3.1 | Complete Me ✔

Senpai Garden

Scarlett huffed in exhaustion, kicking the door closed with her heel and dumping her spoils near the walkway. Saber had screwed her by turning in her designs early, but that had been her own fault for spending so much time,  being preoccupied with avoiding a certain pest.

These days, she avoided even thinking his name, because he always seemed to appear like a summoning.

The designs for The Sun and Moon Queen were daunting! She didn't know why Saber had so much faith in her, but she was hoping to pull it off without disappointment or utter failure.

Putting on some cranberry hibiscus tea to brew and a slice of blueberry cheesecake in the crisper, she said down and prepared her machine and materials, unable to stop thinking about the aforementioned pest. 

He hadn't sent her a single text message since their smoldering encounter at the bachelor party. Normally, he'd fly off the handle at the lack of her communication, but she hadn't heard a peep from him. In any case, she should be happy, yet she only felt peevish. 

Then again, maybe it was for the best that her pest had maintained his distance. After all, she'd had her share of revenge fantasies since then. The way he made her feel so vulnerable and incited her to such reckless abandon made her feel something confusing. She hadn't experienced something that intense in a long time, if ever.

But she could be intense, too. He had no idea the hell he had unleashed upon himself. Sure, she was avoiding him now, but she would repay him in due time, and she knew he was well aware of her intentions.

She couldn't focus on her measurements. She couldn't afford to make any mistakes, but for some reason, her mind wouldn't stop lingering back to him. Luckily, the whistle of the kettle snapped her out of her reverie. She poured herself a cup, retrieved her cake and settled back at her station. After her break, she returned to work.

She worked tirelessly for three hours straight. She was careful with every measure, alignment, and every single stitch. Things were beginning to look promising, but her stomach began to sing the song of its people.

She glanced at the clock and noticed it was the perfect time for a late lunch. She went to the kitchen and searched the fridge, freezer and pantry, finding nothing satisfactory. She proceeded to scavenge through her drawers, discovering she had discarded all her takeout menus in the spirit of being a healthier, hotter Scarlett.

She sighed, grabbing a light coat and her keys. As soon as she stepped outside, she froze in her tracks, her heart skipping a beat. 

"Hey," Conner greeted from the bottom of her stairs. "Where ya headed?"

For a moment, she could do nothing but stare at him dumbfounded. She had been so careful not to summon him, so what was he doing here?

"What do you want?" she spoke, feeling oddly annoyed. The sight of him brought back fresh feelings of confusion and vengeance. 

"I came to see you," he replied. "I hadn't heard from you in a while."

"Oh? Well, hi," she said, descending the stairs and preparing to walk away when he promptly stepped into her path. She glared up into his face, her ire rising at the perpetual amusement dancing in his eyes.

"You aren't mad about the bachelor party, are you?" he drawled lowly, sending a shiver down her spine. "Did you dislike what we did or something? I'm sorry, but you kinda asked for it."

"You aren't sorry," she seethed. "I know you've been swaggering around since then, gloating about it. And by the way, my limbs gave out because of what a bore you were."

"Oh, spare me the theatrics, sweetheart. Not even a woman as cunning as you could fake those screams," he smirked, leaning closer to whisper: "or all those orgasms? I still think about drinking every last delicious drop."

"Well, relish the memory, cause you'll never taste this sugar rush again," she snapped, moving forcefully past him. She got as far as the curb before she stopped to glare at his car. " . . . drive me to Osake."

"Anything for you, honeysuckle," he said with an insidious grin. He went around to the passenger side and opened the door for her. With an annoyed roll of her eyes, she slid inside, cursing the blush that colored her cheeks.

"I meant what I said," she hissed as he stood there. "Never again."

"In that case, I'll warn you that I'm a promise breaker," he said, grinning insufferably.

"But it wasn't your promise," she scoffed.

"Doesn't have to be," he replied, closing the door and rounding to the driver's side.

She couldn't help glancing at him for long periods of time for most of the trip. What did he mean by that? He couldn't make her break her promise . . .

"That's a cute sweater you're wearing," he remarked without looking at her. She glanced down and observed the blue material with the golden owl in the center. She hadn't even remembered throwing it on, and suddenly felt embarrassed of the way she was dressed.

"Thanks. I made it myself," she said. He looked surprised.

"Oh yeah? You knit, too?" His voice sounded odd when there was no traces of sarcasm.

"Yeah. Sew, knit, crochet. The whole enchilada," she said, staring at this profile. He seemed to be in deep thought for a moment before nodding.

"Can you make me a quilt?"

"What?" she asked, incredulous of his embarrassed expression. "What for?"

"I get cold at night," he said distantly. "Really cold. Nothing keeps me warm."

"Oh?" she said, her heart aching in her chest.

"I feel like . . . snuggling something you made for me will finally warm me up," he murmured. 

Just when she was expecting him to burst into laughter for being so corny, he just turned his head a little so that she wouldn't see him blushing. Her heart was pounding so hard in her ears.

"O-okay," she stammered. "Any specific designs, o-or colors?"

"Surprise me," he said, turning to her and giving her a dazzling smile that she just knew was going to grow on her far too quickly. She inhaled sharply and turned away.

Why was she getting so worked up over a simple request for a blanket? Whatever was going on with her lately, she needed it to stop, before she ended up in serious, irrevocable trouble.