Escape the Covenant || Shawmila [Completed]

Chapter 17

His head is down, his eyes are scanning the pages of his book lazily, but it's pretty obvious that he's not really reading. Under the table his leg is bouncing nonstop, he drums his index finger making me neurotic, and every few seconds he glances towards me. In this very moment, Shawn is like a restless child forced to behave during class, and he's getting on my nerves.

«So, why are you here? » he asks whispering.

I keep my gaze fixated on my book. «To read, obviously»

He nods, pondering if he should ask the next question. And, with no surprise, he interrupts me again. «What are you reading? »

«I got curious about something that happened in the past, and I came here to look for some answers. I hope this history book will help me»

He lowers his head again, but not even half a chapter later he's talking again. «Maybe if you tell me what you are looking for, I can help you»

I roll my eyes. «I appreciate your offer, but I can't tell you. Remember when I told you that sometimes I wouldn't be able to tell you everything and I would need my space? Well, this is one of those times, so please, stop interrupting me». Well, this is only part of the truth. It's not that I'm not allowed to tell him about my curse, it's just that I don't want to.

He shuts his mouth but, only twenty minutes later, he closes his book and stares at me. «This morning you left while I was still asleep. For a moment I thought I'd dreamed about you but then I smelled your perfume on my pillow. Why didn't you stay for breakfast? »

«Oh, for God's sake» I babble. «For a guy who likes to read, you surely talk a lot. Have you ever been banned from a library before? It's impossible to focus with you in here».

He steals the book from my hands and closes it. «Come on, Mila. I'm yawning to death here. Can't we do something else? »

«You're such a kid! Okay, I give up, but you have to help me bring all  these books back home».

He ends up taking all of them in his arms, not minding the weight at all. So those biceps are not just for show... We stroll back to my house and now that Shawn has my whole attention, he has a big smile that covers half of his face. «You didn't answer my question. Why didn't you stay for breakfast? »

«I didn't even think about it. And besides, how was I supposed to know it? What if your grandfather came back home and find us together? I didn't want to risk it. Not to mention my grandmother. She's already pissed at me for hanging around with you, I don't want to push it too much».

«What?! Since when she doesn't like me? » he asks in complete shock.

«Don't mind her. You're not the problem, she thinks you're a good guy. She just doesn't like me spending my time with boys».

We arrive at my house and just before stepping on the porch, Shawn stops and clears his throat. «Maybe I should wait here»

I shake my head no. «Oh hell no! You have to bring those books inside»

«But your grandma... »

I lift a brow. «Are you scared, Shawny boy? ». He glares at me but doesn't attempt to answer. I grab him by his arm and pull him inside. «She's not here, but even if she was, it wouldn't change a thing. I already told her that I'll do as I want and that she can't stop me from being your friend, so don't worry, okay? »

When inside, he looks around trying to spot something that can shows that witches live here. I know that look on his face, it's the same I had when I first stepped inside old Gerard's house. And, just as I discovered while I was at his place, here there's nothing extravagant. «My grandma keeps all her stuff in the attic, you won't find a single item in the living room. But I can show you what I have in my bedroom»

«How did you know I was searching for witch stuff? Did you read my mind? »

«No, Shawn» I laugh. «I simply looked at your face. You're the most curious human ever existed, it's obvious what you were looking for».

We enter my room and he drops the books on my bed. «Just to be sure, you cannot read other's mind, right?»

I decide to tease him a little. «Maybe I can, maybe not». His face goes red and he can't hold my gaze.

«You're pulling my leg, Mila»

I laugh at his reaction, but I admit that I find him super cute: is he embarrassed? «Something tells me that you have a little secret that you don't want to share, Mr. Mendes. Are you going to tell me? » I wiggle my brows in a mocking way.

«I don't have secrets. But what's in my mind is my business, it's private. Please, if you can read minds, can you not read mine? »

A spontaneous giggle leaves my lips. «Unfortunately, I don't have that power, otherwise I'd be a superhero! But maybe I can invent some sort of spell to try it»

«Just not on me, please»

I nod. «Yeah, okay. But you're no fun»

He wanders around my room and suddenly I feel extremely exposed. Except my gran, nobody has ever invaded my personal space. He looks at all the objects on my desk and a flash of curiosity cross his face.

«Okay, I have a question» he begins. «If you light a Yankee Candle for a spell, does it work? »

«It depends. There are a few incantations that require specific candles, but except from that, I think a Yankee Candle would work».

«That's cool! That way you kill two birds with one stone! You practice magic and your room smells great! »

«You're such a dork! » I nudge his shoulder and he does the same. The motion repeats a few times, and a minute later we're on my bed tickling each other. He traps me under his body and torture me with his long fingers, making me scream with laughter. «No, please, stop! Shawn, I'm begging you! Stop it! You won, I surrender! »

He stops and we both struggle to catch our breaths. I can't control my giggles and he looks at me grinning like an idiot. Our gazes meet and all of a sudden the room becomes quiet. We stare deeply at each other, our breath become erratic and our faces come closer very slowly. Shawn brushes one of my locks away from my face, and I feel my blood run hot, like it's bubbling. I close my eyes and wait for his lips to crush against mine, getting ready for the worst, yet the best moment of my life.

And then we hear the front door being open. «Camila, are you home? »