LAW OF ATTRACTION

CHAPTER 18 : MOMMA'S BOY

In the header is a beautiful cover made by my lovely friend @tessa_x_lahey Thank you for this awesome gift 🥰🤩💕😘

"Shit! I forgot the Gravitation book at home!" Alex sighs, looking in his empty bag as almost all its contents are on the saddle of his motorbike.

The book in question is one of the books that we've borrowed at the library and which we absolutely need to work on our project. One would think that, in the 21st century, we don't need books anymore, but I guess the Internet still doesn't have all the answers, and paper is still irreplaceable in some cases.

"Do you mind if we stop by my house on our way?" he asks, his tenebrous eyes focusing on me for a second before he shoves all his books and stuff back into his bag.

Since we've finished classes earlier today, we've planned to work on the physics projects, but before, Alex will give me another fighting lesson. So we're going to the gymnasium.

"No, not at all," I reply, putting my helmet on.

"It's just around the corner of the gym," he explains.

Flashes of the old and creepy surroundings of the gymnasium come back to my mind and make me wonder about his home. Though all my questions disappear when he joins me on his motorcycle, the slightest brush from his body distracting all my thoughts. So I try to just relax as he quickly starts the engine in a roar, after having put his helmet on and made sure my arms are wrapped safely around his waist.

I nestle against his strong back, watching the streets pass before my eyes. The grey sky makes them all look the same: dull and gloomy, though as we're nearing the gymnasium, the streets seem even duller and gloomier. I'm not scared; it's just an uneasy shiver running down my spine, and I stay close to Alex's warmth until he stops the motorbike.

I quickly take in the sight of the house before us, since it's small and basic. The façade is run down, letting guess the old age of the walls, yet some flowerpots in front of the windows brighten them up. It's easy to see that the house has been repaired with what they've had on hand, as some sheet metal, planks... are put here and there to keep the house standing. Though, when I look around the neighborhood, this house is one of those who are in better shape, and even if all the houses are different, big or small, they're all damaged by time, almost dilapidated.

Alex leads me inside without a word, the silence around almost inhuman, but I don't mind it. I follow his strong figure standing out in the surroundings, and we're immediately in the kitchen-family-dining room, as the front door opening directly into it.

"I know it's small." He gives me a little smile, almost uneasy, something that doesn't resemble him. "But make yourself at home. I won't be long!" he adds before disappearing through a door in one corner of the room.

I'm left alone in the small room, and I take this time to observe around, a curiosity – that may be slightly indiscreet – tickling my stomach to discover more about Alex.

Inside, the house is more welcoming than outside. It's cramped, and the furniture is quite old and unmatching, yet it's arranged with taste and bright. I can't explain it exactly, but there is a coziness wrapping around me. Feeling at ease, I risk a few more steps around the room, noting that the whole house is on one level and organized around the living room. There are four doors scattered in different corners, probably leading to other rooms, one in which Alex has walked in.

A loud thud, followed by Alex cursing, stops my idle wander and leads my feet to this door.