Forehead Kisses (ONGOING)

Part Twenty

     "Elizabeth and Severus sitting on a tree. K-I-S-..." Retty kept on humming by the time I got to our flat and told her everything there is to be said.

     "I could've declined it, you know." I fitted my red beanie on my head and stroke the dust off my maroon sweater. It may be getting a little bit chilly out but I'm still wearing my ripped jeans anyway. 6:20 pm and I still have so much time in my hands. Do I look good? Should I curl my hair? Does my breath smell good? Why am I even checking? Is it because I'm on a date?

     "Face it, Liz. You like him. Look at you getting ready like it's prom or something." Retty propped her feet on a little table in front of her after a while of sitting. I didn't reply. "Do I look good?" I asked as I brushed my long brown hair. I wish I had mom's blue eyes. It would be great if I look at the mirror and notice them first. Instead, I got dad's brown eyes. The rich hazel browns. 

     Ordinary hazel browns.

     "You always look good, Liz but I know you can look even better than that." She stood and looked at me through the mirror. I smiled.

☺

     Where is he?

     All I see are people, lights, people. But not him. I brought my camera with me. It was Dad's vintage Nikon camera and decided to shoot some photos for a while. I'm a bit early anyway. I kept snapping here and there when finally my lens caught Sev looking directly at me, grinning. He caught my camera when I let go of it while I gasped in surprise. 

     He's wearing a white shirt under a thin black jacket paired with black slacks. His outfit looked feminine but also emphasized his masculinity. I like it. 

     "Don't do that."I slapped his shoulder as he handed me the camera. He apologized and grabbed my wrist. "Wait. Where are we going?"

     "This morning, you asked me what it was like to be Sev Pembleton. I'll show you what it's like to be more than him. More than Severus Pembleton." I didn't really understood but I let him lead me on anyway, to where I would see someone more than the sweet talking, narcissistic and arrogant brat that he is. We got on a beautiful grey Chevy and drove somewhere out of town. 

     There was a building in a tiny neighborhood in front of where we parked. Just an ordinary two-story house. "You're taking me to your house?" I don't want to think of something dirty but I really don't know what we're doing here. I just thought we were going into another posh restaurant but it never occured to me that we were going to his home. 

     Sev led on and I just hesitated. He looked back at me. "It's not my house, Elizabeth. It's my studio. Trust me. I'm not going to do something stupid." Well, if something stupid means the list of things I wouldn't want to do tonight, then I'll just have to trust him on this one. I took his hand. I didn't know why I did, but it just happened. 

     We entered the studio. It was dark at first but when Sev turned on the lights, I realized I was in a very neat living room. "This is my guest room," he said. "Out the back is my studio. Some singers go there and practice the songs I made before they go to the bigger record deals. And uh... that's where I sing too."

     "You own this place to yourself?" I asked, roaming slowly around the room which was decorated with paintings. 

     "You could say that." He went into the hallway. I followed him. At the other end were two rooms. One was labeled Recording Studio and the other was Off Limits. We were entering the studio when I asked, "What's in there?" pointing at the other room. "That's my room."

     He showed me some of his equipment. Microphones, interfaces, work station... I didn't know what else he was saying but it would be rude to ignore him. Besides, he looks so happy. "Boring. huh? All these geek talk," he scratched his head.

      "And you said I was boring."

     He shook his head. "What're we doing here anyway? The best part's upstairs." He pushed me out of the room and ushered me upstairs. It was astonishing the most astonishing sight.