The paintbrush trembled as I tried to concentrate on putting the colour on the canvas but my mind clouded every time the brush neared the white surface .
Thomas kept entering my mind, the small kiss he left on my cheek and the small nudges of his feet into mine.
I took in a deep breath clenched my eyes shut trying rid of my thoughts. I gave up and put the brush on the paint palette next to me careful not to get any on the wooden floor boards underneath me.
I got up and walked out to the balcony and pulled out a cigarette and shielded the flame with my hand from the wind. I inhaled the smoke and blew it out and watched as it floated out into the city air. Hoping these thoughts of Thomas would go with them.
~~~
Although the air was cold and and the wind nipped at your facial features, I braved wearing a blue and white striped off the shoulder dress with some heeled boots and slid hair grips with daisies on into my natural curly hair.
a cigarette hung out of my mouth as I made the brisk walk into work. I hung around outside the building finishing what was left of the cigarette. I dropped it to the floor stamping it out and let out my last breath as I walked into the building.
"love, are you not cold?" the British accent said as I walked in, looking up at him as he leant against the reception.
I just gave him one of my oh so iconic shoulder shrugs and walked past him towards the glass elevator. He followed close behind me as I stepped in the lift to take us up to the office.
"mint?" He offered while getting a packet out of his suit pocket
"You don't want to meet the potential crew of your film with smokey breath do you now Elle?"
I obliged and took the mint from the palm of his hand and smiled at him gratefully.
The elevator dinged as the doors opened, I strode out in front of Thomas
"Don't call me Elle" I objected as I walked
"Of course Ms Rose"
I felt his eyes scan me up and down from behind making me self conscious hoping he would stop.
"Ellie!! Good to see you again!!" Wes called pulling me into a hug
"You too Wes!! I brought some of my other work for you to look at, if you want to see it?"
"Yes, yes of course, first I'd like you to meet someone"
"Okay"
"Do you know of James Dashner?"
"Of course!! He's one of my favourite authors"
Wes pulled me through to the meeting room that we were in a few days before. I turned back to look at Thomas who was leaning against a wall talking with some new intern with black frame glasses and brown hair. My gut churned at the sight. Thomas sensed me looking at him and gave me one of his intense stares. I quickly turned my head and I was faced with James Dashner.
He extended his hand to me which I shook all too enthusiastically.
"I'm sorry, you're my favourite author The 13th Reality is my favourite book" I beamed at him
"Don't worry" He chuckled at my eagerness "but thank you, I've read through your manuscript and honestly I'm very impressed and was thinking of writing it into a book, of course I'll give you all the correct credit where needed but I'd love to work with you on it, would you agree to that" he exclaimed as he took a seat across from me
"I-I'm speechless! Oh my god, yes of course, oh my god, thank you for this opportunity!" My hands went to my mouth, completely paralysed.
"That's great to hear, I'll have my people put together a contract that we'll both sign"
The door opened and there stood a Thomas with disheveled hair and a sweaty sheen to his collar bone.
"Sorry" he apologised looking intently at me.
My gut completely flipped when my head clicked to what he'd been up to. My heart faltered.
"I'm going to get a coffee from down the street, anyone want anything?" I asked around the table. A chorus of "No thanks" and "I'm good"s erupted around the table.
I walked out the building lighting up another cigarette and took a deep breathe.
"You should stop smoking those so often Ms Rose" his voice said from behind me
My eyes rolled at him and I walked up the street hoping he doesn't follow, I turn the corner and take a glance at him and he's still in the same spot lighting up a cigarette himself, watching my movement.
~~~
the small encounters with Thomas kept my mind racing with situations that would happen if we spent more time together, would he be less irritating? would my heart stop faltering every time I saw him? would my hands stop shaking? would I stop thinking about him so much?, all these questions spun my head as I sat with my tea curled up in my small chair covered in blankets staring out across the city.
~~~
AN
what's up?? so i always write these late at night so if there's spelling mistakes please tell me and I will fix it for you ((:
Thank you for getting through this god awful chapter
ps, I know there's not a lot of Thomas right now but just go with it <3
