Flowers in the window (r.v.d)

chapter thirty-three

The song for this chapter is, 'Don't dream it's over' by the crowded house. This song is honestly my favourite right now .... it's  truly immaculate, the definition of perfection. Please go give it a listen mwah

"If you don't get your ass out of bed by the time I count to five I'm leaving you here" Bella threw a pillow at my head as I groaned. It was too early... too early to wake up after having returned from Ruel's rooms at 2am. 

"You wouldn't dare. You'd miss me too much" I smiled knowingly, exhaustion lacing each word. 

"Maybe if you hadn't had so much kissy time last night you'd know what you were talking about  because that statement is simply..." She searched for the right word, "incorrect." 

"We didn't have kissy time you ass" I grumbled under my breath. 

We'd simply lain in front of the open balcony doors on our usual couch, my head in Ruel's lap, as the evening wind had danced around us and Ruel had alternated from reading me his favourite poems, reciting his favourite Van Gogh quotes, to painting a mysterious artwork he refused to show me 'because it just wasn't enchanting enough  yet'. We'd poured cup after cup of tea,  the steaming liquid tickling our noses as Ruel had continued breezing through poetry books and reading to me. 

I had been the very portrait of contentment as Ruel's warmth had wrapped around me, as he'd absently brushed his fingertips up and down my arm as he'd read, as his lips had mouthed his favourite lines against my ear. And sometimes he'd brushed his lips across my hair, the nape of my neck, my temple, his eyes never leaving the page. And it had been so fucking perfect. So intoxicating. And so distracting that I hadn't realised how late it had become until..

But by the amused glance Bella was casting me, I didn't think she was even close to believing me. 

"1... 2..." 

"Shut up" 

"Get your ass up and I will"

"I am getting up, you twat" I grumbled

"Quicker"

"How fast do you want me to move"  I groaned

"Faster"

"Like you're any faster" I said over my shoulder as I dragged myself to the bathroom. 

Ten minutes later I was standing in front of Ruel's door, dressed to the nines in a flower-dotted dress with a bouncing Bella on my arm. 

"Ladies, welcome" Ruel purred pulling the door open and planting kisses on both our cheeks

"We're only late because of Aster" Bella clarified as she bounded into the extensively decorated room

Ruel threw  a knowing grin over his shoulder as I followed him into the room, muttering under my breath. As Ruel moved to my side, his peach coloured suit shimmering under the mellow light, I caught sight of the exquisitely set table for four, pastries piling over sparkling silver platters and teas steaming. 

"Did you set this all up yourself?" I asked Ruel in awe as I surveyed the lavish set up. Ruel bit his lip, frustration lighting his eyes. 

"Can you tell?" He whispered under his breath, "Can you tell it wasn't made my my catering service?" 

"Ruel I-"

"I tried to call them in but they were too busy so I had to make do and I'm afraid I did a terrible job" Ruel continued, a stubborn line forming along his lips as he stared at the set up, hands behind back and back stiff. 

"Ruel I was trying to say how good it all looks" I laughed

He turned to me bewildered. 

"Good?" He repeated as if the word was foreign