Chereads / IN MEDIAS RES / Chapter 9 - CHAPTER 9

Chapter 9 - CHAPTER 9

Pain shooting through my neck jolting up from the couch I slept on, the sound of the coffee machine grinding getting my sense back to the living room. The smell of coffee, acrylic and ink waft my senses but he's no where to be seen. The coat hanging on to my skin as I sit up pulling it closer for warmth, the crumpled papers and stacks of print that was sprawled on the floor were gone.

"Elliot left early," Rachel said passing a cup of coffee. "The office called him today." sighing rubbing my thumbs against the ceramic as I take a sip, the soft murmurs of the rain were still alive. His coat enveloping me in a familiar warmth letting it fall as the chill breeze touches my skin, gently slumping down on the linen sheets.

"And you're up early," I said as she nodded flipping through the pages of her notebook, scrunching my nose and bringing my knees to my chest heaving out a heavy sigh.

"What's up with you two?" Rachel asked. "You went from casually getting dinner to sleeping on the couch." her lips forming into a smirk as she tapped her pen to the table.

"Nothing's going on," I said. "We're just friends." she let a out a grunt of dismay pursing her lips and crossing her arms over her chest, tapping the knees as she gave out a sigh.

"Sleeping like that on the couch doesn't seem like "just friends" to me Lily." shrugging my shoulders scampering around getting ready for work, Rachel still having her arms across her chest.

"You know he loves you Lily," she shouted from across the room, I sigh at the statement. "You're in pretty deep this time."

"I know Rae," scooting over placing a small kiss to her forehead. "I know." clamoring when the door opened booming in the definition of what seemed to be the devil himself.

"We're heading out now Lily," Finn's hair was damp with sweat as if he ran a marathon through the stairs.

"What's wrong Finn? Sit down." Rachel was out of my sight and into Finn's arms in record time as I get him a glass of water.

"Well, hell broke loose since Dad is visiting town." he spoke after taking the glass of water, Rachel proceeded to rub circles on his back.

"Lily, get the afternoon reservations." Finn held Rachel's hand like his life was on the line for him, doing as told leaving the two of them to their own time. Fiddling throughout making reservations for this afternoon, looking at the wall continuously checking my phone for something, anything that might be him.

"Hey, Lily." Rachel croaked coming through the door. "Finn said he wanted to talk." she plopped face down on the pillows of my bed,looking at her as she groaned.

"What's the matter?" she huffed and didn't answer, sighing I left her alone to see Finn as if the same as Rachel his face shoved into a pillow hair disheveled. Sitting at the edge of the couch where he is patting his back gently as his hands would push the pillow to his cheek.

"What am I going to do Lily?" he muffled through the cushion. "He doesn't know when to stop."

"I booked that restaurant you asked me." he let out a sigh as I rub his shoulders.

"I couldn't even tell Rachel about it."

"There's always a time for everything-" as if lightning he stood up cheeks flushed and brows creasing.

"It's not like that!" he yelled, recovering from the shock from his outburst he sat down face in his palms. Stifling a giggle as I rest my chin on the back of my hand staring at his tomato red face.

"You must really love her." the stuffing silence as he brings his face out of his palms, and nodding his head.

The meeting room was packed another busy conference for the book fair, Finn has been on the edge lately with his Dad coming to town. It was one of those days where the wind would grow dry as the bolstering sounds of vehicles pass by, a day to figure out an answer dreading to cross my mind. The meeting went by smoothly Finn managing to focus on it before it ended, city lights beginning to illuminate the streets the bustling horns and screeches as the sounds of clicking keyboards gradually coming to a stop as the day begins to end.

"How was the afternoon with your Dad?" he grunted and slammed his palms to the table.

"He practically did another one of his sets ups on me," he said. "I had to escort Liz, the commercial model it was tiring." giggling at his sudden outburst placing a cup of tea on his desk.

"Well, you can always turn the offer down remember?" he nodded taking a sip and running his fingers through his hair, sitting down on a chair before review a few notes from today's meeting.

"You should take Rachel out next time," I murmur at him scribbling a few important details. "Clear everything out with her, it isn't too late to tell her you love her Finn." glancing up seeing his eyes widen with a hint of a mischievous shimmer.

"Lily!' he exclaimed pulling me into a tight hug. "You and that brain of yours is simply amazing!" calming the blond man before me and passing the notes for him to look into,  the night grew young as time grow old the once dry breeze now sending chills down my spine. And on today not a single word coming from him, not a glance nor a message, just silence and oh such silence can only be comforting with the warmth of a heart that seeks to love.

"Rae, I'm sure that he'll tell you soon enough." I said holding her in my arms gently rubbing circles on her shoulders, she heaved out a sigh and scooted closer.

"I just feel like Finn could've just told me." the drowning sounds of the television keeping the silence away, as I continue to indulge in her doubts as well as to concern my own.

"Rae, Finn loves you." I cooed at her running my fingers through her hair twirling a strand on y finger. "We both know that he won't just leave you." she scoffed stifling a small giggle.

"It took him four years before he actually told me."

"See." I hoaxed.

"I'm with him for better or for worse Lily." laughing at her sudden outburst as she tries to hide her tomato red face, hugging her tightly letting her feel safe.

"It'll probably for worse Rae."

"I knew that the day I met him."