Apartment 3B

23. The Spirit of High Street

A/N

I know I'm late with this update, I've been swamped. Here it is! Hope you enjoy :)

Pictured above: Michael B Jordan as Derek Williams (Hayley and Luna's school friend/Hayley's client (it's actually just me representing my thirst))

**
Hayley

....when a hand gripped my shoulder.

I turned to see who had just touched me, ready to rage.

"Hey hey, it's just me," Derek raised his hands and gave me a sheepish grin.

"You scared me for a second there, you jerk," I punched him in the ribs and he faked being hurt.

"You could've called, I'd have shown you around and what's happening with your vision, ma'am," He extended his hand, in a pretentious and totally dramatic way, but I took it anyway. He brought it up to his lips and planted the faintest kiss, it felt like it almost didn't even happen.

After the infinitesimally small gesture, he hadn't let go of my hand and walked me through the plot. He showed me where the walls and rooms were going to go, we stood in the middle of the half constructed house as I lost track of his words and just stared at how passionate and happy he was about this place.

"What?" He looked at me and laughed.

"You're cute when you light up like that," I grinned back, "when you talk about your game and now your house. You're glowing, Derek." Every word I said slipped out unintentionally, I was just in genuine awe of him and couldn't help my feelings be translated into words.

"That's nice of you to say," he held my hand a little tighter and turned to face me, "I must admit, you're not too bad yourself, Miss," he looked confused before chuckling, "I don't know your last name, Hayley. I've known you forever but I don't know your last name."

"That's because I don't use it, silly." I laughed at his astonished face as he tried to figure it out.

"Luna is Beaufort. But how come your last name hasn't ever come up? That's not possible," he was well in shock but sputtered with laughter as well.

"What will I get if I tell you my last name?" I played with him.

"Whatever you desire, ma'am," He used the same voice he did right before he'd kissed my hand.

Of all the sexual favours I could ask of him or all the flirtatious responses I would've given to anyone else, I asked him of something else instead. Something that mattered to me.

"Why did you kiss me, and not her? All those years ago. Why didn't you choose Luna?"

"Okay, I'm going to be absolutely cheesy and honest about this." He gave a disclaimer before continuing, "You were the popular girl to everybody. The heartbreaker. The bold and confident one. But I just thought you were trying to hide something, I don't know what. Maybe you didn't want to be vulnerable. But I just felt like I needed to claw my way into this girl's heart and see what's inside. And then I fucked it up. I didn't mean for that to happen. But-" I couldn't let him explain more, I couldn't let him say another word, a lone tear spilled down my cheek, threatening a stream to follow.

Overwhelmed by his brutal honesty, I stood on my toes and brushed my lips against his, ever so slightly. I kissed him without parting my lips, just savoring the chastity of the moment. It was over in a split second and he didn't come back for more.