November

chapter 4

"I have a surprise for you." Ethan said when she descended the stairs and tramped into the kitchen later that morning- it was starting to become like a habit for them, meeting in the kitchen.

That phrase didn't set well with November, so she paused at the door and looked warily around her. Taking in her discomfort, Ethan added quickly "Nothing bad, I promise. I just thought about something last night and I want to discuss it with you."

She sighed and, pushing her body off the door frame where she had been leaning against, she slowly went to the table. She pulled back one of the chairs and sat as far away from Ethan as possible without making it seem rude. The chair was made from some kind of metal- maybe steel?- and the scratching sound it made as it was dragged on the shining kitchen floor seemed to hit November straight to the spot just above her temple where a headache was already threatening to make its appearance. She maintained her composure though and didn't succumb to the wince that was pulling at the muscles of her face.

Her hair hung over one shoulder, still damp from the shower she had taken. Earlier that day she had finally relented and filled the tub with hot water, double locking the bathroom door and feeling a little paranoid as she stripped even though Ethan had already seen her in her underwear.

November saw his eyes skim over her body for just the briefest of moments before they returned back to her face. She was wearing a black V-neck sweater with one of Ethan's white shirts underneath and simple grey sweatpants. It was weird seeing him show so little interest to her body, borrowed and unflattering clothes or not. November was not stupid. She knew very well what the looks all the men she met gave her meant, but by now she had figured out that Ethan was not like any other man, always prone on proving her instinct wrong and doing the exact opposite of what she was expecting, which unsettled her even more.

"So, what's this surprise?" she asked to break the silence.

"I will not tell you unless I see you take your medicine." Ethan told her, pushing a small pill towards her and a glass of water along with her toasted bread and orange juice.

November looked at him like he had gone crazy. "How do I know that this pill is what you're telling me it is? I'm not willing to take the risk."

"I thought we were over this." Ethan said, but when anyone in his place would have let out an indignant huff, he remained as composed and patient as always.

For a few moments there was an intense stare-down in which no one looked away or admitted defeat. He was good at it, she had to give him that.

"How about we make a deal? You tell me about your great surprise and if I judge it's good enough I take the medicine?" she probed.

Ethan shrugged "Fair enough. I will drive you to your house so you can visit your family right after you finish breakfast. How does this sound?"

November instantly perked up at the prospect of seeing her siblings again. She took the little pill and washed it down with her orange juice, and then ate both her toast slices in only three bites. It was good, all crunchy and buttery but she couldn't focus on properly enjoying her toast, not when she could barely contain her excitement about Ethan's alleged 'surprise'.

When she looked back up, she saw that Ethan looked for some reason both incredulous and amused, and he was trying to stifle his laughter.

"What?" she asked between a mouthful of toast and a gulp of juice right after that.

"Nothing." he said, shaking his head and smiling. "It's just that I like seeing you like that."

"Like what?" November asked a little more brusquely than she had meant. "Eating like I have never seen food before in my life?"