"I may not be one of those perfect, wide-eyed and bright boys you've read about and fallen in love with, but I know that I am perfect for you and you only."
Hazel Ryland never seemed to fit in with the glossy haired, long-legged, and the graceful cr...
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My eyes are glued to the screen where I'm streaming the latest Captain America movie (Civil War) and it's right at the part where they're in the airport and they're all running towards each other when my door swings open and in comes Lars with a bowl of popcorn. I hear and feel him wriggling on my bed to get comfortable. He's doing it on purpose, disrupting and distracting me, just so I can give him some attention. And so he can get a twinge of satisfaction from my annoyance. My face, impassive, still stares at the screen, ignoring his pooling scent wrapping around me in a thick blanket of ocean and spice.
I'm comfortably snuggled in a purple duvet like a burrito and I have to wriggle my arm out just to reach for some popcorn. I struggle to reach behind my back and when I feel the plastic rim, it's snatched beneath my fingertips.
"Nuh uh. Get your own." He lightly teases.
The sun has already set by now, given that it's winter. Still, the soft, dim light is able to highlight his bright blue eyes. They stand out against everything.
If I were a photographer, I'd know exactly what to do to capture the pure essence of his blue swirls in the darkness. But the only camera I have are my eyes, and I blink, slowly, to drink it all in and to permanently keep a mental picture.
I roll out of my blanket and sit up, the blanket on my back like a cape. "Okay."
I don't talk to him for a while and in my peripheral vision, I see him sneaking quick glances at me. He mumbles something incoherent, but I'm so focused on Chris Evans that I ignore it.
Lars shakes my shoulder. "Hey. You hear me?" His voice is soft.
I grunt in response and shake his hand off. No one, and I mean no one, interrupts me when I'm staring at this blonde hunk of beautiful.
You have another blonde hunk sitting right behind you. The voice in my head comments, who sounds oddly like Nina.
Lars sighs and readjusts his position when I feel my hair move and particles in it. I rake my fingers through to find stray kernels and popcorn in it.
I glare at the immature idiot who's beaming at me innocently. "Against your white bed sheets, your hair really pops." He chuckles. Lars spreads his fingertips and shows his palms to highlight his stupid joke.
I take some popcorn that's fallen onto my bed and aim for his head. A couple pelt him right between the nose, but he seems unfazed. He's more delighted that I've finally given him some attention and smug since he was able to annoy me.
"Why can't I just watch my favorite movie peacefully?!" I clap the laptop shut and head downstairs, Lars pausing to pick up the trash that litters behind me.
"You seem to like any actor with the name Evan in it." Lars chuckles. "I wonder if I could change my name to Evan?" He muses and strokes his chin, turning to me quizzically.
"That'd be gross." I snort. The cold wooden stairs are reaching my feet, even though they're covered in fuzzy raccoon socks. Downstairs, it's much warmer, making me check the thermostat, which reads 70 degrees.
"Yeah, I should probably stick to my Scandinavian and Italian roots." He brags, brushing invisible remnants of his ego off of his arms.
"No. Just stick to being quiet." I quip, settling into the couch, hair nicely tucked into my blue hoodie so no rogue popcorn kernels can nest in my hair.
He smirks, immediately knowing why I'm putting on a fleece hood in a house that has the heater going. He pretends to throw a piece and I flinch, causing him to laugh.
"I swear, every time I invite you guys to my house, you create a mess. I now need new bed sheets that aren't oil stained." I scoff, remembering the red velvet covered counters Xavier and Garrett caused the last time they were here. My bathroom still has a lingering buttercream scent. And now, bits of popcorn littered my sheets, leaving oil blots on my once pristine covers.
"Noted." He sassily adds. He snaps his fingers and points.
I roll my eyes and open up my laptop when it smashes back down on my fingers. I barely get a glimpse of the movie.
First of all, ow. And second of all, who does this Thor-like man think he is?
I just slide over the arm of the chair and head to the kitchen. Not getting any popcorn made me hungry and it's almost dinner time anyways. He grunts and sits at the counter, eyes wide, waiting for me to give him my attention. Lars rests his chin on his hand and sighs.
"When are they picking you up?" I ask, mindlessly putting away dishes. It's already 6PM and I hate to say it, but I'd rather not have Lars here any later than this.
"Anxious to get rid of me that bad? Not gonna be easy, cupcake." Lars chuckles as he fiddles with the crinkly plastic of the bread loaf.
"No. But I need to cook dinner." I glare at him. Lars looks impressed. "Dad?!"
"Yes?" His voice calls from his study. A couple of seconds later, his head peeks out from nook above the kitchen space.
"Do you want to eat the leftover chicken or should I make risotto?" I ask.
Dad makes a humming sound, mulling it over. "Either would be fine. Oh..hey, Lars." Dad waves. "you want to stay for dinner?" He offers.
"No, I'm fine. Thank you though, Mr. Ryland." Lars flashes his signature smile, able to win over any adult....or girl.
"You can call me Daniel, son." Dad replies, his word choice sounds oddly like Ron Swanson.
"Alright. Well! I hope I can meet you again...someday." Lars turns on his heel and flashes me a quick wink. He salutes us both as he grabs a coat from the hangers and heads out.
Dad laughs. "Glad I met that boy...I have a feeling I'll be seeing him more often." He comments, as he disappears into his study. "I like him!"
And it's then when I realize...
Lars never had a coat.
AUTHOR'S NOTE
Who has two thumbs and can't update a lot? THIS GAL!
Apologies in advance...and right now. Whoops. Track season is coming and I don't have a lot of time and most of the time that has gone by has been me writing down ideas for chapters and for the plot. I'm hoping to update more, but my schedule is still wacky as of right now.
But THANK YOU ALL! I really appreciate all of you who have given my story a chance, no matter how small or large. I basically just started this account, and seeing it grow everyday makes me really happy and grateful for all you wonderful people.
