Untouchable

Chapter 16 - Ivan Holt

Chapter 16 - Ivan Holt

"Those who restrain desire do so because theirs is weak enough to be restrained."

-William Blake, "The Marriage of Heaven and Hell"

Present Day

Dinner was pleasant! We wined and dined and chit chatted and laughed and talked about school--

Who the fuck am I kidding-- It. Was. Horrible.

Oh I'm quite sure Mum and the twins enjoyed it, they seemed to do so. In fact, they were so entranced by the dinner guests, no one noticed me choking in my misery half the time.

No really. Forgive me. I can't seem to find it in me to narrate what happened without spiraling down into a chasm where I resort to foul language and sarcasm.

Let me see.

After that unfortunate encounter with The-Guy-With-Icy-Eyes-And-An-Evil-Glare, a.k.a. My-Literally-Next-Door-Neighbour where he practically annihilated the last shreds of calmness I tried to possess, I hurried into the dining room, seeking my sisters.

Believe it or not, sometimes they can be a calming influence on me.

I found them conversing with one of the neighbours, a burly man seated on the table, not the teenager who just so happens to be a douche canoe. His back was to me, so before my presence registered on our beloved (and I say that word with as much sarcasm and venom that I could muster) guest's radar , I hurried off to the kitchen, seeking my mum.

She was standing by someone, an elegant lady, who could almost rival her beauty. She was a tall and willowy blonde, and I definitely noticed that perfectly coifed up-do, and the string of pretty pears around her neck.

Her golden, almost catlike, eyes immediately focused on me, carefully perusing my hair to the tips of my scruffy shoes. She opened her mouth to say something, and at this, I stiffened, bracing myself from the usual scorn I get from haughty looking women such as this one.

"You must be Megan!" She said that really melodiously that it made me think like she were performing in theatre.

And color me surprised when she gracefully hurried past mum and bee-lined for me, arms outstretched.

Wait. Did she expect me to hug her?

But before my puny self could fathom her actions and the suspiciously mischievous smirk playing on her lips, her arms went around me as she then proceeded to demonstrate why bear-hugs were termed as bear-hugs.

I'm not overly dramatic enough to say that she cracked my ribs, but I'm pretty sure the ribs of my right side along with a couple of my internal organs shifted halfway across to the other side. For a tall and willowy blonde, she sure seemed like to possess the strength of the man I just saw at the dining room.

I don't understand why I didn't just shove her off me. Maybe she caught me off guard? Maybe I found her interesting? Or maybe I was craving some comfort?

Of course I'm not craving for comfort! Pfft. Me? Never

I honestly don't know, and I neither do I want to dwell on it. So I awkwardly patted her back until she stepped away. Thankfully, she let me me go immediately.

Over her shoulder, Mum's eyebrows almost disappeared into her hairline as she tried not to gape at us. I gave her a slight shrug as I discreetly backed away to a decent distance, and pasted a fake, half-smile on my face.

"Hey there," I awkwardly mumbled and gave a small wave, still sliding back as unobtrusively as possible. "You must be..ah.." trailing off, I gave Mum a 'help me please' look.