Chapter 14: Chapter 14
Sitting in the middle of my bed busy with my laptop and a bowl of Cheetos. “Honey! The neighbor’s son is here to see you.” Dad yells from down the stairs.
“Thanks dad, send him up please.” I continued with what I’m doing. Two knocks, I yelled a come in not looking up still very much pissed at him. Deep down I know if I look at the brooding giant my ice wall will melt into nothingness.
“What do you want to study today?” My eyes glued at my screen. I hear him breathe out exasperated. Good that serves him right for acting up.
“Biology.” He said.
“Sit…” he moves as if coming close to me on the bed. “…on the floor or anywhere else that’s definitely not my bed.”
“What? You kidding me right?!” His voice raise in alarm. I take my eyes off my screen looking at him in a blank but stern look. I’m my father’s daughter.
“Do I look like I’m kidding you? Look I'm busy right now so if you can help me help you by finding a place to sit let's get this over with so you can go, I'll very much appreciate it.” He watch my bored expression focus on him then sighs deeply still having that pissed look. His gaze avert scanning my room searching, not feeling bordered I focus back on my laptop screen typing away. Then I hear it, chair scrapping on the hard wood floor till it got beside my bed. Placing the seat harshly on the wooden floor, I roll my eyes at his shenanigans. Clearly he's pissed but I'm angry. Very angry at him which I'm sure he knows by the tense look on his face. My eyes shift from my screen as I pause my writing to my left side. He sat down on my desk chair placing his book on my bed, he opens and start to read. Rolling my eyes, couldn’t he find a better part of the room to do that, it has to be somewhat close to my bed or me. I scoff going back to my typing.
“I’m sorry.” My fingers pause on the keyboard slowly my head turn to him but he kept on reading his book and apologizing. “I’m sorry that I made you angry. I’m sorry you had to see that side of me. I’m sorry I acted selfish and wished it was me you were waiting for on the bleachers to take you home. I’m sorry I was thinking like an irrational child. I’m sorry I almost beat your friend but in my mind I’ve already done it. I’m sorry about my mood swings. I’m sorry that you’re still pissed at me.” His eyes meet mine. “I’m sorry Snoopy.” I didn’t know what to say. His voice sounds broken and I hate to see him this way especially if I’m the cause.
So I'm going to ask, if you are in my shoes right now what will you do?
“My name is Mary-Vienne, not Snoopy.” without thinking the words fell out from my lips smoothly and I applaud myself seeing the smile play on his lips triggering mine.
“I miss your smile.” Looking at him, I realize that I feel the same way.
“I miss yours too.” Truthfully. He nods eyes back on his book while a goofy smile plastered on my face watching him. I took my bowl of Cheetos placing it in the vacant space between my leg and his book, resuming my typing.
Austin keep showing this side of him that have me thinking if I should bring back the feelings I'm trying so hard to bury away. The bad boy went on apologizing about his flaws. Dad always says a man who accept his flaws and apologize for his mistake sincerely is a keeper because those men are very rare. Does that mean Austin is one of them? I for sure know he was truly sorry for pissing me off, the way he eyes begged for me is something I won’t forget. Am I softening the captain of the quarterback? Or did he suddenly grow a soft spot for me which prompted him to apologize to lil me? I’ve known Austin as someone who takes pride
in what he does and stand by it. One thing I know now is he does not like Lawrence, but why?
If he threw such tantrum when he thought Lawrence was just taking me home then it would have gotten worse if he find out the home is actually not mine but Lawrence.
Planet earth is still safe now he’s in the dark about that because I really don’t want to see his wrath when he finds out. I watch him for a second, the tension on his face that was there before isn’t here anymore. Not only is that but the worry look replaced by a happy face. Did I do that to him? Putting his pencil behind his ears, his hand reach for the Cheetos taking a handful. I guess I don’t know him well enough to tell the difference. This can be the normal him or maybe I’m wrong about him yet again. Ugh, why do I always think of so much maybes when I’m with him? This have got to stop.
“I hate it when we are not talking. It was like the weight of the world is on me. Let’s not do that again, okay.” I smile voicing out an okay softly my eyes not moving an inch away from my screen.
“But I’m still mad at you though.” He chuckles leaning back on the seat with a smug grin.
“And you have every right to be Snoopy, because I deserve it.” He rest forward looking at me.
“I couldn't bare the silent treatment or not see you smile for me. To me, that's the worst punishment ever. I know I'm a fuck up but please smile for me even when you are mad at me. That calms me down in ways I can't explain.” I blush giving him my best smile sticking out my tongue which he chuckles leaning back on the chair watching me like an interesting
piece of art. If only he knows I feel the same way. If only he knows how long I’ve been waiting to see him smile for me, not just his winning games but me. Looking at each other, happy smiles on our faces.
“Back to work.” I playfully say throwing a Cheetos at him which he easily caught in his mouth chewing at it.
“Yes ma’am.” And he did, picking up his book reading and I typing away.
Someone watching us right now can see the hidden smiles we tried to hide still on our faces and I doubt it will be getting off any time soon. I don’t know what or how to describe this feeling right now, but being with Austin makes me feel much more special.