Scales [ON HOLD]

Chapter Twenty-Four: The Visit

   Cliodhna had ordered that I get dressed 'nicely' for Mr. Michaelis's visit, not like I usually did. Well, there's nothing wrong with steel-toed boots, black jeans, white long sleeved shirt and a black tie, is there? I didn't think so. To try and please my mother, I wore black plimsolls, black jeans, a white shirt and a deep brown jacket; there was nothing I could do with my hair. I was kind of rushing with the outfit because we only had ten minutes. As I tidied up my room a bit more, my mother burst in.

   Her green shirt brought out her eyes whilst it contrasted with her white jeans and black ballet pumps. She was wildly flailing her arms about.

   "Ten minutes!" She reminded me. I nodded and carried on fixing my duvet. She calmed down slightly and flattened her untamed fringe, although it did nothing. Leaning against the door frame, she stared at me. "So, does he look the same?"

   "What?"

   "You know, brown hair, red eyes, tall, is he fat? You know, the usual..." She trailed off slowly. She was filing her nails and blowing them every now and then.

   Now that I had thought about it, he had dyed his hair black. Why I hadn't noticed it before, I do not know.

   "He's dyed his hair black." I answered. My mother looked up from her nails and smiled.

   "Is he still handsome?"

   "Mother!" I exclaimed.

   "Fine, fine. Sorry." My mother looked me up and down before sighing. "What are you wearing? You can't wear a jacket! It's much too informal."

   "Mother, he's not going to be dressed formally either. It's not like he's going to turn up in a Butlers' outfit or anything." I informed her. I finished making my bed and stood up, brushing myself down. "Anyway, if he did, it wouldn't that much of a difference to what he used to be like."

   "Yes, but he is no longer your tutor. Still! Be nice and polite." She smirked and turned to walk away, but before she was out of sight, she said, "And no kissing! I know about your feelings for each other..."

   I gaped at her, but of course she didn't see me; she just laughed like a madman and walked away. I couldn't even bring myself to deny her statement. My feelings were once so strong that if they were an object, it would be Thor's hammer; no-one can move it, use it, take it or get rid of it. I knew he had a mutual feeling, but it had been so hard for me to say anything, and him in return.

   Mr. Michaelis, or Sebastian, was my best friend from childhood. When we used to live in Greece, he learnt english just so he could speak to me. We were in the same Primary School, we lived on the same street and, when old enough, we began to work at the same place; a doughnut shop. There, we shared secrets, stories and other such stuff. Everyday after school we would go there as customers and by a dozen doughnuts; he always bought strawberry filled whilst I bought triple chocolate. Being the caring person he is, he would tell me about how I could get cavities and how I am 'increasing the chance of getting diabetes', I didn't care though and so I bought them anyway.I'm sorry for having one hell of a sweet tooth! It's not my fault it's in my DNA! He would always cheek me and say 'my sweet' as a nickname. Of course this sent both of our faces up in a red firework show. We would sit on a bench by the beach and share the doughnuts, my head would be on his shoulder as I would tell him a story of something that happened in school.

   Sebastian had become my tutor out of free will when I was just ten and he was thirteen. I used to struggle with things such as simple maths, english and other subjects, and he had noticed this. Since he was a couple of years older than me, thus smarter, he decided to privately tutor me. He would try to be as formal as he could, but we would both end up laughing from something I had done stupidly, like think nine plus ten was twenty-one (but of course that was on purpose). From the first lesson, we had both loved each other, but, of course with age problems and confidence, nothing happened. Sadly, I no longer have these feelings, and I am sure it is the same with him.

   With three gentle knocks on the front door, the Grandfather clock struck six o'clock. I could hear a short scramble downstairs as my mother jumped up and ran to the door. Fixing my hair into a loose ponytail, I checked if there was anything out of place in my room (stupid OCD). When I was sure everything was fine, I walked out of my room and began to take steps down the stairs.

   "Sebastian! How have you been? Come in, come in." My mother's slightly annoying voice entered my ears.

   "I have been very well, actually, Mrs. Johnson. How have you been?" Sebastian's formal voice rang through the house. I sighed happily.

   "Hello, Mistress Johnson."

   I slightly froze at his voice. Loosening up a bit, I finished walking down the steps and let myself into the living room. My mother was sitting eagerly on the desk chair with her legs crossed, Sebastian, however, was neatly poised on the sofa. I gulped slightly and sat on the opposing sofa.

   "Hello, Mr. Michaelis."

   "Please, don't be so formal. Sebastian will do." He informed me. I tilted my head to see him. He was smiling with his eyes closed. His hands were folded neatly on his lap and his legs were crossed; his right over his left. He nodded his head over to a box on the coffee table in front of us. "For you, please."

   I slowly reached out and picked up the box; it was light and so, hopefully, it was nothing expensive. I pulled it onto my lap and looked at Sebastian. He nodded, telling me to open it, and, when I did, I squealed in delight. Inside were a dozen triple chocolate doughnuts, each one had elegant piping over them.

   "Thank you! Oh my god, I didn't get you anything!" I realised, standing from the sofa, my eyes wide.

   "Mistress Johns-"

   "Octavia." I told him, smiling. He chuckled.

   "Octavia, that is absolutely fine. I suspected this would happen, which is why," He also stood up, revealing to me what he was wearing. He had polished leather shoes which were slightly covered by formal trousers. His pure white shirt was decorated with a smart black waistcoat which reached his leather belt. He reached into his rear pocket and pulled out two pieces of card and smiled. "I got front pass tickets to the sweet shop. No more queues this way."

   I stared at the tickets in awe.

   "That's a brilliant idea! That way, you can catch up on whatever you two have missed out on, and Octavia can buy you sweets to make up for it!" My mother seemed a bit too enthusiastic for my liking, but I brushed it off. I reached into my jacket pocket and pulled out a ten pound note, picking up the box of doughnuts with my other hand. My mother smiled and grabbed Sebastian's wrist before reaching over to me and doing the same, which nearly took the delicious doughnut out of my mouth. She lead us forcefully to the door and opened it, pushing us out gently. "I'll see you in two hours, kay-kay? Bye!" She slammed the door.

   "Goodbye to you too." I whispered to the closed door, making Sebastian smile.

   "I see that she hasn't changed, but the question is, have you?" He looked at me inquisitively. I laughed and linked my arm with his.

   "I don't think so! Anyway, where is this sweet shop?" I began to walk towards the pavement.

   "I don't think you have changed! The shop? Oh, it's only Choc-a-Lot." He answered simply. I stumbled over my own feet when he said that, but he caught me with his other arm, causing me to blush. Picking myself back up, I stared up at him.

   "Only Choc-a-Lot? That's the best sweet shop for miles! We're not wasting any time, πάμε!" I shouted, pulling him into a faster walk towards the centre of town.

   "So you still know your Greek, huh?" He asked me. I smiled as he was losing his usual formal composure.

   "Keep speaking informally, I like it. It reminds me of old times."