All My Sins

A candle

Jillian required that Maureen stay downstairs while they entertained company. She had hoped to just stay in her room and get through the work that she had missed that day.
Instead, she sat at the long end of the sectional couch, working herself non-stop. She was surrounded once again by books and handouts with her laptop in her lap.
At the other end of the sofa, Marshall sat with his elbows on his knees and the neck of a beer bottle in his hand. He and her father had been discussing the economy and Detroit's future. They seemed to agree on a lot of things.
Marshall occasionally looked over at her. Her eyebrows were cross in thought and she had pulled her hair back out of her face. Every other time that he'd seen her work, her curly hair hung down wildly, hiding her visage completely.
He could not stop wondering how smooth and soft her cheeks looked he kept imagining the feel  beneath his fingers.

"Maureen?" Her mother called from the kitchen. "Come help me in here!"

She did not even want to have to walk by Mr. Mathers to get to the kitchen.
But she did and he sat completely still so that she would either have to twist completely out of her way, or allow her body to brush against his.
Her thighs grazed his shoulder and forearm. They both secretly shuddered. 

"Set the table and go ask Mr. Mathers what he drinks with his food."

"I don't like having him here. I feel restrained."

"He drove you home and is giving you extra credit for practically nothing. I'm sure you sleep through his class too, so the least you could do is be a gracious hostess."

The family table had six chairs, despite the fact that they were a three person unit.
She immaturely set his plate at the head of the table where no one in the house typically sat. And where he would be a bit secluded from the rest of them.
Maureen walked back into the living room and stood in front of him. His eyes soon met hers.

"What would you like to drink?"

"Another beer is fine if you have it." He squinted his eyes just barely.

As the family and Mr. Mathers sat down to the table and began eating, Marshall noticed the sterling silver diamond ring around Jillian's finger. It clanked against her long stemmed wine glass constantly as she grabbed it to take more sips.

"So Marshall, do you plan on becoming a full time instructor at some point?"

"Nah ma'am, actually. I'm trying to get into the music industry."

This was a surprise to Maureen.

"Music, really?" Jillian sipped her wine and leaned back in her chair.

"Yes ma'am."

"That's very interesting. Getting into the music industry takes passion. I think that's admirable of you. Barry, will you come help me cut the meats?" She asked.

Jillian and Barry left Maureen and Mr. Mathers alone at the table.

"Kendall was askin' about you today." Marshall took a sip of his beer.

Maureen was uncomfortable and didn't answer him.

"What kinda favor you doin' her?" She could feel his burning gaze from the corner of her eye, but stared down at her lap.

He scooted closer to her, "Tell me."

"No."

"I'm startin' to think that you like having it the hard way." He whispered.

"Here we are!" Jillian walked back in with a tray of food to set down. Maureen sat silently for most of the dinner. She figured that if she just ate and distracted herself with doing what she was supposed to, it would be over soon enough.