Arabella- "Wait so your mom is Nancy?!" I stared at him still not believing what I was seeing. He nodded back slouching against the door frame, a smirk lining his mouth. I couldn't help but quickly assess his form. He was wearing scruffy jeans, and had on a white shirt that was covered in... grease stains? He also had on an unzipped gray jacket and ratty sneakers. His light brown hair was messy and his cheekbones caught the late afternoon light filtering into the room. How could someone so annoying be so attractive? Regaining my trail of thought I forced a glare onto my face.
"That's not possible, because how could someone so nice be related to someone, well.." I paused for effect and let the distaste show on my face, "not so nice." If I was waiting for a reaction, I didn't get one. He merely widened his smirk and stood up straighter.
"Well, I could say the same thing. My mom said you were, nice.." then copying my pause, he stepped closer and flicked a wayward wisp of hair off my shoulder, " and pretty." I froze up a bit at his closeness. I could see a smatter of freckles on his nose and a little scar that went through his eyebrow. His eyes were trained directly at the center of my face and I saw his Adam's apple bob. Then he stepped back. I tried to keep my cool.
"Screw you Knight, I'm not in the mood for your bi polarness and rude comments right now." I spun around and huffily reached for the paintbrush. I had just grasped it when a hand ripped it from mine.
"What the hell is that supposed to mean?" He said angrily, and I, just as angrily, turned back towards him.
"It means I have never been anything but nice to you and your just impolite. I'm not asking you to be my best friend but do you have to be so passive aggressive all the time!" I responded my voice rising slightly.
"Is this about the whole study thing, because I honestly didn't think you'd care that much." The mere mention of him blowing me off the other day made me even angrier.
"Oh believe me I don't care what you do with your time, it just would have been nice not to have been lied to. It's your own problem if you don't understand why that would piss me off!
"Oh no, did the prom queen not get the attention she wanted, did I make the mistake of not clearing my schedule for you your highness. I didn't realize I was obligated to tell you everything." He snarked back. By now I was seeing red.
"It's not about telling me all your shit, it's just having common decency!"
"Whatever princess. Here." He thrust his hand out towards me. Never before had I considered being called princess an insult, but te way he said it definitely changed my mind on that. Looking down I saw a mug and my brush he had taken clutched in his hand. Not trusting my voice I nodded my thanks and took it from him. As he passed it to me our fingers touched and even though it was just a brush I could feel the warmth from it. While we had been fighting we had drifted closer again and he quickly took another step back and ran a hand through his hair. He almost looked nervous. It was like his mood had done a complete 180.
"Okay well I'm gonna go, just come to the house if you need anything." A second later he was gone. I turned back to my art to distract myself but I couldn't help the stream of thoughts through my mind. So Nancy was Leo's mother. That meant that Nancy's dead husband was Leo's dad. I remembered what she said about the two of them, close as peas in a pod, and couldn't help but feel horrible. I can't imagine how hard it was. I adored both my parents. Sure we argued, mainly over them being too strict, or me acting like I had a stick up my ass. But they were the people I admired the most, and wouldn't trade them for the world. I had no idea what I would do with-ought them.
I continued until I noticed that it was almost totally dark outside. The right wall of the shack was almost halfway done, and I had to admit it looked pretty good. I had decided to draw all different types of flowers across the walls, all different shapes, and sizes to resemble the inside of a greenhouse. Quickly cleaning up my supplies I made my way back to the house. I walked in quickly as it was really cold. Following the sounds of pots clanging I walked towards the kitchen. Entering the warm dimly lit room I couldn't help but smile at the scene in front of me. Leo was sitting at the counter, work spread out in front of him, scribbling furiously on a piece of paper. Nancy, on the other hand, had headphones on and was dancing quite enthusiastically while stirring a pot on the stove. Feeling horrible for intruding, I slowly stepped forward into the light.
"Oh Arabella you're just in time, dinner will be ready soon!" Nancy immediately smiled at me. Slightly shocked at the invitation I couldn't do much as she ushered me farther into the room, and sitting me at the counter beside Leo.
"I'm making pasta, does that sound alright?" Swallowing I nodded
"Pasta sounds great."
"Wonderful!" She said back chirpily and then turned back to the stove, and popping her earbuds back in. Out of the corner of my eye, I watched Leo. He was still completely wrapped up in his work, and I couldn't help but be curious. Deciding I didn't really care if he saw me looking I leaned closer and began reading the script. He handwriting was long and loopy, not exactly neat but not messy either. After re-reading the first few words a few times I realized what was wrong. They weren't English.
"It's german."
Looking up I saw Leo had finally looked away from his work.
"Oh. I didn't know they had a German class at school."
"They don't," he said with a slight smile. "I taught myself."
I was going to say that was impressive before I was cut off by a sharp knocking at the front door.
"Leo sweetie do you mind getting that," Nancy called over her shoulder and he nodded, dropping his pencil and heading down the hall. A minute later he was back.
"Mom it's Mrs. Webster, her husband cut himself while cooking and she was wondering if you could take a look at his hand."
"Sure tell her I'll be over in a second." He nodded and disappeared from sight again. Nancy stirred the pot again and tutted before turning to me.
"Arabella I hate to ask you this but that pasta only needs a minute or two more and I need to go, do you mind dumping it if I'm not back?"
Nodding quickly I jumped off the stool and walked towards the stove. "Sure, whatever you need."
She smiled warmly before quickly undoing her apron before also healing for the door. "The strainer is in the drawer next to the sink, and the bowl you can put it all in is above the oven." With that, she was gone. After waiting a minute I tasted the spaghetti to find it was done and strained it. While it was cooling I tasted the sauce before wincing slightly. It was good but was definitely missing something. I added a pinch of salt and a little bit more olive oil before heading to the fridge. Quickly find all the greens, I rustled through them before I found a small bag of basil. The smell wafted through the air and I smiled at the warm familiar feeling it gave me. Rinsing off a few pieces I added them to the sauce. Tasting it a few minutes late I grinned, just right. I then reached up to grab the bowl Nancy had told me about only to find I couldn't reach it. I tried again, jumping high but again no luck. Huffing I pushed myself onto the counter and stood to grab the light blue bowl. Sitting down on the counter, my legs dangling, I grabbed the pasta from the strainer, dumped it into the bowl and then poured the sauce on top. Reaching for a stirring spoon I began mixing the two. I was almost done when I heard someone cough. Jumping slightly I almost fell off my place on the counter and being so close to the stove I banged my leg up against the still hot pan. Yelping, I quickly put the bowl down and was about to jump down before two hands landed on my hips, stopping me. Looking up I was shocked to see Leo. He delicately picked up my leg and examined the light red burn mark on my thigh. His fingers brushed over it so lightly but I couldn't help the eruption of goosebumps on my arms.
"Does it hurt?"
Realizing he was asking a question I nodded dumbly. He was so close I could smell him. He had a heavy woodsy smell, like pine and wet leaves and a slight hint of laundry detergent. Being this near made my head swim. I wonder the last time anyone my age was this close to him. He let go of my leg and looked me in the face. I immediately missed the contact.
"I think its just a first-degree burn. Let me get a wet cloth and some cooling gel." He went over to the far cabinet and began rummaging around inside it. I couldn't help but notice he had changed his clothes from before. He was wearing a white long sleeve shirt and light grey joggers. His back muscles rippled under the fabric and I couldn't help but let my eyes drop a bit lower. Damn. The fabric of his joggers clung to his tight butt like a second skin and I felt a tightening in my lower stomach, as unwanted and dirty thoughts filled my head. As if he wasn't perfect enough. I immediately flushed and looked away.
Apparently, he found what he was looking for and came back over, stopping quickly to rinse off a cloth. Then with a quick gaze of confirmation, which I nodded slightly too, he picked up my leg again putting the rag on the burn. I bit back a wince. It really hurt!
"Sorry," Leo said gruffly. Laughing sardonically I waved him off.
"It's my own fault I should have been more careful." He shrugged lightly, a small smile lifting the corner of his mouth.
"Probably, but it's fine. You were just helping out." He stopped talking and looked intently at the rag, lifting it out before dipping it back into some cool water and placing it back on. "I didn't know you were an artist."
"I'm not, not really. I just do it for fun." Seeing he wasn't planning on saying anything I continued. "My mom was an art auctioneer for many years and my dad used to be a history professor. They met in an art museum so I guess you could say I've grown up around art."
"Used to be?"
"Now he's a criminology professor."He nodded in understanding.
"I'm going to put the salve on now alright." He pulled out a small white tube and squeezed a small amount of clear gel onto his finger. He gently spread the salve on and I couldn't help but let out a sigh. The coolness on my hot skin was amazing. The feeling quickly faded into the background as the warmth of Leo's hand returned. I wondered if his hands would feel as good everywhere else. He was intently staring at his work and I took the opportunity to admire his features. I had always known he was handsome but he seeing him up close was something new. His skin was smooth, unlike most guys his age, and he was fair. His hair was light brown with whorls of gold. He had a strong straight nose and full pink lips. And his eyes... what color were his eyes? I don't know what came over me but I needed to see what color his eyes were. My right hand rose and I cupped his face lifting it so that he was forced to look me in the eye.
"Hazel" I whispered, suddenly remembering the first day in psychology when I had originally admired his eyes. He didn't move, only quirked an eyebrow. Smiling softly I reached my other hand out and brushed my hands across his cheekbones brushing his lashes and then following an invisible trail to the back of his neck, resting there, rubbing my thumb in slow circles. I had lost complete control of my body."Your eyes, their hazel." Again he didn't answer. He just kept staring me in the eye. Then he did something so out of character. He leaned into my touch and moved closer, so close I could put no more than a foot of space between us. I wanted there to be none. His breath smelt like coffee and peppermint candies. The white shirt hugged his arms well, and the fabric of his joggers brushed my legs. Even though I was sitting on the counter I was still a few inches shorter than him.
"Arabella, is everything alright? I'm sorry it took so long, the cut was a bit deeper than we expected."
Nancy's voice cracked like a whip through the house and the dream-like trance we were in snapped. Leo immediately backed away turning in the opposite direction and going up the stairs. I shakily got off the counter. A second later Nancy entered.
"Oh, it smells wonderful! Where did Leo go, have you seen him?" I felt hot all of a sudden.
"No, I didn't. I'm so sorry but I just got a text from my mom, she wants me home for dinner..." I began, forcing what I hoped was a convincing expression. I had to leave, it felt like my chest was caving in on itself.
"Oh no! Well, there is always next time, you're still coming tomorrow right?"
"Of course," I said quickly grabbing my things, hands shaking. "Thank you, so much. Uh, have a good night." I was pretty much running towards the door, terrified Leo would come back down.
"Alright, drive safe dear!" If she said anything else after that I missed it. I was already out the door.
