Chapter 12: Chapter 12

After dinner, Joshua collected the dirty dishes to wash, and I offered to help dry them. While working together, we were able to talk a little more. For the first time, I was able to have a conversation with Joshua.

"So, we have an artist here?" he joked.

"I wouldn't say I'm exactly an artist. But I love art, and... Without trying to sound conceited, my drawings are amazing," I said, grinning mischievously. I leaned against the counter and swung the napkin in my hand before tossing it over my shoulder.

"Look, Miss Collins, I'm a bit skeptical. I'll believe it when I see it," he said, finishing the last piece of glassware and turning to place it on the counter next to me.

"Pathetic," I retorted, teasingly. "One day I'll make you a drawing, Mr. Scott."

"I'll be eagerly waiting," Joshua said, smiling. Suddenly, for no apparent reason, a overwhelming silence fell over us. We continued to gaze at each other, but didn't say a single word. It was as if we were in a trance, with only a few giggles and shy smiles filling our facial expressions.

But when I realized we had been like that for too long, I broke the trance and turned to dry the last dish. My blood was pulsing unevenly, and I didn't understand why.

"Well, um... I'm going to check my schedule for the week," Joshua said, seeming lost. I nodded in agreement. Joshua walked past me, and that intense pulsing feeling in my blood persisted. I tried to calm myself and push his gaze out of my thoughts.

I finished drying the dish and placed it back on the counter. I didn't know where to put it, so I left it for Mrs. Taylor to put away when she arrived tomorrow.

I prepared to leave the kitchen. I would try to call my mom since I hadn't been able to talk to her since I had arrived. The rain was still pouring heavily, visible through the large glass windows in the living room. I loved rainy days; they made the weather perfect.

I sit on the couch and take my phone out of my pants pocket. I was hoping that this time I would be able to talk to her. But, once again, the call on the chat app fails. If I didn't know my mom, I would say she forgot to pay the internet bill, but maybe she was just busy, so I would wait a little longer.

***

I feel my throat burn, calling for a little water. Then I realize I fell asleep on the couch while waiting for my mother to call. I get up and walk a little dizzy towards the kitchen. I open the fridge and take out a pitcher of water. I pour the liquid into a glass and bring it to my lips.

"Are you still awake?" Joshua enters the kitchen.

"Yes. I fell asleep on the couch. I was waiting for a call from my mom."

He nods and takes the same pitcher of water that I had taken, and pours it into a glass too.

I was about to go back to the living room when a deafening thunder resounds through the apartment, scaring me and making me instinctively hug Joshua.

I don't know how long I hugged him, but I regain my senses when I hear his voice.

"Do thunderstorms scare you?"

I open my eyes when I hear him. I was in front of his chest, with my arms around his waist and my forehead resting just below his shoulder. Did I hug him?!

"Huh? Um..." I step back from his body, removing my arms from his waist. "I'm sorry, I didn't mean to hug you." I lower my gaze, looking at the floor.

I didn't mean to hug him, but it was an impulsive act. I really was scared by that thunder and reached out to the first thing I saw in front of me to try to protect myself. And Joshua was my target. The so unexpected act had an effect on me. It had been pleasant to hug him, but at the same time, shameful.

There was silence between us. My gaze was lowered, staring at the ground and the feeling of being observed by someone. I glanced at Joshua and saw him analyzing me calmly. Why was he looking at me without reacting? Did he expect me to say something, or...?

I saw him bite his lower lip and moisten it a bit. What was he doing? Why was he biting his lower lip? Couldn't he act naturally without letting his act cause me a different sensation?

"Um..." In an attempt to interrupt his action, which was giving me shivers, I tried to say something. "Water!" I said randomly. "I'm going to drink water!" But you just drank water, you idiot. "I'm going to drink more water!"

I spoke and almost ran away from him. I was sure I wouldn't be able to stay another single second close to Joshua. His approach was causing an explosion of sensations in me. Hugging him, in fact, had been quite an experience, but then countless thoughts came to my mind.

He is my bosses' son. He is my bosses' son...

I repeated that phrase several times in my mind. He was certainly Mr. Scott's son, feeling or imagining something inappropriate with him would be disrespectful. Besides, I didn't want Mrs. Taylor to end up being right.

The lights in the apartment unexpectedly went out. It seemed that the storm had caused a blackout. Oh God. Everything was in darkness, and I could barely see anything except for the reflections of lightning invading the apartment through the glass windows. I walked slowly towards the kitchen exit, afraid of bumping into something. It was almost silent, except for the sound of rain falling and thunder. Joshua had disappeared.

I felt my arm being pulled, and soon I found myself pressed against the wall. Our breaths were fast, becoming one. His body was almost glued to mine. His arms were on either side of the wall, making it impossible for me to move. But even if I wanted to, I couldn't. I was without reaction and with a racing heart.

"What are you doing?" I whispered when I saw his action. I looked into his eyes and lowered my gaze to his lips as soon as I saw them move.

"Shh..."

He bites his lower lip and brings our faces even closer, leaving only centimeters of distance.

"Joshua..."

He runs his fingers down my face, caressing one of my cheeks. The tips of his cold fingers descended to my neck, causing me shivers.

"Don't say anything," he whispered, taking a strand of hair from my face and putting it behind my ear.

"No, we can't..."

"No one needs to know."

I looked into his eyes and saw him approaching his lips to mine.

Another thunder shook the apartment, making me wake up a little dazed.

I looked around and saw that everything was clear, and just like the dream, I had fallen asleep on the couch. I looked at my phone screen and saw that it was already very late. I sighed and squeezed my eyes shut as I remembered that everything that had happened was just a dream. On the one hand, I was satisfied. What had come over me? Why did I dream of Mr. Scott's son? Maybe I was going crazy being in the same apartment as a guy who was, above all, someone interesting.

I got up from the couch and walked to the kitchen. I turned on the light and headed for the fridge, grabbing a pitcher of water and a glass. I leaned on the counter, back to the kitchen entrance, and took a sip of water, trying to ease the confusion in my head due to the almost-real dream.

"Are you still awake?"

I choked on the water when I suddenly heard Joshua's voice.

"Huh?" I coughed a little and turned to him. "Y-Yeah." I forced a smile, turning my back again.

How was I going to face him again, after remembering that I had a somewhat... intimate dream with him?

"You seem nervous," he said with a brief laugh, approaching me to grab the pitcher of water next to me.

I widened my eyes and automatically moved away from Joshua, which earned him a look of doubt. I didn't know what that dream was about, but I was going to do everything to make sure it didn't become real.

"Are you okay?"

"Huh? Y-Yeah! Um..." I put the glass on the sink. "I'm going to my room," I said without exchanging any glances with him, and practically ran out of the kitchen, leaving a completely confused Joshua behind.