Chapter thirteen.
I hesitated to knock on the tall, dark door to her familiar penthouse. I had been thinking of what to say, rehearsing my 'lines' - so to say.
I could hear faint music playing and a few voices chirping and laughing. Did she invite me to a gathering? Did she not feel comfortable having me over alone? Maybe it was a bad idea. Maybe I should just leave.
I raised my hand in a fist to knock, trying to build up the confidence inside of me...but I decided to chicken out. Why was I trying so hard? She's probably just talking to me so that I don't bother her again, I thought. I lowered my hand and looked down at my feet. As I was about to turn to walk away, the door swung open. My head shot up and, before I knew it, my eyes were gazing into those green eyes yet again. It felt like I never stopped gazing into hers, and I felt calm.
"Hi," she almost whispered. I let out a breath I didn't realise I was holding along with a sound resembling 'um'. "Come, uh..." She broke the stare and looked around nervously, not knowing what to do. "Come in," she composed herself and opened the door wider for me to walk in. I forced a quick smile onto my lips as I stepped into her home. Closing the door behind us, she didn't flash me any friendly looks. The small group of people, which I recognised from somewhere, stopped talking to look at me.
"This is Aftonio," she introduced me.
"This guy...he looks so familiar," a young guy with blonde hair said, sounding like a question. They were in thought.
"From-"
"From that day...with...with the lighter?" He remembered vaguely, I did too. Ms America nodded slowly. "You got his number and shit? God, you work first," he chuckled as she scowled.
"No! I knew him from before," some of the others looked me up and down before whispering something to one another. I felt uncomfortable. "We're going to my room," they all made 'oohlala'-type sounds in unison. "To talk," she rolled her eyes, her beautiful, gorgeous eyes. She nearly gripped my arm, but paused as she realised who I was again. It was strange, like she wanted to be fine with me but covered it up.
Without eye contact or...contact...she lead me to her bedroom. Her penthouse was perfect, but I missed the wine. Her room was spacious with a queen-sized bed. White walls surrounded us as she closed the door. Her room's scent was indefinable, but pleasingly intoxicating. It was slightly stronger than her own scent...it was her home scent. I was strangely turned on by it.
God, what's happening to me? I kept on asking myself in my mind. Is it possible?
I knew that scent could have affects on people, but it never crossed my mind that it would make you want to smack your lips against theirs.
Her body faced me as she stared at my feet with her hands still on the doorknob behind her. Neither of us spoke for a while.
"I didn't know you had company," I said softly. "I wouldn't want to impose, I can just -"
"It's fine," her words broke mine before my eyes urgently anchored on her. She didn't move, though. "It's necessary," she sighed. Suddenly I felt more unwanted than ever.
I nodded, "Yes."
Another few moments of silence passed us by. "So, you lit my cigarette before?" I shoved my hands inside of my jean pockets, not knowing what to do with myself. She nodded. "I had a feeling it was you, you know?" I paused for a reaction, but she gave me nothing, "that's what pushed me to call," I paused again. Nothing. "A feeling," I repeated. Her eyes were now glued to her own feet, nothing else had moved. I waited slightly longer, but the silence was too deafening. "A fucking feeling that I had, don't you get it? I had no concrete proof that it was you, I didn't know it was you for sure until I came over and your friends," she flinched, "they...then I knew. It proved that my feeling - you know, the feeling I had - was right. A simple feeling,"
"What -" she paused to inhale, "what are you rambling on about?" She sounded more confident.
"You don't just ignore feelings," I felt my fists clench in my pockets as anger built up inside me. I didn't want her to know how much of an affect she had on my emotions, and how frustrated I was because of everything that had happened before nothing had happened. "I like you...a lot, for some or other reason. And, and...I know you like me too," I was still looking at her expectantly, but she gave me silence. "We don't know how we'll end up, but we have feelings,"
"Aftonio," she finally spoke again, ever-so-sweetly. "We haven't even known each other for so long...you sound like a long term ex," she smiled to herself. Then I realised how overdramatic I was being, her small smile made me release most of my internal anger. I was an idiot. My face heated up though. "It's okay," she assured me, looking me in my eyes. "It's cute how much you like me, honestly," her hands fell to her sides. I watched her every move, "I just hope you're not gonna turn out to be a clingy stalker of a man," she giggled. The atmosphere was so light and somewhat comfortable.
"I-I don't know what to say...I feel embarrassed," as I turned my head to look in another direction, I felt her hand against my one cheek, gently keeping my gaze ahead - on her.
"Then don't say anything at all," I enjoyed the feeling of her hand violating my beard as her eyes slowly flickered from my eyes to my parted lips. I knew that she was in control of that moment, I felt powerless but in the best way I could imagine.
Expecting a passionate kiss, I was ripped off. She had backed away from me with a sly smirk. What a tease.
"Let's go down, we're just chillaxing and sipping fancy drinks," she winked at me playfully. Chillaxing. Her slang was intriguing.
"Aren't you gonna tell me what happens after this?" I walked out of her bedroom, through the door she was holding open for me. She didn't reply immediately. It was only when we got to the staircase that she said something back to me.
"This," she referred to whatever our relationship status was, "will go wherever it needs to go."
AUTHOR'S NOTE
Media used is Ms America (Lily Collins).
P.S how do you feel about the potential love triangle?
Comment, follow, vote and share please!
- Asher
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Brazilian Lounge
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