Th_omas

" How about we help each other?" He says and I look up at him, eyes still wet from the tears streaming down my cheeks, heart freshly broken from the public humiliation and betrayal that was Lucas's breakup. I can faintly make out the first droppings of snow floating magically under the light of the street lamps. It's that time of the year, a time for wool coats, a time for relaxing, none of which I'll be doing. "I'm an orphan with a wicked aunt and a boyfriend who left her because she has nothing to her name, how could I possibly help you?" I say another sob escaping my lips. "Marry me" he replies and my eyes widen in anger. Is he mocking me?. I look into the eyes of this stranger and see he's dead serious. "I need a wife, you need a home, marry me and you'll have all you want". I nod.

A Snowy Marriage (A Christmas agreement)

Sure enough, I have to stop myself multiple times from reaching out to the handle of the door, and opening it just a crack so I can take a look at Adrian. The action makes me remember that I'm still a teenager after all, and it's in our nature to be curious, even if that curiosity makes us end up stuttering and grasping for words when we are finally caught.

For all his charming ways, I don't think Adrian has feelings for me. It's that sort of vibe you get when you meet a boy you like, and just suddenly have that feeling. It's not that type of feeling that makes you think that the other person dosen't like you, or they can't really be bothered enough to know you. It's that sort of feeling that strikes you, as you come to realise that this person dosen't really like you that way.

They might just like you as a friend and I almost giggle to myself as the train of thought continues. I'll actually be honest this time, even if some people don't like each other, they just end up hooking up. I've seen it happen a number of times and I'm pretty sure that it had ruined whatever relationship they had shared before.

The way Adrian makes my blood heat is already a warning sign that tells me I'd better be careful around him. I want our relationship to remain the same as it's always been. We are associates, nothing more, nothing less. The use of the word associates brings back a memory. The last person I had been associates with was my dad. He would always berate me whenever I'd done something wrong, and then when I became angry, he'd woo me with tales of all the mischief we could both get up to in the business world. Both of us,he and his little associate. The memory brings back a smile instead of the usual pain.

Someone knocks on the door and I jump back from having unconsciously reached out a hand to unlock it . I mentally kick myself as I think of what would have happened had I walked out on Adrian totally unclothed.

The knock comes again and it's more insistent now. I open it to see Adrain still half naked and with only a pair of pants on. I want to inform him of the little condition we had come to an agreement on about clothing just a few minutes ago, when I see the silent warning in his eyes. It tells me to keep quiet and act cool. I walk out of the bathroom and take a cautious glance around the place.

I don't have to look for long, as my eyes come to meet amazingly blue eyes, like that of the ocean in summer after the sun had warmed it up, and it sparkled with the lustre of liquid jewels. It's the same eyes that caught my attention after staring at Adrian's face. The woman gives me a cold smile and turns to her son "What's the meaning of this?".

Chapter 17