The Firefly

25°

I woke up to the noise of the hoover in front of my bedroom door.

I tried several times to diminish the unbearable racket by plugging my ears with my pillow, but it seemed a futile attempt.

I got up huffing, the day was certainly not starting in the best way.

As I approached the door I heard some maids whispering as one of them turned off the hoover.

-Are you serious?- Sandie's voice asked.

-Absolutely, go see for yourself if you don't believe it.-

-I'll go.- Exclaimed the redhead, moving away quickly before the other started cleaning again.

Quickly fixing my hair to look more watchable and zipping up my warm and trusty sweatshirt, I opened the door in curiosity.

-Good morning Miss Hooper.- The girl who appeared in front of me barely reserved a glance. -Good morning, what is going on?-

She waited a few seconds before answering me.

-Mr Hale went out into the garden.- She cut it short without bothering to raise her voice to be heard over the noise of the contraption she held in her hands.

-I don't believe it.- Without even thinking about it, I rushed downstairs.

He's crazy, he had a fever yesterday and today he's coming out at the end of November just like that.

I opened the large glass French window and entered the large, well-kept back garden.

It was not flowering now, but in summer it would be full of fragrant flowers.

The large pool, right in the middle of all that expanse of grass, was covered with a blue cloth that prevented the leaves of the surrounding trees from falling in.

There was a polished wooden picnic table under one of them and a large outdoor sofa at the opposite corner of the garden.

On top of the latter sat he.

Relaxed, he kept his eyes closed and his face turned upwards, breathing steadily.

I approached, already ready to take him by the ear, when I noticed he was wearing nothing but his pyjamas.

-Jake.- I called to him, placing myself in front of him, he raised an eyebrow.

-Why didn't you cover up to go out?-

-It's a beautiful day, isn't it? I bet it's sunny and the sky is blue.- He guessed, hinting at a smile.

I moved closer, resting the palm of my hand on his forehead.

-I no longer have a fever, Brat.- He was right, I moved my hand away slowly.

-You'll catch cold if you stay here without covering yourself.- I continued undaunted, sitting down beside her.

-I only have a little headache.- With a sigh, he crossed his arms and leaned against the back of the large sofa.

-The fresh air just helps.- He continued undaunted.

I huffed loudly, slipping off my sweatshirt and placing it on his shoulders, a cold shiver ran down my spine.

Usually in films it's the other way round.

He wrinkled his forehead, feeling it for a few moments with his fingertips to see what it was about, then turned his face towards me in amazement.

-This way you won't be the one to catch cold?-

I could tell from his voice that he was trying to sound aloof with me, I squeezed myself into my lilac pyjamas.

-Mm, probably. But it wasn't me who had a fever yesterday.- I lowered my gaze in embarrassment when I remembered the night before, he seemed to have the same reaction.