I closed the door and leaned back against it. I saw the happenings flash again and again in front of my eyes.
I might have expected him to hug me, but not something like that.
Lost in thought, I walked around the living room until I decided to go to sleep.
Maybe I calmed down a bit by doing that. So I went to the bathroom to change and wash.
Like every night before going to sleep, I stood in front of the window in the bedroom and looked at the streets. It was relatively quiet this evening and so I lay down contentedly in my bed.
Arthur's POV
I couldn't believe what I had done. I didn't knew if Lila liked it or not.
I reached the living room and put my bag on the sofa.
My mother was still watching TV, but when she saw me, she turned it off immediately.
"Happy, where have you been for so long? Is everything alright?" I sat down.
"Yes, I was with Lila, I'm sorry I didn't tell you. Come on, I'll put you to bed. It's late."
I had to get up again to help her.
"Are you happy?" It was the first time since ever that she asked me something like that.
That probably explained my look. I wasn't sure what to answer.
On the one hand I was, but the other side of me, which was not happy, still prevailed.
So I shrugged.
"I do not know," I added.
"I hope you will.", Mom said and ran into the bathroom.
In order to sort my thoughts better, I decided to write a little more in my diary.
I wanted to write everything off my soul, but couldn't concentrate.
It ended with sitting there dreaming and scribbling.
When I was almost asleep, I put the pen away, closed the book and made my way to the bedroom.
Lila's POV
When I was on my way home the next day, I was excited. I didn't know why, but I was.
I felt as if something would happen. Nothing bad, but something that could have easily thrown me off track.
Like every day, I first looked in the mailbox before I headed for the elevator.
The work had drained me more than ever before, so I was glad to be alone in the elevator.
I looked up from the floor and saw Arthur as he entered the house. He wore his clown make up like the night before, only with the difference that it still looked reasonable. As if he had just applied it.
His eyes were fixed on me.
Was he mad at me?
Did I do something wrong?
His more focused than natural smile was the last feature of his face which I perceived when he reached for me with his big, delicate hands.
When he unexpectedly pressed his painted lips to mine, I was shocked. One of his hands slowly slid down to my neck, causing goose bumps all over my body.
I closed my eyes and returned the kiss. I got hot and cold at the same time. I felt as if I had exploded at any moment.
He suddenly pulled me closer and let go of a growl against my lips. His hands were no longer on my neck or on my chin. They had slipped over my body and had grabbed my waist with a scratching pressure.
Saying my body was on fire was an understatement.
---
I opened my eyes and hit my alarm clock. "Oh my god ..."
I whispered softly and looked around me.
It was just a dream, but it still felt like it had happened in reality.
I sat up and took a deep breath.
"Easy ... It was just a dream." I put a hand on my heart.
It raced.
I got a bit panicked. Never in my life have I had such a dream. Not even remotely.
The ringing of my phone interrupted my train of thought. Instead, I wondered who called me at 6:30.
I sprinted from the bedroom to the kitchen and answered.
"Hi?" I tried my voice as good as possible not to sound annoyed.
"Hello, Lila." The blood in my veins froze instantly.
It was Arthur.
"Arthur ...", I repeated my thoughts aloud.
"I'm sorry if I woke you up," he said.
"No, no, I was already awake," I replied, thinking back to the dream.
Again, goosebumps crept on my body.
"I just wanted to ask you if it's still at our coffee meeting?"
"Yes, of course, why shouldn't it?" I leaned against the kitchen unit.
"I know I'll get a day off next week, but I'm not sure when yet."
Arthur sounded nervous.
"You know where I live, just pick me up." I answered calmly, though my pulse said something else.
"Okay, I have to hang up, see you later."
I could still hear him putting the phone back.
"Oh my God.."
-----------------------------------
