Friction [Book 2]

-dinner-

question: this is fun okay I'm going to keep doing these. so this chapter's question is: what's your favourite Fall Out Boy song?
mine is I've Got A Dark Alley And A Bad Idea i just love that song so much agh

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Most of the week was spent fixing up the new house, transforming an empty shell into a new home. It had four bedrooms and three bathrooms, a large kitchen with an open plan dining room, a small study and a lounge with sliding doors that led out into the garden. I adored the neighbourhood and had ventured around a few times when I took the children out for a walk everyday.

Patrick called almost everyday to check up on me. Although it was narcissistic of me, I loved it. The fact that he would take time out of his day to think about me and want to speak to me reassured my petty, overworked brain that I was doing something right because people did care.

Once a whole week had passed, the house was finally coming together. There were still a few boxes that I was yet to unpack but all the essentials were in place and it didn't feel strange anymore. I had become used to driving down the street and parking my car in a driveway instead of behind closed gates, waving to neighbours instead of avoiding the flashes of paparazzi cameras from over the hedges.

The only thing I still had yet to come to terms with was sleeping. The bed was always cold and it felt too big. I missed having somebody beside me, somebody to hold me when I slept and somebody to wake up beside. But I didn't miss him, I couldn't miss him.

On the following Tuesday, I sent Bodhi to his nursery and decided to send Behati, too. I was in desperate need of some alone time to relax and sort out the last few things and that was the easiest way to get it done.

I started by folding up the boxes and storing them in the garage. Then, I finished placing ornaments and unwrapped the canvases I had ready to hang up around the house.

I was taking a short break and watching some television when there was a knock at the door. Rising to my feet, I went to answer it.

"Hey! I have a day off today and I was wondering if you needed any help with anything, you know, moving furniture or hanging pictures?"

Stood grinning on my doorstep was Theo. His quiffed hair that I remembered from the other day was now flat against his forehead. His eyes were still as bright and even though the sun was out, he still had the leather jacket on.

"Well, you're in luck. I have a couple of canvases I need hanging and I sure could use a second pair of hands."

"I'm all yours."

For the next two hours, Theo and myself worked together to hang up the pictures. There were several debates on whether or not they were straight or not, which got the both of us frustrated. After a while, I made us some coffee and we sat outside on the wooden decking, watching the forest trees sway slowly in the light afternoon breeze.

We spoke about things, things that I afterwards questioned why I told him when I barely knew him, but I realised then that he was doing to same. He told me the story of how he always has bad luck with women, which made me chuckle. I told him what happened with Pete, although it didn't seem to affect Theo that Pete was famous, to him, he saw Pete the same as any other man, and that's what got him angry.

"I'm sorry you had to deal with that."

Theo spoke softly, leaning back and resting his palms on the wooden platform.

"Don't be, I'm not sorry it happened. If I was, I wouldn't be here right now. I'm sorry about your history with women."

We chuckled. His laugh was a light giggle that sounded almost childlike. It made me smile. His smile reached his eyes, making them glow even more. I enjoyed being in his presence, he was a breath of fresh air.