Sweet as a Strawberry

27 ~ Sweet as Augustus Waters

A/N: You would not believe how many people requested this, so I chose Augustus Waters! also because I may or may not have read the book and sobbed gently

also, this is dedicated to The_Sarcastic_ because she made me the gorgeous cover to the side :) she actually made another beautiful one, but i don't know that you can put two pictures on the same chapter? anyways. enjoy the chapter!

Chapter 27: Sweet as Augustus Waters

"This is my room," Ben said awkwardly, unable to meet my eyes. He stood at least three feet away from me.

I rubbed my arms and coughed. "I like it." The room was spacious, and the only pieces of furniture present were a bed, a desk and office chair, and a bookshelf. "It suits you - boring and plain," I added.

"Rude," he said, a hint of a smile on his face. My face relaxed - I loved his smiles. They were like flowers peeking out during a thunderstorm. They made me feel warm and cosy on the inside.

I sat down on the chair and looked around. The bed frame and desk and bookshelf were made of the same dark brown wood, and his walls were beige. I couldn't see any decorations besides a wall clock. Even his desk was free of pencils or paper. I ran a finger across the desk and a streak of dust came off with it. My brow furrowed and I said, "It's like-"

"-I was never here to begin with."

I looked down and willed myself to relax. I had lost my temper back there, and I couldn't afford to do it again. But the way his parents treated Ben...it made me sick to my stomach. "Yeah," I said with a sigh. I used my hand to feverishly push off all the dust until the surface of the desk was shiny and clean. I smiled. Better.

There was a pause. "You know, there are other rooms you can stay in," Ben said, his eyes on the floor.

I bit my lip, trying to hide my devilish grin. The poor guy felt incredibly awkward because we had to share a room. I couldn't torture him, no matter how much I wanted to. "I could just sleep on the floor," I suggested. "I'm not sure I want to be alone in this huge place."

Ben scowled. "You're on the bed, I'm on the floor," he said.

"I refuse. Your germs have been festering in those sheets for years."

That comment loosened him up a little, and he walked over to me, sitting on the desk. "I'm sure they're clean."

I looked up at him and smiled. His handsome face was free of suspicion for once, and that made me happy. "Wanna bet? If dust comes flying up when you sit on the bed, I win."

He raised his eyebrows and crossed him arms. "What are the odds?" he asked.

"I haven't decided yet. Just go." I pushed him off the desk and motioned over to the bed. "Go on, then."

Ben rolled his eyes but walked over anyway, flopping down on his back. "See?" he said smugly. "It smells like lemons, and there's absolutely no dust. I win."

I laughed at his self-satisfied expression. "Okay, I lose, whatever. What do you want in return?"

He propped himself up on his elbows and eyed me carefully. "I'll think about it," he said, "but when I figure it out, you have to listen to me, whatever I say."

"Within reason," I chirped.

He nodded. "Within reason."

I sprang off the chair and launched myself on the bed, landing on my stomach, above and perpendicular to Ben, my limbs spread-eagled. I sighed in delight as I sank into the soft mattress. "It's like a feather."