her heart flutter softly in its cage of bones, like a bird desperate to take its first flight in the spring morning sun.
What was it about that look that had her to temporarily fixated? He didn't look blank faced, instead for just that brief moment she saw him in what she assumed was a moment of total peace. His eyesbrows were relaxed, his lips gently parted from his unclenched jaw and even his back was slightly slouched back into the chair as he stared off into the distance. It was almost dream like, as if he was some dark prince hidden away in some castle garden awaiting for the letter of some far of princess whom would send him well wishes he so despereatly craved.
"Calamity?" She softly rose from her thoughts and looked up at the voice, Adrian was now standing over her with a tea cup and saucer held out to her. It was an antique set he happened to pick up from a thrift store in town, it was one run by an old lady and he said on one of his evening walks he came across her and the store. Jade said she heard of it as well so it hadn't been a lie, but apparently his deep knowledge about the set itself impressed her so much she gave it to him as a gift.
When she looked down at the small delicated hand painted porcelain cup and matching saucer it was a brilliant white, the paint having faded over time but well still very good condition, it was adorned with several flowers of various breeds, styles, sizes and colors. Inside the small cup the black tea with a splash of milk steamed up into the cold air, which caused her to watch it for a moment before taking it. "Thank you."
Adrian rejoined her at the table, resting the cups saucer on the table and holding the cup in his hand as he once again looked out at the tree line. "You seemed like you were lost in your thoughts, do you want to talk about it at all?" Calamity eyed him softly as she sipped from the cup, careful not to burn her lips on the liquid inside, she didn't realize she had been so lost in thought or for so long that he had enough time to brew and make her tea the way she enjoyed it. She blushed with a bit of embarrassment before looking forward once again, the thought of being caught so absent minded making her heart yet again flutter.
"It wasn't anything really, just how peaceful it is out here. No real noises but the rain and stuff." She felt him glance at her from the corner of his eye, watching her for a moment before looking forward again as well. "I will let it go since it wasn't a total lie, not that I can tell anyway." Calamity nodded at his comment and the silence once again fell over them as the conversation faded but the rain stayed. It was a moment in time she half wished she could pause forever in both their lives, a peace she wished would last.
However as quickly as the wish came, it was swept away when she heard she phone ringing from upstairs. The notification for the call echoing in the empty and still house allowing her to hear it from where they were, so she sighed and set the cup on the saucer and excused herself before going into the house to collect her phone. Adrian simply watched her go quietly, waiting until she was out of sight before looking forward again just as she had done with him.