Lovesick

15

Finally, finally! He was free from substituting in that wretched class.

He was delighted to be stuck with his own set of whiny brats. Who knew!

In fact he was in a pretty good mood as of late.

No matter what Chuck says, Eric would refuse to believe that it was because of a so-called date.

They had practically done nothing!

It was more like two friends hanging out and enjoying themselves. They had even agreed to do it every weekend and have been going out steadily!

Sure as of late they have been a bit more closer.

No. Eric reminded himself. Do not let Chuck get into your head.

Think other pleasant thoughts!

As though in agreement, his mind decided to focus on the previous day.

Olivia had mentioned about her friend Deborah who owns a cafe just two streets away from Raven High, where he taught.

They went there and enjoyed some pastries and coffee while discussing about their families.

While she kept talking about how she finally managed to convince her overbearing father to let her be, he couldn't help but notice her.

He didn't even realize that his hands had reached out to hers. Her hands were so soft and fit so well in his, he kept rubbing his thumb over her hand.

"Earth to Eric?"

"What?"

Shaking her head, she raised up her right hand to cover her mouth as she laughed.

"Where were you?"

"Huh?"

Raising an eyebrow, she looked at their hands on the table. Eric hadn't connected the dots.

"You seemed distracted."

Why would I be distra- oh. Noticing their hands for the first time, he quickly removed it and muttered an apology.

She just laughed, "What for? It felt kind of...nice? I certainly didn't mind."

She hadn't moved her hand away. He knew she must have noticed him sneaking glances towards it but neither commented any further.

Wait. Why am I thinking about that now? Damn it.

That wasn't what 'friends' do during their meet ups.

Plus they most certainly don't day dream about a certain hand brushing his hair. Not that anyone would know of it.

Miffed at the direction his thoughts seemed to head in, Eric hit a book to his head.

"I know I ought to be used to you keeping to yourself and being all broody, but Eric, what has that book done to you?"

Startled, he dropped the book onto the desk and turned to see Donna, the French assistant lecturer looking at him with concern.

"Nothing." He replied.

Alas, she didn't leave him alone after that, "For a moment I could have sworn to were smiling like an idiot and the next thing you were smashing that book onto your pretty little head as though you wanted to absorb it into you!"

"That's...that's quite a vivid description."

"Imagine having seen that."

Eric nodded remorseful, "Yeah...I think I'll get back to...reading...that...paper. Yeah."

***
"I wonder when will that perpetual frown of yours disappear."

Eric did not like the way he felt himself frown at that statement.

Forcing himself to smile, he asked, "What do you mean, darling Olivia?"

"Do not murder me. Remember, murder is still illegal. But you kno what I'm talking about! You just did it!"

Eric really wasn't enjoying the way she grinned as he frowned. Again.

Dammit!

They were at her place since she claimed that his was worse than a pig sty and hers was well, atleast it was larger and spacious enough to encompass his grouchy self.

She even so far so as to pointing out that his personal bubble is as large as her living room!

Anyways, despite how he'd claim that he was 'stuck' in her place, he couldn't help but let himself loose whenever he stepped in.

Her house was kind of like her, open and wonderful. Comforting in a chaotic way.

Surprising how just a months have lead to a change in their dynamic.

Still, things couldn't have been better.