Chapter thirty-nine : Everly

I leaned back in the chair as looked up at the ceiling of the study. It'd been three hours since I entered and two hours past midnight. I wanted to get over with all of my syllabus today as I had my tests scheduled for consecutive five days, and I was almost done but Lucifer was still not home. He called around seven, telling me he won't be having dinner with me because of a scheduled meeting. And I might have skipped on it because I didn't want to eat alone. It was strange and hard to digest but it was the truth. I'd been eating alone for as long as I can remember and it never bothered me, but now with Lucifer around, something changed. I became used to having him around, and it somehow pissed me. I didn't wish to be depended on anybody even the slightest and here I was acting like a needy kid. I sighed, this wasn't good. There was a very slim chance that he'd actually be around after the six months he promised. I was just a passing phase for him and I was sure enough he'd soon get over with this infatuation of his.

I needed to get my head straight if I wanted to continue, so I got out of the study and headed to the kitchen. As I opened the fridge to get the juice my eyes fell on the lemon meringue pie I'd made and rolled my eyes. I remembered Lucifer telling me how his grandmother used to make him lemon pies when he was young and how he loved eating them. So, I decided to try my hands on one today and unfortunately the person didn't turn up, and here it was untouched in the fridge. I huffed and grabbed the juice and shut the door with a little more force than I intended.

I felt irritated for god knew what reason, and that irritation was directed toward one man alone. I knew he didn't deserve it but anyway he was the root of it. I shook my head at my idiocy and headed back to the study, I needed to focus my mind on one thing alone, my studies. That's what I thought before I noticed the bouquet in the living room.

The damned bouquet had arrived some time in the evening, and I like the idiot I was, I went all the way down to sign the delivery and ended up giving a generous tip to the delivery guy because of his judgemental stare. I went to the table and poked it. It was one with some kind of exotic flowers I'd only seen on TV. My gaze fell on the beautiful white envelope which came along with it. I had almost forgotten about it, earlier I had no desire to take a peek but now with the change in events I had every intention of taking a glance. I might regret it later but I rather choose the guilt over frustration. Moreover, I was the one who brought it upstairs and paid a hefty amount, so I had every right to take a look into it. I think.

Before I could change my mind I grabbed the envelope and pulled out a card from inside. "Here we go," I murmured and opened it.

Thank you for the beautiful night.

PS - I can still feel you

Love, Tiffany

I almost gagged reading the content. No wonder he was late yesterday, Tiffany was the lucky woman keeping him company. I guessed who was the lucky woman tonight, but whoever it was, might be real good looking at how late it was. So I might as well leave a note for him too. I rushed to the study, grabbing a paper and pen I scribbled down my own words. Getting back to the living room I slipped the paper inside along with the card and placed the envelope back like it was never touched. He deserved this, it was my revenge for the lemon pie I made, putting so much of hard work for nothing. Yes, it was the revenge of the lemon pie. Satisfied, I headed back to the study to complete my syllabus.

***

It was only an hour and I was starting to have second thoughts. It only took me about half an hour to wrap up and I returned to my room immediately without sparing a second glance to the bouquet. I showered thinking about Lucifer's reaction and doing my little happy dance, but the excitement soon dissipated and was replaced doubt. What if he didn't take it as a joke and got mad. I mean, the message wasn't anything disrespectful and maybe what I did was a little childish, but still.

Seriously, what was wrong with me? I was supposed to take my finals today at eight in the morning, and here I was worrying about a stupid note I wrote and then stupidly slipped it inside another person's envelope. If that wasn't enough, now I was pacing in the room like a freaking ghost at three in the morning. I stopped and put my hands on my hips, I needed to sleep if I wished to give my exam, for that to happen now I needed to get that paper back. Time for redemption. God, I was hopeless.

I headed for the door and stopped for a moment. I hadn't heard any noises from downstairs, so it was possible that he still hadn't returned, which meant I still had a chance to get it before he could. I took a long breath and unlocked the door and pulled it open. The air froze in my lungs at the sight the man in front. In his perfect suit he looked too handsome for three in the morning. Before I met his eyes, I saw the envelope and of course the extra note I had added in his hand. I shut my eyes and cursed under breath.

"Everly." I looked up at him and his lips pulled up in an evil smirk. Great. Now, I was done for.