That Makes Three

Chapter Thirteen

The next morning I couldn't stop smiling. Dressing in a thin lilac jumper and a navy skirt I packed up all my books and my note pad and made pancakes. Just as I was scooping the batter into the pan and turning to grab the bacon the door bell rang.

"It's open!" I shouted, banging around the kitchen and flipping the pancake. When I got a second, between pouring oil in the bacon pan and making sure my breakfast didn't burn I through a quick 'Hey' over my shoulder. When I saw him I stifled a laugh. His hair, which was usually jelled back in a swooping motion was flopping infront of his eyes, which were half shut. His shirt was untucked and, as I watched him slip off his shoes, I saw he was wearing two different coloured socks.

"Not a morning person I take it?" I asked as I watched him trudge to the couch and throw his body down onto it with a grumble.

After we ate I jumped into his car and we drove to his house. As soon as we got there I couldn't control my surprise.

"You failed to mention you lived in a castle." I said as I stepped out of the car.

"I'm modest like that." He said with a shrug.

An hour into studying I realised that Roman was just staring at me, pen in hand.

"You stuck?"

"Bored." He said, dropping the pen. I pursed my lips, peeking over to see that he hadn't even answered the first english question. I looked down at my page. I was half way through the essay question, my biology already done.

"You can do it."

"I know. But I don't want to." He said, tapping a cigarette against the table before sticking it in his mouth. I took it out.

"You literally are so close to finishing it and you can do whatever you want afterward. Like you said, you're more than capable so, why not?" His eyes lingered on the cigarette I held between my fingers before he looked at me, sighing quietly.

"Because, whatever I do, if I decide to work hard if I decide to slack off - my mother will bribe my way into any school I want and eventually when I, as she so lovingly puts it, 'come to my senses' I will take over Godfrey industries. I have no choice. The only choice I have in this, is if I want hand cramps or to have fun. And I choose fun on this inevitable train-wreck." He said simply, plucking the cigarette from my hands and lighting it swiftly. I sat up from laying in my stomach and moved closer to him. Taking it out his mouth again his eye brow raised, a transparent cloud slithering from between his lips.

"You always have a choice. Roman you're wrong. If you want to go to university you can study what you want, you can. You're so smart and you have so much potential. She doesn't control you." I said, holding onto his hands. Roman's stormy eyes stared at me blankly as he took his cigarette and let it hang in his mouth lazily. His eyes flickered from my eyes to our hands before finally, a knock at the door made him jump. He rolled off his bed but didn't let go of one of my hands, taking me with him. When he opened the door I saw Shelly. There was a faint blue glow on her cheeks.

"What is it?" Roman asked, taking her face in his hands. As if to answer his question, the doorbell rang and Shelly flushed indigo again.

"It's alright, I'll get it." He told her softly before disappearing down the stairs. I watched him go before turning to Shelly.

"Hey. It's good to see you again, how are you Shelly?" I asked, taking one of her hands carefully. This made her smile her metal smile. Squeezing my hand slightly she took the phone from around her neck and began typing.

"I am good... I didn't realise you were coming here?" The automated voice said. I nodded.

"Yeah it was a last minute thing - your brother is very persistent." I said laughing. "It's just a study date." From what I could see behind her fringe her eyes widened.