Hidden Dimples

❀ Chapter 23: Time Left

❢Celestine's POV❢

"Nova, get back here." I called out and chased him throughout the house.

Currently, he was holding my granola bar in his mouth, running through the house as I chased him, sneaky little thief.

"Ow!" I yelped out, smacking against the front door, noting that it magically opened just enough for Nova to run outside.

Wait, hold up.

Groaning, I stumbled backwards and caught my balance before tugging open the front door, only to be met by Storm being tackled to the ground my Nova.

He was lying there, grunting as Nova covered his face in countless licks, dropping the granola bar — or should I say my granola bar — on his chest, barking proudly like it was a treasure he was sent on a mission to find.

"Nova!" I chastised, frustrated at the little troublemaker and walked down the steps, only to tumble off them and landed face flat on the ground with a thud.

Turning over so I was laying on my back, I yelled, "Of all people, why me?" I then started to ramble on and on about nonsense until I snapped my eyes open when I felt a shadow forecasting over my head.

He raised an eyebrow, "Are you just gonna lie there or..?" He let his sentence hang.

Storm forwarded his hand that was wrapped in a white cloth as I took it and boosted myself back on two feet. I observed him, he seemed rigid, tense almost, noting his bandage clad hand, a cut on his lip and a small yellow bruise on his jaw.

I mindlessly reached out to touch it, my fingers lightly skimmed over the skin, feeling the chiselled jaw beneath it. Somewhere, a pit started to form in my stomach, yet it was exploding with nerves, a fluttering feeling that was hard to describe.

I felt somewhat of a tingle — or what I thought it was, shrugging it of as static, I retracted my finger and stared up at him in worry, wanting to say something but let my thumb trace the cut on his lip instead. I blushed, knowing how it felt against my cheek not too long ago, but still made me wonder how it'd feel against my own lips.

Wait, what?

"What happened?" I asked, drawing my eyebrows together in concern.

I then retracted my hand, seeing the strained expression Storm had on, I didn't want to make him feel even more uncomfortable. I was expecting a scowl or for him to tell me to mind my own business. Instead, he hesitantly held my hand in his, then let it fall back to my side.

"Work." Was his curt reply and I nodded in response.

A silence fell upon us like a thin blanket, we were both drowned in our own thoughts, mine was wandering off somewhere, replaying the short kiss to the cheek he gave me. It made me blush but I just couldn't put a finger as to why I was pondering over it so much.

I hear Storm suck in a breath and looked over. He parted his lips, wanting to say something when his phone rang, notifying him of a message. He furrowed his eyebrows and let his gaze skim over before approaching me with a light expression.

I lifted an eyebrow, "Yes?"

He shook his head, "I think we both deserve a break."

I gave him a look, "What are you smoking?"

"What?" He asked, face contorted in horror.

"Dude, I don't know what they've been feeding you, but if you hadn't already know, we're on summer break." I deadpanned.

He threw his hands up in exasperation, "I was going to say, there's this summer festival going on and Griffin just texted me about it. Let's go?"

I pretended to ponder over it, tapping my chin with my fingers, "Hmm.. I'm given a choice right, so I have the privilege to say no?"