Toxin

CHAPTER 8 - Slightly more Sane.

The blissful night vanished quickly, as if I were referring to a memory. Well, except I was living in the moment, which would be now... I guess? I wasn't completely sure that I'd gone mad bonkers with the previous night's dream, or if I were living that beautiful fantasy. I was shortly answered as a low mumble escaped the lips of the boy sleeping next to me. Wait- Holy Shit! Now I remember! I refused to let Atlas leave last night... He's still in my bed. I quickly shot up, looking beside me. The morning sun's light shone through my window, directly hitting Atlas's line of sight. I held back a laugh, the only thing busting past my control was my stupid, childish smile. His hair was all over the place, sticking up in random directions. Ohh... And the pretty little pout on his face too! He was just utterly adorable! Around a minute or two later, Atlas's bright eyes finally fluttered open. And funnily enough, that whole time I was just looking at his endearing face. His eyes caught onto mine quickly, making him speedily sit up. "Morning sweetheart." he mumbled wearily, grinning and rubbing his eyes. "Wow, I didn't even let you get changed..." I muttered, returning the grin. "That's fine, we can change that right now." he purred, quickly taking his hoodie and shirt off. Before I could cease him, he threw his clothes firmly, but also kind of gently in my line of sight. I grumbled, chucking the shirt and hoodie off. And guess what. I now really regret doing that. I was met with a sight that any girl would want to dream about. I really couldn't resist the urge to gaze at his sleekly defined abs. Finally, I yanked my pillow again, shoving my face into it before I could say, or do, anything stupid that I would definitely regret saying later. I heard the brisk, heavily footsteps of my mother approaching, and swiftly dropped the pillow off of my face. "Atlas! You need to hide!" I hissed, trying to ignore his shirtless body beneath my gaze. His look hardened, not with worry, but with a brisky kind of steadiness. Atlas quickly dashed off into my small, walk-in-closet. I slammed my head down into my pillow again as my mother opened my door, and walked into my room. It didn't even take me a minute to realise I stuffed up. I looked up at my mother, who has a shameless-grin smeared across her face. "And whose my this be?" she asked, snatching Atlas's hoodie from beside me. I cursed silently under my breath. Luckily, the shirt was stuffed under my sheets, so my mother didn't straight away think her 16-year-old daughter was already losing her virginity. At least, I hope she's not thinking that. "I- urm..." I started, struggling to find the right words. I sat up, flicking my hair back and over my shoulders. "That's my friend's hoodie." I stated, leaning back onto the bed frame. She looked at me, clearly expecting more of an answer. I sighed, blushing slightly I looking back up at her. "W-Who I'm interested in." I gulped, hoping that was enough. My mum chuckled, gazing at me cheekily. "So you're friends with a boy who you would like to be more than friends with." she asked, placing a hand on her hips. I nodded hesitantly, gulping again. "OK then, sweetie... How did you exactly get this jumper then?" she questioned, her smile raising higher. I sighed, rolling my eyes. "I won it in a bet at school yesterday, alright Mother Nosey?" I carelessly said,  smirking. My mum looked at me for a few more hot seconds, before handing back the hoodie. As soon as it was in my possession, I placed it behind my back, exhaling victoriously. I looked up at my mother once more, "Can you get out now? I need to get changed for school." I exclaimed, crossing my arms. My mother bursted out laughing, now crossing her arms too. "Sweetie, today's a Saturday." she uttered, placing a hand on my shoulder. I now not only felt utterly stupid, but I now understood why my alarm this morning didn't go off. I sighed, looking back at my mum. "Ok, then can I go back to sleep?" I rhetorically asked, stretching my arm back and shoving the hoodie over my head. My mum stifled another laugh, and nodded, heading out and closing my door. Atlas came out, chuckling softly. "That was painful to watch, Aaly."

It was funny watching Atlas attempting to jump out of my window on the second story without making a sound in his human form. But... He managed. After he left, I got changed into a long-sleeved midriff and some knee length denim shorts. I hesitantly made my way down stairs, smelling the sweet smell of freshly made pancakes. "This smells wonderful!" I exclaimed, taking a seat at the kitchen bench. My mum looked over, smiling warmly; "Thank you, Aaly." she said, my returning her smiling. It as only seconds later, but I could feel my mother grinning as she flipped over the pancakes. She didn't look up or over, you'd just know that she was. I sighed, leaning on the table with both of my arms up. "What is it, mum?" I mumbled, confused. My mum flipped the pancakes, using her spatula to flick them onto the plate next to the stove. She'd then casually turn off the stove, and looked over at me, the grin I had imagined appearing before my hazel-like eyes. "You going somewhere? Since well, you're wearing less clothes than usual." she'd smirk, bringing the pancakes over to the counter island I was sitting at. I'd roll my eyes, grinning. "Plus, you're also actually wearing something nice, and not daggy or worn out!" she exclaimed, hurling a pancake at my face. It slapped me gently, but I caught it before it fell. I chuckled; "I just felt like wearing it." I proposed, my shoulder still vaguely bouncing. What happened next though undermined me. There was a sudden knock at the door. I gulped. Who is it? Effie or Atlas? Before I could react, my mother flug herself to the door, opening it widely as she answered it. I heard my mother stutter in surprise as a sultry voice begun playing. You jerk. I hissed silently through gritted teeth. I quickly hopped off the seat, making my way to the door. And sure enough, towering over my mother and me was Atlas. "Ahh, so you must be Aaly's mother! It's Miss Scallan, right?" Atlas purred, almost in a soothing tone like Vapour's, but still with that husky edge that definitely belonged to Atlas. "Indeed I am." my mother babbled back, looking at me and quickly fanning her face in a gesture which obviously meant 'hot'. I rolled my eyes, putting a hand on my hip. My mother turned back, leaning against the wall beside the door frame. "But please, you can called me Vanessa." she continued, smiling that kind, motherly smile. I groaned. "Well, Vanessa, you're more wonderful than Aaly explained you to be." Atlas carried on, chuckling in a kind gesture. My mother chuckled along with him, looking back at me. "This boy's a hit! What a gentleman, don't you think Aaly?" exclaimed Vanessa, sort of smirking at me. "Sure." I replied, blushing slightly and crossing my arms. "So my daughter won your jumper?" my mother continued again, turning back to face Atlas. "Indeed she did." Atlas replied, smiling in a charming but nervous-like way and scratching the back of his head. My eyes fluttered, and my cheeks turned a brighter red. Stupid body. I thought, mumbling non-existent words out of my mouth. "Oh, I'm sorry!" Atlas uttered suddenly, standing up straight again and shoving his hands in his pocket. "I'm Atlas." he nodded, giving my mother a charming grin, then giving me a quick flash of playfulness. "Well, it's nice meeting you Atlas. Now, is there a reason why you've come to our door?" she asked in a bubbly tone. "Mhm! Didn't Aaly tell you that we're going bowling with Effie and Dwayne?" Atlas replied,grinning and raising a brow. My mum turned to look at me, rhetorically confused. "No, I believe she did not." responded, leaning back towards Atlas once again. There was a quick few seconds of silence before my mother pursued; "Go on Aaly! Get a jumper and your keys." she exclaimed, nudging me back a little. I didn't budge, as much as I should've, making me smile. "No, no, It's fine Vanessa. She can borrow my jacket if she gets cold." Atlas quickly replied, shrugging. My mum smiled and nodded. "Thank you Atlas. I'm sure she'll like your offer," she said casually, turning to grin at me again. And once more, I groaned. "But I'm sure she still may need her keys. I have late shift today." she added on swiftly, turning back to Atlas's full attention. "Right, she may need that." Atlas shifted his feet, chuckling pleasantly. I turned away, hearing the normal, but unusual heavy footsteps of my mother following behind me. I grabbed the keys noisily from a small, console table, revolving back to the door. My mother stopped me halfway, her hand steadily on my shoulder. She leaned in towards my ear and whispered childishly; "He's a babe!". I sighed, grinning and rolling my eyes. "Yeah, I know, I've got good taste." I retorted, snorting after, before waving goodbye to my mother. With her hand over her mouth, smiling, she waved back.

Atlas swiftly sped over to his car, opening the door and hopping inside. I followed, though only slower. As soon as I shut the door, I looked at him. "Where are we really going?" I asked, crossing my arms and raising an eyebrow. He chuckled, clenching and unclenching his grip on the steering wheel. I watched his strong fists contracted and released, as I waited for his answer. "You're going to meet someone." he responded. I was half-expecting for his fox-like charm to be in play, but it never came. I was confused, and wanted to see his childish smiling once more like a greedy baboon would, so I took this short opportunity. I sighed, grinning and shrugging. He reversed out of my driveway normally, before speeding off down the street. He looked at me funnily, rising an eyebrow again. "You know, you just have to tell me that you're obsessed with me. I mean, I get it. I'm practically irresistible~" I attempted to purr, surprisingly succeeding. That's what made him crack, that fox-like grin smearing slowly across his face around the same time that a small, hint of blush appeared on his face. I dropped my jaw, leaning forward and looking at him. This only made the line of blush a slight bit more visible. "You're blushing!" I cried out victoriously, a wide smile spreading across my face. He chuckled and shrugged, glancing at me before looking towards the road again. "You should smile like that more o-often." he stuttered, the blush only becoming heavier. I continued to smile warmly, looking forward. After a few almost awkward moments of silence, I opened my mouth, deciding to ask; "So are you going to tell whom I shall be meeting?". Atlas's grin died down, not almost seriously, but almost like he was masking  a surprise. I pouted, 'My signature pout', as Atlas would say. That smug smile emerged again. "Just be patient for a few minutes, OK? I don't live too far away from you." he murmured loudly, the smug smile fading slightly, then re-emerging from the non-existent depths of his beautiful face.

He was right, it really didn't take that long to arrive at his destination, which I had already figured out to be his house. And, funnily enough, his home was a few blocks down to the Bowling Range. He lived in a small apartment, though he was on the top floor and owned the penthouse. "Now, are you sure you aren't just bringing me here for more privacy so you can complete another make-out session?" I asked sarcastically rolling my eyes. I honestly wouldn't mind anymore if that was the reason he brought me here. "Actually, I'm sure we won't have enough privacy here compared to yours." he replied, chuckling as he parked the car under the apartment block and opened his door. I blinked in surprise. Ohh, right. I'm supposed to be meeting someone. I remembering, my confusion going away. Soon, we stepped into an elevator. Atlas pressed the top button, which was the number nine. Again, this apartment was way smaller than I'm used to seeing. Once we reached the top floor, we walked out, the silence killing me. He pulled out a key-sized card and swiped it against a small buzzer-type thing that was hung on the wall beside a door. It beeped in return, a small red light above it going green, and we stepped through. Atlas shoved the keycard down his pocket again, exhaling a heavy sigh. "OK, so remember how I said you were going to meet someone?" he asked, turning towards me with a relaxed face on. I nodded, tilting my head in confusion. "Well, actually you're going to meet two people- beings- got it?" he exclaimed, chuckling quietly. I nodded again, pressing my lips together in an awkward, tight line. I usually did like meeting new people. Too much stress put on me for making a good first impression. But Atlas's arm on my shoulder as he gently pulled me lessened the tenseness in my body. I blushed awkwardly again. You've got to stop hyperventilating... I thought, furrowing my brow. I saw two heads over the light gray couch. One looked like a girl's probably my age or older- actually, definitely older, and the other was a light brown-haired dog. The girl noticed us first, shifting her head towards me and Atlas. A surprised look crossed her face, before the same, fox-like grin Atlas had crossed her face. She bounced up, making her way around the couch and towards us. It was only then the dog turned it's head, a somewhat surprised expression making it widen it's eyes. The bubbly, but tall girl was now in front of me, a warm smile spread across her face. "Hello cutie pie! I'm Iris!".