My Mate, Charlie

S I X T E E N

Charlie

Stepping into the room I hear the door close behind me making my heart beat considerably more. Deciding to distract myself from the fact we're alone together, I look around the room silently amazed by its beauty and simplicity.

The room was fairly dark, but the large casement window let in the natural light of the day. From here I could tell it looked out into the woods. The walls surrounding the whole room was one huge book shelf. Books upon books lined the black walls. It set a very calming aura. In front of the bright windows was a simple ivory desk with legs most likely made of precious glass. Upon the table was a little black Mac book pro and two lamps on either side of the ends. It was very professional but also somewhat homey.

"Do you like it?" Declan entered further into the room, giving me this look like he was...worried?

"Yeah, it's beautiful. I like the books." I admit, admiring the walls a little longer. I could feel my fingers itching to grab a book, sit on the window and just read.

"So, what did you want to talk about?" Declan sits behind his desk, folding his hands in his lap. I notice the tilt of his head to take a seat in front of him in one of the chairs. Hesitantly, I take a seat in the leather chairs. Clearing my throat I try and look anywhere but at Declan, afraid I'll lose my train of thought.

"Uhm, where's my ring?" There's a heavy pause. Looking up, I see Declan slightly shocked, but he quickly recovers, face set hard and void of any emotion.

What's up with him? 

Declan stood from his chair, walking to the left side of the room. Questioningly watching him, I witness as Declan reaches out for a pale green book, tilting it as if to take it off it's shelf. Instead, the book stopped there. A hardly audible click was heard following the sound of a thud on the other side of the room. Gasping lightly, I spin around in my seat spotting a tiny compartment opened on the bottom of the wall in the corner.

"Go on. It's in there." Glancing back at Declan, I slowly rise and walk my way over to the little safe. Lowering myself on my knees, I push open the tiny door a little more. It was too dark to see anything inside. Leaning over slightly, I gently reach my hand into the compartment, fingers grazing over a beaded chain. With a new found energy, I grasp the necklace yanking it out of the box. Holding the ring up to my face, I exam the only piece I have of my father left. No damage was done.

With a beaming smile on my face I quickly re-claps the ring back around my neck letting it fall right between my breast like it always has been. Almost immediately after having the ring back on my body I felt a new sense of calm. My mind did seem like such a cluster and my body seemed much more at ease. I didn't feel like the world was turning on me, even though I still knew the existence of werewolves and the fact Declan and I...kissed.

Instantly remembering the little moment we had, I close the little door, turning back around to face the man that made my heart beat uncontrollably.

"Thank you...for keeping it safe. This ring, it means a lot to me. It's the last thing I have of my father."

Okay, Charlie, why are you opening up to him? Stop it he probably doesn't even care.

"Of course. It's safe, always, including you too." Baffled by his last words I stand gawking at the Greek God before me. Like a fish out of water I try and come up with words to speak, but it's like I've lost all sense of vocabulary. "Listen, Charlie, about that kiss..."

Oh no. Here it comes. I could feel it deep within my gut. This is the part where he says 'It was a mistake. It won't ever happen again. Just forget about it'. Knowing dang well I won't be able to forget about it. I may have been trying with all my might to avoid Declan today, but in my defense every time I saw him I just wanted to kiss him again. I didn't understand why I had such strong feelings for a guy I just met! Then again, barely anything made sense any more.