Hopelessly Devoted {ManxMan} [Book II]

Chapter 6

B A S I L E

Today I was taking Zachary to a little diner and I was kind of excited, I really liked talking to him. He made all my worries about the company vanish. When I talked to him it was just me and him, there was no talk about La Boussière Inc. It wasn't like all the other conversations I had had with everyone else that wasn't family.

Our conversations were natural and I was starting to feel I could be more and more like myself around him. It has been a while since I have been myself. After my father died I lost my inspiration and will to be myself.

As I rode in the car to pick up Zachary I couldn't help but smile. When we pulled up to his apartment I texted him and told him I was waiting out front.

He walked outside with a smile on his face, his happy brown eyes making my smile grow.

He climbed into the car and we were on our way to the diner.

It was quiet until Zachary finally broke the silence, "Um, I know it's probably weird but I got something for you."

I looked at him and he dug in his pocket, "You didn't have to-"

I was cut off by the gift he produced a little key chain. Hanging on the silver ring was a small plastic cup of coffee.

"It's not much, but I saw it and I thought of you for some reason." He smiled shyly.

I took it from him and my smile grew. This gift was so insignificant but it was so special to me for some reason. I looked at him, "Thank you Zachary, I love it. I'm sorry I didn't get you anything."

"I'm glad you like it," he smiled, "And you didn't need to get me anything, this is for you buying lunch the other day."

We finally pulled into the parking lot and I looked at Zachary, "Thanks again." I said as we got out, I pulled my office key from my pocket and slid the key chain onto it.

We walked into the diner and the hostess immediately recognized me, something I hoped wouldn't happen. Before she could say anything I put a finger to my lips and shushed her politely.

She walked us to a table and laid down the menus in front of us.

This time Zachary had know a how to read the menu, at least some of it. I guess he didn't want a repeat of last time.

After we ordered he broke the silence, "Not that I'm complaining," he clarified before he even said the rest, "But why are you taking me to this cozy diner after a nice restaurant? Again, I'm not complaining, I love this place and it's environment, it's really-"

I could tell he was starting to ramble so I cut him off, "Zachary, honestly, I don't want my relationship status posted all over the media. I don't want the media to over exaggerate anything."

He took in a deep breath, "Okay." he said as he released it, "I kind of like that idea." He looked up at me in realization, "Wait does that mean... that we... are... um-"

"Together?" I finished for him.

"Yeah."

"To be honest, I kind of like that idea." I said using his words.

I smiled at him and his cheeks turned pink, "Are you sure?" he asked weakly.

I thought about it for a moment, this would be the first time I was in a relationship. I didn't want to end up hurting him, but somehow, somewhere inside, I felt like I couldn't hurt this innocent boy that had been hurt too many times before.

I nodded and he took a sip of his drink as his cheeks reddened.

I began light conversation with him and we learned more about each other. Like I learned his favorite things as he did mine, I also learned that one of his hobbies was painting or drawing. I asked him to show me some of his work and he tried to decline, but with a bit of pushing he agreed to let me see them when I dropped him off.

He also learned one of my hobbies which no one outside of my family new. I liked playing the piano, I had been playing ever since I was young. I had a grand piano in my house that I played when I was stressed, music had always been my escape, and it still is.

We were at the diner for a little over an hour and we had already finished our food, we were just still talking and I had no problem with it. He could talk all day and I could listen. He was so cute the way his eyes lit up as he talked about something and how he was always smiling, even as he talked.

When we finally decided it was getting late the restaurant was already closed and we were walking back to the car.

"Thank you for tonight, it was really fun." He smiled.

I chuckled, "Your welcome, I had fun too."

"Did you just laugh?" He said shocked.

I smiled, "I guess I did."

"I think that's the first time I've heard you laugh. You should do it more."

"I just might." I said as we got in the car.

When we got to Zachary's apartment he walked me inside throwing a few dirty clothes laying on the floor into a basket on the couch, "Sorry for the mess, I wasn't expecting you to come inside."

"It's fine, I understand."

He lead me to a corner of the room right beside the window where there was a desk and a bookshelf full of art supplies and art work.

There was also an easel on the other side of the window and I could see that he was painting the view of the city from his window.

I ran my fingers across the canvas feeling the bumpy texture of the dried paint that made this beautiful picture. "It took me about a week to paint that one, I started it one night when I couldn't sleep."

I turned to him, "This is amazing. Your very talented." I looked in his eyes and smiled.

I walked past him and looked on the bookshelf at all his other finished paintings. One that caught my eye was of a sidewalk with a trees lining the edges, the branches of both the trees making a canopy over the sidewalk. The leaves of the trees were turning orange, red and brown and some of them began to fall. And right in the middle of the canvas, painted in black, was two figures holding hands walking down the side walk. The painting was very detailed and was beautiful, by far my favorite out of the ones I had seen.

I turned back to Zachary, "How long did it take you to paint this one?" I asked pointing to my favorite.

"About two weeks. I drew the outline in pencil, which didn't take very long, but then I detailed it with my paints." He said.

"I love it, that one is defiantly my favorite."

"You can keep it if you'd like."

"I wouldn't want to take it from you."

"Trust me, it's fine. I have plenty of other ones and there are more to come. Heck, I have a whole studio full in my parents house."

I picked it up from it's place on the shelf, "Thank you Zachary."

"Your welcome." He smiled.

"I'll see you tomorrow."

His smile grew, "Okay, bye." he said as I walked out the door.

I went to the car and headed home. Once I was there I immediately pulled out a stand and placed the painting in it and set it on my grand piano.

I smiled at the painting as I sat on the piano bench and began playing.

I hope you enjoyed Lovlies! :)

~Beatrice