Where heart finds home *Paused For A While*

Ch 9 Uncle Greg??

Clara pov

After sometime I woke up and found myself at an unfamiliar place. I opened my eyes and saw Austin sitting infront of me.

I quickly got up and flooded him with questions. "What am I doing here?" "What is going on?"

Austin said "I heard you scream and then you fainted" as soon as I remembered what happened tears started flowing out of my eyes.

I quickly rushed outside his house and Austin followed me shouting my name. I again opened the door seeing the same man lying dead.

I don't know how Austin didn't see that. as soon as he reached there, he was shocked. "Uncle Greg?" he said confused.

He saw my vulnerable condition. He quickly came to me and asked "You okay?".

I remained silent.....

time skip

After sometime police came and said they would enquire about it. My house was seized and locked I was just allowed to bring few of my belongings that I would need. Austin was kind enough to let me stay in his house but that was really awkward.

We both were too shocked to say anything. Thoughts kept racing in my mind. what was happening?

There was a tense silence in his house. Neither of us spoke a word about had what happened. He was cooking but his mind was somewhere else too.

I decided to break the thick ,palpable silence ."How do you know him?"

There was a moment of silence before he spoke "He was very close to us , especially grandpa....he used to work in our office but still he knew more about our family than anyone else. He was like a family to us".

"But what was he doing in my house? I don't even know him. And mainly why was he lying dead ? Who killed him and why?"I spoke in a tensed voice.

"I am as shocked as your are. We hadn't met since few months so I don't know what has happened "he replied back

He added again reassuring me "but don't worry the police is searching for any evidence or clues and you are safe here"

I smiled and nodded. "Okay let me help you in cooking "

"No no I don't want to die young so u better sit there" he said in a playful tone

"Hey! What do u mean ?! I know cooking okay . If u don't believe then taste it when I am done okay " I said mocking offense.

He chuckled amusedly"okay okay . Let me chop the vegetables then "

With this we both put our apron on and started working. The surrounding had turned a bit light-hearted but my thoughts still kept coming.

As I was mixing and frying my eyes roamed over the kitchen, taking in it's surroundings and it stopped at Austin.

Why did he look so good even while cooking? His rolled up sleeves, the rings on his fingers , his veiny hands , why does everything looks so mesmerizing?
My eyes roamed over his body a little too long but he was too focused to notice or realise it.

But I finally turned my focus into cooking. He was done chopping everything. We both cooked together. After everything was finished I asked him for a plate . He signalled at the top shelf.

I tried to stand on my tip toes to get it because I was short . I think puberty didn't hit me well I am still as tiny as I was when I was a teen . Alas my bad luck.

I tried to stretch my arms and everything i could do but I still couldn't reach the plates. Austin was looking at me struggling with an amused expression.

Suddenly I felt a pair of hands just on top of mine. His touch lingered for a moment and travelled from my hand to the plate. As i turned around I got startled by the proximity between us. He was too close to me. His body touched mine .

I gulped . My heart started doing that silly , unknown racing again. His eyes started into mine and we both shared a moment of eye contact getting lost in each other's eyes .

His hand slowly travelled towards my face and he cupped my face. I gulped again sensing the tension between us , and this time he noticed it. I looked away and pulled back feeling shy and nervous and he chuckled seeing my nervous state Ahhhh!!! Why is he having such an effect on me?!

We both had our meal together , but the environment was silent and tensed . I kept glancing at him secretly from time to time and kept biting my lips feeling awkward.

Time skip - few minutes after the dinner

"What do u mean you can't sleep on the bed? "He asked me raising an eyebrow confusedly

"I just can't. And besides it won't fit us both"

He scoffed and replied "oh please it's big enough for both of us "
"But the couch is fine for me " I argued being stubborn. I couldn't sleep in one bed with him, not after the tensed moments between us.

I quickly made my way to the couch and slept back facing him while he looked at me confusedly with his hands on his hips and shrugged.
I heard him mutter "she's strange sometimes" but I ignored it.

Sighing I drifted to my lala land