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The Magic Mirror
No, I didn't fall for him. He pushed me down the stairs. And I must've hit my head on every step down at least 5 flights, because when I saw him at breakfast this morning, my heart jumped into my throat.
This is weird. This is new. My usual sharp glare even seemed softened today, and he seemed to have noticed, because he raised a thick, linear brow and set down his fork as I sat down in my usual seat across form him.
Oh how I hate that smirk. It. Makes. Me. Want. To. Scream. And not in a good way either.
It makes me want to imprint my hand on his cheek.
Although, oddly enough, it also makes me want to grab the collar of his shirt, pull him towards me, and lock his lips in mine.
Of course, then there would definately be reactions. He would likely shove me back into my seat and stalk off into his shadow. I would turn beet red and the others would start exchanging money from the bet they made two or three weeks ago when I first decided to be mad at him permanently. And of course, there would be the gasps and 'I told you so's.
"[name], can you pass the salt?"
"Mm?" I said, looking up. I realised I had been staring at my omlette for quite a while, and it was probably going to get cold if I didn't eat it.
"The salt." He had that twinkle in his eye, like he knew what I had been thinking about. Although, knowing him, he wouldn't care as long as it didn't really happen. That's just the way he worked. It was funny how hating someone - or even just pretending to hate them - led you to knowing more about them than you would if you were trying to befriend them. Well, that's how it was with me, anyways.
I sighed and passed the salt across the table to [name2]. I thought I caught a wink, but it could have just as easily been a twitch as our fingers brushed for just a moment. Like a butterfly. However stupid that may sound, it was the only thing I could compare it to. It was like the butterfly in my throat [which I found peculiar, because don't butterflies live in the stomach?].
I bit my lip and cut my omlette into four pieces. The silverware striking the plates were the only thing that broke the silence that hung limp in the air. There hadn't been much to talk about lately.
[name3] snatched a biscuit off of [name2]'s plate. As usual, her sad attempts at flirting were painfully obviously useless as he just snatched it back without even looking at her. But then, he looked at me. I stared. I don't know how long I spaced out, but when I realised I had been, I hastily stuffed a piece of omlette into my mouth.
Just as I thought, it was cold. I slid a second piece onto my fork and raised my head to flip it into my mouth only to notice he was still staring.
Why was he still staring?
I raised an eyebrow and he followed in suit, mirroring me. I put down my fork ans he copied me again. He continued this as I finished my omlette and my orange juice.
Then I took off my glasses and proceeded to wipe some dust off them with the end of my shirt. He froze and I looked up to meet his gaze. 'I win' I mouthed with a smile. He stayed frozen.
-
"What is it now, [name2]?" I huffed as he rested a heavy hand on my shoulder, keeping me from leaving the dining room with the rest of them. I pivoted on the spot to face him.
Instead of speaking, he simply removed my glasses. "Hey, give them back." He folded them and put them in one of the front pockets of his jeans - an area I dare not touch. However, instead of smirking playfully - or even victoriously - his face stayed serious.
"You look beautiful without your glasses." He said.
"I-Is this some type of ... joke?" I sputtered, accusingly.
"No, no, just ... look at yourself." He held up his hands defensively, the gestured to the living room, where we both knew a giant mirror hung on the wall above the fireplace.
"Fine, fine." He offered his hand, which surprised me - chivalry and politeness was a rarity with him, at least, to me it was - and I hesitatingly accepted. It's not like I could see very well anyway.
He led me to the living room and I let go of his hand when we were in the doorway, leaving him there and creeping just ahead of the couch facing the fireplace so I could see myself.
What I saw astonished me. Of course, I had never seen myself without my glasses before - actually, I hadn't seen very much without glasses before, considering my vision had only declined since I got them - and even the sight of my nose without two ovals perched in front of them was something new.
I let go of a breath I didn't know I was holding and stepped back, stumbling slightly as I tripped over the edge of the rug and landed in a seating position on the couch.
I had practically fallen into his lap. How did he get all the way over here, anyway?
He gave a smile and I reluctantly gave one back. Well, reluctant until he leaned in. But instead of his lips meeting mine, they brushed my ear. "I win." he said softly. And as he withdrew, I deliberately turned my head and captured him.
Stunned, he stumbled backwards at first. But then I leaned in again, the tips of our noses touching slightly. "No, I win." I said, sliding my nose past his bringing him into a liplock again.
I'm not sure whether I paralyzed him or he paralyzed me, but I could sure feel the chemical reactions pounding through my skull, rasping at me to not let go. And the funny thing is, I think he could hear the voices too.
From Afar
They were so cute together, it was almost scary. So matchy, and yet, so different. Their eyes were both golden, but her ginger hair greatly contrasted his black hair. Even her dress matched his shirt. Well, almost.
[name1] and [name2]. Even their names rang together, like the bells of Notre Dame.
Like wedding bells.
Oh hell, don't remind me.
They were so comfertable on the couch. So ... happy. I don't remember the last time I was that happy. In fact, I don't think I ever was. Probably because that kind of happiness is something that only happens once or twice in a lifetime.
Sighing, I rested a cheek against the cold railing of the staircase. It was times like these when I wondered whether something was wrong with me. Looking back, I has always been a happy person. Perhaps I was but a child then. Ah, children. So carefree.
I just kneeled there, face caught between the bars, staring almost longingly at the young couple downstairs. I had given up hope of finding someone long ago. Actually, it was probably that inevitable fact that made me become so unhappy, maybe even bitter, in the first place.
Yes, that must've been it.
Since then, romance sickened me. Valentines day to me became nothing but a Hallmark holiday. And I lost faith in love, maybe even in God, because I always believed that if God existed, he'd be a hippie and a hopeless shipper.
Meaning he'd pair everyone with someone.
But me being left as a lone wheel meant that the idea of God must be wrong.
When did I decide I'd live a single life? When did I suddenly give up?
Ahh yes.
It was when I met [name].
Well, not so much when I met him, more like when he met [name2].
Many say love is hardest when you love someone who loves someone else.
Try loving someone who loves someone else, both who you have to see every day.
Try loving someone who loves your best friend.
A Blur of Trees and Moonlight
Sitting there on the swing in the moonlight with a guy ... some would consider it romance. But the aforementioned guy was only [name], my best friend. Well, my best guy friend, that is. How could it be romance if we were just swinging, trying to see who could go highest without falling off?
Swinging and laughing and generally having a good time. That was us. Outside with only the moon and the stars as our company. We were so childish at times.
"Alright, alright, [name2], you win." He said with a grin. He stuck out his heels and let them scrape against the grass, stopping him.
"Giving up, are we? That's a first. I must be more amazing than I thought I was." I said, raising an eyebrow as I slowed myself to the ground.
"Oh, definately." He said with a laugh. And then, a mutter he thought I couldn't hear. "More than you know."
Of course, being naive as I was, I didn't pay much attention to that last part. Instead, I grabbed his arm.
"Look, it's [name3]. Hey! [name3]!" I waved him over. The two of them had been best friends since they were kids.
"Hey! [name]! [name2]!" He gave me that lopsided grin of his and tugged on my platinum blonde ponytail playfully and I poked him in the stomach [a usual greeting and inside joke between the two of us].
"Hi [name3]." [name] said, running his fingers through the red mop atop his head awkwardly.
"Hey." The two guys did some wierd cross between a high-five and a handshake, althought [name] seemed less enthusiastic now.
"So, how've you been?" I asked, looking into his twinkling green eyes.
He shrugged. "Been good. Not much has been happening lately. How bout you two?"
"Meh, just been hanging out. Although I've spent a lot of time writing and [name] here has spent his mornings out running." I said, jabbing a thumb at [name] as I spoke.
"Yeah, what she said." [name] said. "Just staying fit."
[name3] raised an eyebrow. "Wow. [name] running. And not for his life either." I laughed.
"Hey, I'm not that lazy!" [name] shot back. "I play sports. Sometimes. Kind of." I laughed again.
That's when [name3] peeked over our heads. "I'll be right back; my sister is calling me." he said, giving a quick wave before walking inside.
As soon as he was out of earshot, [name] spoke. "Hey, can I talk to you about something?"
-
"It's kind of hard to say." he started. "I'd like to show you, but I'm afraid you won't like it."
"What is it something disgusting or gory, like a drawing in your sketchbook or something? Cuz you know I can deal with that." I said with a laugh. I was able to endure more horror and war movies than he could most of the time, and I knew that for a fact.
"No, it's something ... the opposite."
"Then why are you so worried? Just show me."
Well, they say actions speak louder than words, but some actions shouldn't be carried out.
Some actions are so loud, they break your eardrums and make you clap your hands over your ears and scream 'Turn the volume down!'. In a metaphorical sense, of couse.
This action was one of them.
Without warning, he leaned down and placed a soft kiss on my lips. I stumbled backwards and pushed him away without realising what I was doing.
"I-I'm sorry, I ..."
"No, I'm sorry." I interrupted, braving a look into his bright blue eyes. "I'm sorry if I ever gave you an idea that led you to believe that this could work. I'm sorry if I ever misled you into thinking I return feelings that are only one-sided. I ... love someone else. I'm sorry." And with that, I ran off in a flurry of tears.
-
It's kind of funny how I just turned him down and yet, it's me up in this yew tree crying instead of him. It's also kind of funny how [name3] saw the whole thing and climbed up into the tree after me while I wasn't noticing and almost scared me once I'd spotted him.
"What's this I see? A damsel in distress?" he said. His first attempt was always humor. It's just the way he was. Usually, it worked.
"I'm not a damsel, [name3]. And as for distress ... I guess you could put it that way." I admitted.
"Ahh." he said simply. He looked from my face to where [name] stood, then back at me. "Had a fight with [name]?"
"Kind of. It's complicated." He nodded.
"Any chance of me making you feel better?" I thought about it for some time, moving my lips side to side slowly.
"Well ... never mind." It was stupid for me to think of that right away, especially considering the cause of the ... could I call it an argument?
"What is it?" his facial features softened. God, he made this so hard.
"Never mind, I said. It'd be too ... expensive." He laughed. Awkward silence.
"I have an idea." he said after a while. I raised an eyebrow wordlessly.
"Go on ... " I finally said. But instead of speaking again, he decided to show me.
And for the second time that night, I was softly kissed on the lips. Only that time, I held on, managing to weave my fingers through his black hair as he slipped his arms around my waist.
And with my eyes shut, I couldn't see a blue-eyed redhead, just watching.
/ficspam