Perfume

Chapter Twelve - Touched

~     linden     ~

It is dark when I head home, burrying my hands deep within the pockets of my jacket, smiling to myself. 

     I'd woken up with Bella laying on my bare chest. Her hands were wrapped around my neck, her hair tickling my chest. She was breathing evenly, letting out small sighs. It took me a minute to remember where I was and what had happend. 

      I had finally told Bella the truth. About the past. About everything.

      I was happy. I felt freed. Like someone had finally unlocked the handcuffs that had started to cut into my skin. As I walked through the snow, I just couldn't help but smile. I was beaming. I was so happy that I almost expected the snow around me to melt just from the sunshine my smile provided.

      And I had kissed her for the first time. And it was awesome. 

     Better than any kiss I'd ever had. Better than any girl I'd ever kissed. Bella was amazing. She was everything I had never ever had. She was the best of them all. 

     I got home and when I walked into the living room, I heard not two but three voices from the dining room. It was seven, dinner time, and I was pretty surprised to heard that third voice. The third voice that belonged to my best friend.

     "Mandy," I said as I walked into the living room.

     "Linden," Mandy beamed. Her blue eyes were bright and clear. Her blond hair straight and down. She sat next to  my mother, a plate of orange chicken and fried rice in front of her. The rest of the take out boxes were in the middle of the table.

     "Where have you been?" My mom asked as I took a seat across from her. She'd been asking me those kind of questions ever since the panic attack: Where have you been? How are you? Are you feeling all right? What color is this couch? I knew she was only trying to make sure I was doing all right, but she was getting kind of annoying. 

     I grabbed a plate from the middle and scooped some orange chicken, chow mein, fried rice, and teriyaki pork into it. "I was at a friend's house." I grabbed a fork and started to dig in, hoping she would just drop it. 

     My mom and Mandy were making conversation - mainly about the events and parties that were going on around the holidays - but Dad and I couldn't supply any information. He because he just didn't know anything about parties. And I because I was too busy thinking about Bella, her lips, he body against mine, her fingers on my skin, on my chest.

     I almost choke on a piece of pork just by thinking about her fingers on my chest.

     Ooohhh, Jesus.

     My mother put her fork down and glared at me as I poured myself some water from the jug in the middle of the table. I took a gulp and set the glass down. 

     "Are you okay?" she asked.

     I nodded, and she and Mandy went back to their conversation. And I went back to thinking about Bella. Her hair, her eyes, her lips, her voice. And the way she talked about me. Calling me perfect, saying I was noble. It made me feel so good. Happy. She probably didn't know how happy she was making me. Incredibly so. 

     Dinner went on the same way. Mandy and Mom talked, Dad and I atem and Bella just wouldn't leave my mind. After dinner, Mandy and my mom talked in the living room as Dad watched a game he'd been waiting for a long time. I half-watched but my mind was still occupied with Bella.

     Her skin, her hands, her lips. 

     At ten, Mandy decided to go home. I went down to the lobby to made sure she got into the cab safely. She hailed a cab and waved good-bye to me as it drove away, her smile wide, blue eyes bright.