His Hoodie

The cold morning breeze gently touched my face. I got goose bumps, even though I was burning with embarrassment. I took another sip of coffee. Alex took off his hoodie. The white shirt underneath showed a little skin. I stared at large abdomen muscle.

My mouth froze opened. I was paralyzed. I wonder how it feels like under that shirt, my heart whispered to my gut. Shut the hell up, I replied. Eleanor focus.

I straightened up as he took his black hoodie off his eyes. He looked at me. And I swear I could see his eyes shine. He said,'' here. Take this.''

I refused once and then twice until he said. ''Please, you look cold. Unless you want me to help with it. It looks too big on you.''

What in the actual freak did he just say? That is definitely a move. Who says such things? Excuse me sir, I thought. Who teaches you these words? I'm kinda used to flirting, but not on that kind of level. My heart squeezed, but was it delight or tension I truly don't know. I reddened and took it with a shy ''thanks''.

I put it on my body. If someone asks, what scent is better than fresh coffee? I would reply with Alex Kane's hoodie. It covered half my body till it reached my ankles. I raised its edge and sniffed it slowly. It was him, I thought. The scent of perfection mixed with sweetness and lovely brown flesh. It made me stray to another world. He was biting off a cookie with his white shirt now visible. He smiled at me. I think… probably that he was happy that I got it on.

''How was practice today?'' I said trying to break off the ice between us and the embarrassment within me.

''It was great actually,'' He gave me a grimace,'' As usual Ares gave me a hard time, but I stayed in one piece. That's the most important thing.'' He smiled at me. Gosh, that was heartwarming warm.

I remembered the first time I asked him a question. He replied with, ''you ask too many questions.'' His voice was deep and threatening. Now, it's just like a normal teenager. Should I bring that up?

''And what do you train for?'' I asked with full focus on the scent fusing from his hoodie on my nose making me feel sleepy. I just want to cuddle in this forever. With him hopefully, someday.

'' I train to protect myself. From gods, monsters, or creatures that want to drink my blood or want me simply dead.'' My eyes widened.

He realized that he scared the hell out of me. He has got o be messing with me. I just couldn't get the fact that he is a demidude. God.

If there really is something as monsters or creatures what kind they were? I thought of a cat with a lion for a body and two pincers for a tail. That would be kinda cute.

Wait. A thought ran through the other with full force while Alex was taking a sip from his opening his mouth to speak. Isn't he son of all gods? Why would they try and attack him?

Millions of questions rolled through my mind and Alex cut them off by continuing, '' Don't worry,'' he casually took a sip out of his mug. ''They don't exist anymore. And either ways humans couldn't see them. They only search for demigod blood.''

''Well,'' I replied with my eyes still wide. ''You learn something new every day.'' We laughed together. How sweet was that? I wish we could stay like this forever, but he was still too far. Too distant, from me and my universe.

''What do you do Eleanor?'' He looked at me as if expecting something marvelous like his fantasies.

I felt like saying I breath fire, but then decided to say the truth, ''I love to read,'' I stared at my shoes and talked. ''I borrow books from the school library without anyone noticing. Then I come home and pull an all-nighter till I close the hardcover.''

''I've never tried reading before. Only if I had homework so that's kinda an obligation. What' it like?''

I inhaled, remembering all the books, adventures, and people I've met throughout reading. I exhaled and said,'' Well, when I get a new book from the library. I flip he first page, and from that you can smell the scent of old paper mixed with ink. It's like the smell of adventure. I lightly touch the rough book cover and run my fingers on the carved title. Sometimes I ask the book,' Where will you take me this time? To a tragic romance relationship, or a fantasy? Will it be civil war hidden behind that title? Or a new psychological treatment?' I blinked as the memories pass before my eyes.

''Then, I flip the second page. Words roll in my eyes. I check the page count. The first hundred pages are done. Twenty chapters already finished. I've met a lot of people. What will I know more? I ask the book. Then I continue. My eyes burn from the fusion of excitement. She is dead. My eyes tear up at page three hundred and seventy. I continue to watch as characters get down. One after another. One with anemia, the other shot, and someone sunk in the sea, only one remains. My eyes and back burn with heat. I want to stop, but I just can't. I can't leave the character lying on his lover's grave. I flip the page and continue. Its page five hundred and sixty. Chapter two hundred and twenty seven. It's over. I close the back cover and overthink my life choices. I try to relate it to my life. It seems too little next to what I've read. I've learned history, geography, philosophy, and most important of all love.'' I stopped at that word. I hate it and I envy who has it.

Alex had full honey eyes on me. I stared back. Did I say something wrong? He broke his gaze and said, ''I've never heard any talk like that before.''

My cheeks turned pink as my legs shook. ''It's annoying. I know I'm sorry. I shouldn't have said that…''

He cut off my words saying, ''this is the best thing I've ever heard. Did you memorize that? ''I shook my head with a little laugh. I flushed pink.

''Wow, I really have got to try reading. What books do you recommend?'' I gave him a few names to start with. He memorized them and told me that he'll pass by the Library on his way home and get one of the names.

I smiled. He likes me, I thought. I mean my words. I flushed on my ridiculous thoughts. He was starting to say something until music came out of the pockets on his sweat pants. ''Oh no,'' he said. He placed his half full cup on the tray. ''Let me get this real quick.'' I nodded. He walked across the grass talking on the phone. I couldn't hear a word. His vice was too soft and quiet. Who was he talking to? Is it his date? No way. I thought, he wouldn't do that. Or would he?

He said something like goodbye and closed his phone. He came towards me crushing the grass under his Jordans and said, ''Its Mom. I got to go with her to a conference across town. Is it okay if I left.'' He took up his cup and swallowed it whole. He shook his head as if he just too a shot of alcohol. Then he placed it.

I casually gazed at his face and said,'' Yeah. Sure, sure. I had a great morning Alex.''

'' I did too,'' he gave me one of his glorious smiles.

''Wait,'' I said taking of the hoodie. ''This is yours.''

He backed off towards the fence saying,'' Keep it. You'll give it back next time we meet.'' The next time we meet? What? My brain screamed. We're meeting again. No! Why is he leaving! He was just right here next to me. Now he's all over there leaving me behind. This sucks, I thought.

He jumped off the fence and waved good bye. All I could do was wave and smile at his sculpture with his hoodie clutched in my hand. He headed off and disappeared behind the house. I looked at his empty cup of coffee on the tray then at the cookies. I placed my cup on the tray. I stacked up the box of cookies with hoodie and held the tray in one hand. I went into the kitchen, struggling to lock the backyard door behind me. I stopped, and then took a sniff of the hoodie. I smiled to the couches in the living room.

I see a good start with that guy, I thought. No matter who he is or what he is. I don't care. I think I like him.

I entered the grey tiled kitchen. I placed the cookies on top of the hoodie on the table reminding myself to take them to my room. As I moved towards the sink I thought that no one should know about Alex. No matter how serious it gets.

I placed the cups and tray in the sink. I reached for the gloves to start doing the dishes. A voice spoke from behind me, '' you shouldn't have done that kid.'' My heart skipped a beat.