Teddy Bear Love

Chapter X - Bonding or Binding?

Lucy

The final bell rang, its shrill tone signaling the end of another long day at Beckington Academy. My entire walk to the manor, feeling the weight of Vivianne's words, still pressed against my conscience. When I made it to my room, I was happy to be away from everything. My fingers trembled slightly as I unbuttoned my blouse, the fabric whispering against my skin like the hushed conversations that often filled the school's corridors.

"Lucy?" The voice was unexpectedly soft. Standing in the doorway was Vivianne, her hazel eyes now soft and devoid of their usual sharpness. "Yes, Vivianne?" I asked, my voice hesitant.

Her delicate features held a hint of vulnerability as she stepped further into the room. "Would you mind if I joined you for a moment?" she inquired.

"Of course not," I replied, though my heartbeat quickened at the prospect of spending time with her alone in my room. This was only the second time I had seen her on this side of the manor.

She moved closer, a gentle smile playing on her lips. "Let me help you with that," she said as her fingers began delicately unbuttoning each button of my shirt. I stood still, letting my hands fall to my sides as surprise laced my voice. "You don't have to..."

"Shh," she hushed me, her tone warm and inviting. "It's no trouble at all. I can imagine how tired you must be after school. Waking up early to cook and clean, walking all the way to school and back." She slid my shirt off my shoulders with ease as I crossed my arms over my chest, feeling self-conscious. This was the most she had ever talked to me in months. I didn't understand where the sudden friendliness came from.

"Damn, Lucy, I wish mine were as big as yours. What size are you?" she asked casually while tossing my shirt into my laundry basket.

I felt embarrassment flood through me as I hesitated before answering, "I-I don't know. I've only ever worn sports bras."

Surprise registered on Vivianne's face as she looked at me, "Ugh, we need to go shopping and get you sized! That's criminal. You deserve something that accentuates them. You're blessed, Sweetie."

Feeling even more self-conscious now, I hesitantly replied, "Maybe...I think it'd be fun." Not wanting to seem more vulnerable than I already did, I walked over to my closet. I put my thumbs in the waist of my skirt and pushed it down to my ankles. I then stepped out of it and placed it in my laundry basket. I quickly grabbed my nightgown and slipped it on over my head.

When I turned back to face her, I found Vivianne's gaze fixed on me, her arms crossed over her chest. "Come to my room. I want to paint your nails," she said casually as she leisurely walked out of the door. I bit my lip and followed behind her, feeling both wonder and nerves churn in my stomach. As we entered her room, I was filled with awe at the elegant pink decor with silver accents. Her canopy bed was adorned with sheer silvery curtains, giving the room a dreamy feel. This was everything that I had wanted as a child.

Vivianne sat on her bed and beckoned me to join her. My heart raced as I sat next to her, wondering why she wanted to spend time with me tonight. Could it have something to do with Theodore?

She took my hands into hers. As she wiped away the oils from my nails with a cotton swab, her touch was featherlight, each stroke careful and precise. "You've got lovely hands," she commented, a friendly note in her voice that felt disarmingly genuine.

"Thank you," I murmured, my earlier defenses beginning to waver under the unexpected kindness. I watched, entranced by the tenderness of her actions, so different from the calculated moves I'd seen her make in the past.

"Choose a color," Vivianne said once finished cleaning my nails, gesturing toward the small array of bottles I kept in my locker.

"Um, perhaps the pale blue?" I suggested, my heart fluttering as I handed her the bottle. "It's subtle."