Miss Paulson

Chapter Two

It was Friday. The rain was falling mercilessly, it seemed like a thunderstorm was approaching.

Theo was on his chair next to the window, reading The Shining from one of his favorite authors, Stephen King. His cat, Paw, jumped into his lap and started to try to lay on top of his book. He giggled, shaking his head funnily.

"Cats!" He thought, as he caressed Paw's back.

He was going to meet Miss Paulson in two hours and he couldn't deny he was nervous. He was going to ask her a few personal questions, yet he was not sure how she was going to react. Would it be fine to do it so? Would she be offended? Well, he was going to write her biography and, thus, that involved writing about her personal life, so it is not like he was doing something he should not.

Paw was now sleeping deeply on his lap, his body looking like a small ball. Theo wished he had Paw's life. Eating, playing and sleeping. The cat did not have to worry about meeting Miss Paulson or about work. Paw also did not have feel his heart racing every time he met that woman, he didn't have to feel as if he was going to puke.

A hour and half passed quickly with Theo absorbed on his thoughts. When he saw the time, he grabbed Paw very carefully and placed him on the sofa, placing a kiss on his soft cheek. The cat stretched himself, his tummy up now and proceeded to continue to sleep.

Theo put on a warm coat and grabbed his umbrella, making sure he had everything he needed, before leaving his house.

As soon as he put his feet outside his house, he cursed his 18 year old brother, Josh, for asking him his car for the weekend. Now, with this awful weather, he had to walk twenty minutes to Miss Paulson's office. He most definitely was going to arrive all wet, it's not like the umbrella would protect him that much under such a horrible thunder.

He was not wrong. When he entered the elevator, his clothes were drenched and his hands were immensely cold. He closed them in a fist and then opened them, feeling some pain in them. Nineth floor. He arrived.

Miss Paulson was looking breathtakingly today. As usually. She had a red shirt which was opened in her chest. Her black pants were classy and long, almost covering her simply black boots that had high heels. She had a red lipstick on and some eyeliner on. Her hair was tied, uncovering her soft and smooth ears that had silver earrings on.

"Before you ask, Miss Paulson, I do have a car, however my young brother asked me if I could borrow it to him this weekend. Since I barely use it, I saw no trouble in doing it so. And now, here I am, looking like some sad thing" Theo said in advance. He did not like to be made fun of or hearing comments about his appearance, so he always explained the circumstances before.

Miss Paulson gave him a funny look and pointed towards a door that was on her left.

"Theo, you might use my bathroom to drain yourself. I will get you some clean clothes. Before you say no, I will not allow a sad thing to have a conversation with me." She arched her eyebrows and placed her finger on her own lips when she saw he was going to protest.

Theo sighed and went to the bathroom as Miss Paulson said "You didn't have to" he still commented, getting into the bathroom and looking around. The bathroom was small, but very comfortable. It had a bathtub which surprised him, since who the hell took showers in their office? It had some curtains to cover the bathtub as well. Everything was very clean and white. He saw the towels and started to get undressed, drying himself quickly and hugging himself since he was freezing.

Miss Paulson approached to the door and knocked on it, opening it a bit and giving him the clean clothes.

"They are sport clothes, but that's everything I have, sorry. Place your wet clothes on the plastic bag I gave you. Come out when you're ready" She said, going to sit on the sofa that was in the middle of her office and waiting for him, with two cups of hot chocolate.

When Theo was finally ready, he got out of the bathroom and smiled embarrassedly to her.

"Thank you so much, Miss Paulson".

"Oh, you're welcome, dear. And call me Emma please. I won't be sharing my personal life with someone who calls me "Miss Paulson". She arched her eyebrows teasingly and grabbed his hot chocolate, handing it to him.

"Thank you so much again, Mis-Emma. You're being very kind." He smiled and looked down, feeling shy being so close to her on the sofa "And, uhm, yes, I brought some personal questions today so that I can start writing the chapter about your life. I was wondering if that was okay?" It amazed Theo how perspicacious Miss Paulson, well, Emma, was. It seemed as if she read people's mind. He had not mentioned anything about asking her personal questions, however she already knew he was going to do it so. And today!

"It's obviously fine. I trust you won't be asking why I have this deep and sad look on my face or if I had any traumazing childhood memory, right?" She was being serious now, no sign of the funny or teasing smirk she always used with him "I don't mind speaking about my life, just be thoughtful with the questions you ask".

That interested Theo. If she was making sure he was not going to ask any sensible questions, it was because indeed she had a troubled past. That made him feel sad and down, such an incredible and strong woman also has had a past with some memories she did not want to recall. Just like him. Although, he thought, who was he to compare himself to anyone's sadness and ugly pasts? He had to stop that. To stop trying to find relief in knowing others suffered and suffer too.

"Don't worry, Mi-Emma. I wouldn't do that."

"I know you wouldn't" Emma said with a kind smile.