He Hisses

~4~

Penelope woke up feeling all refreshed and ready to take on the world.  She had a meeting with her editor/publisher by noon, giving her about 5 hours until then. She got off her bed and began her normal morning routine: arranging her bed, a quick stretch, washing up, and whipping up a hearty breakfast.

After making enough pancakes for herself, she settled on the stool by her marbled counter, food to her right and her iPad to her left. As she savoured the fluffy pancakes drizzled in honey, she scrolled through her recent book draft, her mind racing with anxiety about the upcoming meeting. What if her editor hated it?

After making corrections here and there, she checked the time, two hours before the meeting. Yawning from tiredness, her thoughts drifted to her mysterious neighbour; she hadn't introduced herself yet. With a burst of energy and the thought of having a hopefully not creepy neighbour, she hopped off her stool, picked some fresh fruits into a bowl, and headed to his apartment.

She guessed the flat in front of hers was his since that was the only one available as far as she knew. Letting out a breath to calm her excitement, she knocked on his door a tad bit too enthusiastic, so much for calmness.
Her smile faded along with her excitement when the door revealed him. He looked groggy, tousled hair falling over his forehead, and yet somehow still incredibly charming. When he recognized her, his face lit up, a mix of surprise and delight, and she gave an awkward smile.“Oh, I didn’t mean to bother you... I’ll just...” He cuts her off before she can even finish her sentence, making it clear that he won't let her escape. “No... no, you weren’t disturbing! How may I help you? Wait, do you live here?” His excitement was similar to her previous feeling, making her heart race.

Feeling her nerves kick in, she hesitated. “Um, no-yes, I’m just in the flat next door.” “Great! Come in,” he said, stepping aside. Before she knew it, she was crossing the threshold into his apartment.

The place was dimly lit, art pieces scattered about and a lot of unpacked labelled boxes making the apartment seem small and scattered. The rich aroma of incense filled the air, mixing with the faint scent of earth musk perhaps old leather or wood.  She zoned out as her eyes took everything they could; he started apologizing for freaking her out last night, and she surprisingly found herself relaxing a bit as he seemed flustered and embarrassed by his behaviour last night. “I wasn’t expecting to see you again so soon, I didn't mean to spook you last night, I felt real bad when you left”, he said, his voice smooth and inviting.

She leaned against the door frame, feeling the tension ease from her shoulders, and he came a bit closer, taking the fruit bowl from her. But just as she began to feel comfortable enough to step fully into the apartment, her gaze fell on something slithering on the floor, a ball python, coiled casually around a decorative stand that seemed to be placed at random.

The snake’s scales glimmered in the low light, a beautiful contrast of deep browns and golds. Her heart dropped, panic surging through her. “Oh my god! Is that a snake?” she exclaimed, stumbling back, her pulse quickening. The calm conversation shattered, leaving her on edge.

He noticed her sudden shift and chuckled softly, his eyes sparkling with amusement. “Yeah, that’s Luna. Don’t worry, she’s harmless!” But the comforting tone in his voice only heightened her anxiety.

“Harmless? That’s a freaking snake!” she exclaimed, backing up even further, her breaths coming faster. She felt terrified, her breaths coming in short while she took small steps backwards to escape the apartment.

He noticed and picked the snake and went into one of the rooms, coming back empty. He raised his palms slightly in the air, "Hey, she's not here any more. Deep breaths, in and out, count with me" he calmed her from her panic, taking her by the arm to the chair so she could calm down.

After she had calmed down, Penelope found herself acutely aware of the warmth of his hand on her arm.

“Sorry about that,” she said, her voice barely above a whisper. “I didn’t know you had a snake.”He chuckled a rich sound that made her feel a little lighter.
“Yeah, I get it. Not everyone is a fan of snakes. But Luna is really sweet once you get to know her.” He stayed by her side on the chair and watched her with an amused expression.

“I promise she won’t bite. She’s more scared of you than you are of her".

Feeling slightly embarrassed, she took a deep breath. “Okay, maybe I overreacted a little. I just... don’t do well with snakes.”
“Fair enough,” he said with a grin. “But if you ever want to try again, you know where to find me."
Penelope nodded, but her heart raced at the thought, Yeah I don't think so.

“Right, well... I should get going. I have work soon.” She stood up, the air between was awkward on her side, and the way he kept watching her with a small smirk didn't help.
“Of course! Thanks for the fruits and for stopping by,” he replied, stepping back to give her space. As she walked toward the door, she felt heat rush to her cheeks, remembering her frantic reaction.
“I guess I'll...see you around?” she stammered, avoiding his gaze as she slipped out of his apartment into hers.

I HAVE A FEAR OF SNAKES, I CAN'T STAND THEM, BUT I DON'T MIND READING NAGA-RELATED BOOKS😌