Figuring You Out

Chapter Twenty-Six

I hear my door creak open from my work space behind me, I don't have to turn around to know it's Dad. Mum's like a controlled hurricane; never knocks which has often led to some rather compromising situations. Dad however, is just like his work, controlled, thought out and meticulously detailed but then a sudden outburst of ideas and madness descends. I hear the springs in my bed contract at his weight, even still I don't turn. Only when a plate topped with a sandwich is placed on my desk, do I pause writing the consequences of non-renewable resources.

"You haven't eaten all day," he states.

"Nor have you," I reply, quietly, turning on my chair to face him, he holds up a duplicate plate and takes a decisive bite, I laugh quietly and take a seat beside him and begin picking at the white bread. He bashes my shoulder lightly.

"You know your mum is trying to do the best for you, we both are," he says, I sigh and place the plate down on my desk again, "This job...she's worked hard for it, her entire carrer has been leading up to this-"

"And I'm an inconvenience in her perfect plan," I snap, bitterly.

"And you think getting married and having two kids was part of the plan?" he challenges, his tone still comfortable though.

"She should just go then," I bite.

"She isn't going to take it if you are reacting like this,"

"And what about you? You're happy staying here whilst she goes gallivanting across Paris?"

"I'm happy if she is. If I could keep things as they are then I would but it's not what she wants, I love her enough to try it. If she goes and hates it there's a home for her. If she goes and we begin to fall apart as a couple or as a family, she comes home. That's it. All we are doing is trying it here, Oliver, that's all we are doing," I let his words settle for a moment.

"Ok," I agree, half-heartedly.

"Yeah?"

"If you are up for living with me alone for a year then I guess I could compromise," I joke, he lets out a breathy laugh and pick the porcelain plate again this time taking a few bites from the cut food. He stands and shifts through my scattered paperwork.

"I think this is most work I have seen from in the past three years," he smiles, holding up the paper I had written with Red, I smile lightly remembering the touch of his lips on mine.

"A friend's been helping me out," I shrug, desperately trying to hide my now reddened face.

"Well, I'm proud of you," he says, running a hand over my spiky hair, "I'll leave you to it,"

"Night," I say, as he shuts the door softly behind him carrying his crumb scattered plate. I switch on my phone and see a message from Red.

R: Hey, how was revision?

I fumble with my phone, trying to find a witty but rather sweet response for him. I had always been cautious about what I text him and how I word it but after the kiss (well, multiple kisses) I felt like he had completely undone me. Broken the walls of my nerves and secrecy.

O: Ok, actually. I think I prefer it with you tbh

The reply was instant and I feel my cheeks heat and my smile grow.

R: I'm faltered. Anyway, I'll see you tmrw?

My heart sinks at the thought of not being able to kiss him in public, at not being able to smile madly at him every time I catch his eye at the end of the corridor.

R: Did you want to meet up before though? Maybe a cheeky revision session?

O: Sounds great

I change into some sweats and crawl into bed, still glued to my phone hoping for another message from the freckled boy that I had fallen for. Fallen crazily, stupidly in love with him.