In your Arms

Chapter Nine

She arrived twenty minutes before 10 am at Franco's. The other students in the art class raised their head to look at her when she entered the studio.

"I know, I'm late." she voiced out loud then went straight to her seat. She gruffly placed her satchel on the floor and laid out her canvass and all her painting stuff on her workplace.

"Bad morning?" Therese's voice startled her. Amity looked at her friend who's smiling but with eyes that showed concern.

"Hey there, Therese.. I'm sorry I hadn't greeted you." she apologized. "Yeah, pretty much of a bad morning." she added.

Therese creased her eyebrows. "What's up?"

Amity closed her eyes and sighed. "There's this jerk who made my morning unluckily awful.I woke up late and found him lying asleep on the couch, I don't know how did he get in. He woke up and then we had what seemed to be an endless bickering." she answered. "He's so annoying."

Therese raised her eyebrows and nod. "Wow. Well then, who is this guy?" she asked with creased eyebrows.

"Well, here's the catch. Unfortunately, he's Simon's younger brother."

Her friend gasped. "Simon's brother?"

"Yeah, one and only." Amity nodded.

"What does he look like?" Therese asked with a smile, she looked excited.

Amity wrinkled her eyebrows. "Are you interested in him? C'mon Therese, the guy is an asshole. I mean, yeah he's Simon's brother but he's too different compared to him. Way too different from Simon." she widened her eyes to emphasize.

"You make it sound like he's really a bad guy." Therese told her.

"Bad is an understatement. He's totally evil." she gritted her teeth as she remembered their encounter.

Therese pouted her lips. "Okay, but tell me, what does he look like?" she grinned.

"Seriously?" Amity raised an eyebrow. "You're really that interested?"

"Of course!" Therese exclaimed. "Simon is pretty much handsome and I'm just wondering if his brother is as well." she added. "And the thought of you and him staying under one roof all by yourselves would be like watching a reality show on TV!"

Amity was momentarily stunned with what her friend had just said. She hadn't texted Simon about Alexander and the thought of her being alone with him registered in her mind and it troubled her. They will, unfortunately, have to dwell in each other's throats for a few more days. Her head suddenly hurt. She was a bit zoned when she heard Therese spoke.

"Well?" Therese tugged her.

"I spaced out, what was it you were saying?"

"I was asking what does he look like?"

"They don't look alike but some of their features are similar such as the eyes and the nose. That's it." she answered and pretended to work busily.

Therese thought for a moment. "Oh. So.. Does it mean he's also cute? Like Simon?" she beamed.

"I dunno. He's not that appealing to me." she shrugged.

"Boring!" Therese poked her in the arm. "I understand Simon's your one and only eye candy but you have to at least try to appreciate other boys too ya know?"

Amity shook her head and rolled her eyes. "Concentrate on your work, Therese. We only have a week to finish this." she reminded her friend.

"Ugh, there you go again.. You're always serious." Therese told her. "What's his name?" she added smilingly.