The Borrower and Her Bean (complete)

Part 10

A/N Sorry its been a while since I have posted, with Christmas coming life is getting busy. I hope you enjoy the continuing story of Henry and Melina

"Ok" her soft voice bought a smile to his heart. Resting his hand next to her body Henry winked to her as he whispered "do you trust me?" she stared at his hand and fear seemed to cross her face, however, it was quickly replaced with determination. Standing she reached out and grabbed hold of his pinky finger with both her hands pulling herself up into the palm of his giant limb. She looked up at him with a shaky smile and nodded. Lifting his hand towards his chest he tried to make careful movements aware she could easily slip. Lifting up to the top of his chest at the swell of his pectoral muscle he waited for her to walk off and make herself comfortable sitting cross-legged.  

Settling the book on his stomach he began to read. He could feel her little hands subconsciously running through the hair the was underneath her. It was not a sexual feeling that she invoked but a feeling like he was at home. That she was meant to be with him. 

Melina knew this was a bad idea the moment she sat, the rubble of his voice quivered through his skin. It was the most intimate feeling as it gently made its way through her body. She was trying to forget about him being anything but a friend. But this intimacy was almost too much. After a few paragraphs, the sensation became familiar lulling her into a comfortable easy. Letting go of her fear she decided to just enjoy this moment even if it was only going to be a one-sided relationship. She looked at the coarse hairs on his chest the curls were fascinating, the more comfortable she felt the more she explored as she ran her hands over the thick strands.  Feeling tired again she repositioned herself curling up on her side, his rumbling voice shivering through her body as she lost consciousness. 

Four silver eyes blinked from the darkness watching the intimacy between Borrower and Bean, a smile crossed their faces. Since Melina was a little borrower her silent friends had listened to her desires and dreams. Hoping one day they could step in and answer at least one of those wishes. Looking at each they smiled, a twinkle in their eyes as they continued to watch and wait for the perfect moment.      

Morning came, the sunlight streaming in waking Henry from his deep sleep. He had not been plagued with any more dreams but had slept soundly.  Looking down he had hoped to see Lina still sleeping on is chest but the warmth of her little body was gone. Sitting up his legs swinging to the side of the bed, he rubbed a hand over his face. Things in his mind were moving fast, memory's of the night before and snippets of his conversation hit him. What an idiot, he had asked her essentially to move in to chase away his dreams. Instead of asking her because he liked her and was wanting to develop a closer relationship. He knew that physically it was impossible but that was not his driving motive, he was falling in love with her. 

Deciding he needed to tell her he moved down the stairs, out the back door towards her vent hoping she would be there. Looking into the vent he could see it was empty. Determined to see her again he sat cross-legged and waited. As he did his eye caught sight of a small notebook hiding in the bushes. He picked it up and flipped through the pages. What he read surprised him and bought a happy feeling to his stomach..... She liked him too. He kept reading the pages filled with her emotions and thoughts. The sadness of there being no borrowers for her to partner with, the fear of being attracted to a bean who could not return her feelings, her anxiety when he was sick and her pushing herself to be brave. 

While he read he missed that she had moved into the room and was now watching him. As he put the book down he saw her, her face white, tears streaking down her cheeks. His hands stilled as he realised his error, "Lina, I'm sorry I ..." a sound screamed from the vent as she began to yell "How could you, those are my private thought. My safe place, you have no right." at the sound of her yelling Greg came running into the room and pulled her into his arms as she broke down sobbing. He looked up at Henry shook his head and led her away.     

Henry sat in mute silence, his mind scrambling to understand what had just happened. Yes, he knew he had made a mistake reading her diary. Once he knew what it was he should have put it down. Kal came and jumped on him as he tried to gather himself, "Down bear" he spoke a flat tone to his voice. His happiness from earlier replaced by a feeling of dread, had he just ruined the trust she had in him?  

Melina clung to Greg, her legs threatening to give out on her. After waking up she had recalled their conversation, his warm chest rising and falling beneath her. She recalled his question, would she move in with him to chase away his dreams. Is that all he wanted for her to be his dream catcher, good luck charm? She thought they were becoming friends. The hurt began to well up inside as she made a quick exit sliding down the large hill of his pectoral muscle falling to the gap between his side and his arm. Thankful her movements had not awoken him, she scurried to the ball and chain to the side of his bed and moved down to the floor. Quickly she had left the room.  

Her emotions spilling over as she fought her love and fear after spending the night with him. Questions spilling into each breath. She had taken the long way back to her room trying to sort through her feelings. That was until she saw her bean sitting by the vent, her notebook in hand. She watched as he read her deepest desires and petitions to the moon and stars. Deep embarrassment filled her body as she watched him smirk as he put the book down. Trembling now filled with anger she yelled at the top of her lungs.  "How could you, those are my private thought. My safe place, you have no right." her little body so overcome broke down as she felt the arms of her brother surround her. Moving her away from her room as her legs gave way he hooked his arms under her knees and with a huff of effort lifted her bridal style. Laying her down on his bed he covered her and left her to cry herself to sleep.

A week later and Melina finally decided to craw from her brother's room. They had moved their beds to her room for the while to protect her from his advances. Her bean had reportedly visited each morning hoping to talk to her but the betrail of her privacy had been too much. She would no longer seek him out, instead, she would return to the traditions of the borrowers. To not be seen, to be cautious and hidden.  Her family didn't say anything, in fact, it was almost like a pact. her brothers also made no contact with Henry they tacked up a thick material over the vent so tight that he could not even slip a note through the sides. Although Greg and Carson desperately wanted to play a game with him again they loved their sister too much to betray her. 

They had disappeared, all traces of his little friends had gone. Every doorway boarded up, leaving Henry to feel desperately alone. Deciding to be proactive he bought small cameras and set them up around the house hoping to catch a glimpse of his friends. He also began leaving small leftover bits of food in easy to reach places around the kitchen. Sometimes they were taken sometime they were left to spoil. He would sleep most of the day and stay up most of the night watching the camera's hoping to see them again. It was one night a week later that whilst flipping through a book he looked up and saw movement.  

Melina had been cooped up long enough, she itched to leave the self-imposed confinement of the walls. Hoping he would be asleep she moved out towards the kitchen. She was craving ice cream and knew where she could get some. The neighbours to the right had gotten a cat during there isolation so it had become increasingly difficult to borrow from them. So she had only one option, her bean's kitchen.  She walked across his tiled floor, using her shoestring rope and grappling hook tossed it to the top of the bench. Secure she gingerly she climbed to the marble top. Taking the time to catch her breath she looked at the next climb, trepidation hit her as she wondered if the Ice cream was truly worth it. But her craving, won out as she made the next throw catching the edge of the fridge seal for a perfect hook. 

The final climb made her very hungry clouding her judgment, resting at the top of the fridge she saw an old silver knife and decided to use it to pry open the freezer. She had no problem opening it and slid inside. What she had not banked on was the door not staying open but automatically closing. Sitting in the darkness panic began to overtake her as her body began to freeze. 

Henry had been watching Lina's attempt to scale his cabinets, breath hitching at the site he only breathed with easy as she reached each limit. Furrowing his brow he watched as she opened his freezer and slipped inside. Chuckling to himself he wondered how much Ice cream she would consume as that was the only thing in his freezer that could be eaten without heating. He waited to watch for her to exit. When after 15 mins she was yet to emerge he grew worried, and fear for her safety overtook his respecting her distance. Quickly he ran down the stairs and opened the door to his freezer to find her little body curled up on top of the dinner for one meal. Gently scooping her into his hand he noted her blue face and ragged breath true fear washed through his body as he whispered her name "Melina"