Kiss Kiss, Bang Bang (Teacher-Student Romance Robert Downey Jr.)

Just A Feeling.

The scent of fresh air flows into my nose and slightly wakes up my mind.
I don't want to open my eyes, so I shut them as much as I can. Eventually, they flutter open, tired. I stretch my arms and press my head into the pillow. It smells like one of these lemon soaps my grandma used to buy on her trips to the south of France, mixed with salty ocean air and sweet tea. The most divine scent I have smelled, sways me back into an awaking dream.
Slowly, I roll over and look at the other side of the huge bed. The person next to me, is drowning in grey sheets and I can't even figure out it's head.
My hand wanders towards the body and when my fingers carefully touch skin, it tenses. I chuckle and am grabbed by a large hand, pulling me into the sheets, towards the body.
For a second, we stay in that position, sleepy.
"Are you awake?"
He doesn't answer, only mumbling something, I can't quite figure out.
His face is buried in my hair and I can feel him breathing into it, tickling my neck.
"Do you want some coffee?" I try again.
Downey moves away from me and stretches, his naked torso appears under the moving sheets and I can see his muscles tensing.
"Why are you so awake?" His grumbling voice isn't easy to understand.
"I'm an early bird." I reply and get myself out of the mess of sheets. "It's way better, you have a lot more of the day."
Rolling his eyes, he throws back the sheets and uncovers his naked torso. Unconsciously, I tilt my head and bite my lip.
His eyebrows rise and I immediately know that he recognises my reaction.
"You thirsty woman." He mumbles and shakes his head.
A bit embarrassed, I turn away, searching for my clothes. Then I remember. I've left them at the pool....still wet.
"So.... I don't have any clothes." I say and put my hands on my hips. The only thing I'm wearing, is my bikini.
"I know." Downey answers and walks towards the closed door on the left side of his bedroom. I stand there, in silence and wait for something to happen. He opens the door and I can see an enormous room, filled with clothes.
"You've got to be kidding me." I say and join him. "You have a separate room for your clothes?"
He starts laughing and nods. "I'm a grown man, of course. It's not easy to make this happen." His fingers point up and down his body.
Without an invitation, I walk in and almost suffocate from the amount of clothes. Surprisingly, they're perfectly organised. Suits, ties, shirt from black to grey to blue to white. Ties and bow ties and shoes, also.
"This is pretty nice." I mumble. "But, where are your other shirts?"
He frowns. "Other shirts?"
"I don't know." I reply and shrug my shoulders. "Like print shirts, colourful stuff, an old band shirt?"
Downey raises an eyebrow. "Aria, I'm 49 years old. I don't wear band shirts."
I nod. "Well then, how about you go down and make some breakfast and I will choose one of your not band shirts?"
He smirks and gives me a kiss on the cheek, disappearing in the bedroom.
After he has left, I dig my way through the closet. It is literally not possible that Downey has no other shirts. My hands wander over cotton sweaters, silk suits and ties and Italian shoes. But I find nothing. A bit disappointed, I grab a black shirt and get out of the room. As I close the door, I turn and look into the big bedroom, it still fascinates me.
I walk down the stairs and Downey turns around. He has a knife in his hand. "What are you doing?"
He raises an eyebrow and looks offended.
"I'm trying to make pancakes."
I laugh and take the knife out of his hand. "Yeah, sure."
"Excuse me?" He says.
"Come on. We both know that you're horrible at cooking." I reply an he looks a bit upset.
I roll my eyes and hug him. "Well, you have other qualities."
Suddenly, I feel a hand on my back, wandering down.
I stop his movement. "That wasn't an invitation."
Downey mumbles something and sighs. "Such a grinch."
"How about we eat breakfast and then I'll get home?" I say and try to search for something to eat, in the kitchen.
For a moment, he thinks and then raises his hand. "I have a question."
I nod as an answer.
"Where is the fun part in your idea?"
"We can eat breakfast together?" I say and shake the cereal box I just found.
His pouting is incredibly adorable and I have to pinch myself, to stop me from reaching for his head.
Downey gets two bowls and some milk. We sit down in front of each other and quietly eat our breakfast.
"What?" I ask, as I catch him staring at me.
"Nothing." He replies.
"What is it?" I snap.
Annoyed, Downey rolls his eyes. "It's cute."
I frown. "What is cute?"
"The way your lips kind of crinkle when you eat. It's cute."
We continue to eat in silence.
"Can I ask you something?" I begin and am not prepared for what's coming next.
Downey looks up and nods.
"Yesterday, you said something....I was just wondering if you meant it."
I love you.
Three little words that somehow changed everything.
"What did I say?" He asks and it's hard for me to say the words out loud.
"Something important."
His eyebrows rise and I see that he remembers.
"You see Aria, sometimes people say something and they-
"They don't mean it like that, I know." I cut him off and finish his sentence.
We are both silent for a second.
"Sometimes, they do mean it." He suddenly whispers and I gasp.
"Sometimes they're not exactly sure if it's too fast or too soon, but in that moment, it's the truth."
His voice is intoxicating and the words rush through my mind like a roller coaster.
I don't know what to say. Wether I should say it back or say nothing at all.
"Everything okay?" He asks and I nod, hesitatingly.
"I don't know what I should say."
"You don't have to say anything." His calmness is surprising to me.
"It's just a feeling Aria. Not the end of the world." Downey says and grabs our bowls, making his way back into the kitchen.
My heart beats fast and my thoughts are dancing through my mind. And I can just repeat him.
"Yeah, just a feeling."