Spin For Me {Remington Leith}

17

If Nicolette had invested in a different apartment, this never would have happened.

After she sent out a slightly concerned text, she showered. Nicolettes living quarters were set up strangely, as in the master bedroom was across the entire expanse, the farthest room from the bathroom. Many a cold winter night was suffered, dripping wet as she scurried from the bathroom down the hallway, across the living room and to her bedroom. This day was no different, except it wasn't anywhere near winter, so Nicolette felt no reason to rush. She walked down her carpeted hallway, and looked at the closets she hadn't opened in ages. A feeling of guilt and uneasiness washed over her as she looked at the dust on the floor in the shadow of the doors, and resolved to revisit those closets again today.

Nicolette walked with a far away look in her eyes as she thought about what she would find in those closets. It's been at least a year since she cleaned them out, so she was guaranteed to be subjected to multiple flashbacks. But all these thoughts and scenarios left her imaginative mind as she emerged from the hallway and saw Remington sitting on her couch.

"Remington!" Nicolette yelped, backing up into the corner of a wall. Her back stung. Remington looked up from his phone and yelped, springing up and turning around. Both of their faces were flushed, Nicolettes hand tightly gripping the top of her towel. "What the fuck?!" She shouted. Remington made a noise at her that Nicolette couldn't interpret. "I didn't know! Why are you out here?!" He tried to turn the situation against her. "Why am I out here? This is my home!" Nicolette scoffed. She peeled herself off the cold wall and practically sprinted across the space and over couches to make it to her room.

"Well I'm sorry!" Remington shouted at her back as she slammed the door shut. Nicolette sighed and shook her head, her face and ears burning, and everything went quiet. Then, she started laughing. The whole situation was absurd! How was she supposed to know he snuck in? How did he even get into her apartment? She decided to address that first when she was dressed.

Nicolette opened her door, this time fully clothed, and snuck up behind Remington. He was sitting on the couch, unawares until she smacked him over the head with her twisted up towel. He yelped, and laughed as Nicolette started firing off questions. "How'd you get in? And why the 'we've been waiting for you' thing?" Her voice deepened as she did her best impersonation of some crime boss, miming turning on a weak lamp. Remington laughed brightly as he ruffled his hair. "I'm sorry! The key was under the mat." He explained. "I thought I moved that." Nicolette mumbled to herself, making a mental note to actually move it this time.

"So, who's Emerson and why is he looking for you? Dude seemed pretty concerned." Nicolette asked, flinging herself awkwardly onto the couch beside Remington. He bit his lip, then his eyes twinkled mischievously. "I'll tell you if you show me what's in your closet." Remington bargained, knowing that the pale woman didn't want him to see what she had tucked away. Nicolette winced, wondering if her curiosity was intense enough to let Remington see something she wasn't even aware was there. It could be dancing trophies, old costumes, maybe even the printed out plane ticket she had gotten from the Paris Royal Opera.

She really needed to figure out where she put that. That was her last piece of untouched paper. Then again, why would she ever slip it under the door to her closet? At least that secret was safe. If Remington was to find that ticket, he would make her explain why she didn't want to be with him again. Her motive would change. Not that he should care, it was his idea to call it off for good.

"Y'know what? You've got a deal." Nicolette said with confidence, surprising Remington. He shook her outstretched hand with a wide smile. "By the way, what's your last name?" Nicolette asked, realizing again that she has kissed this man and not even known his last name. But now, Remington was faced with a crossroads. He hesitated, but still told her anyways. "It's Kropp. But I go by Leith." Remington said this with the knowledge that if his latest crush wanted to look him up, she would find out he lied. Nicolettes nose scrunched up in confusion. "Why Leith?" Came the expected question. "It's my middle name, sounds nicer. My brothers go by their middle names too. Sebastian Danzig, Emerson Barrett... it's a theme." He explained. He didn't notice his slip up until it already left his mouth. Nicolettes eyes flared in interest.

"Remington?"
He answered hesitantly. "Yeah?"

"Are you running from your brothers?"