I swear today I just can't catch a break im just sitting down close enough to reach for a slice of pizza, Andy's phone lights up, blaring out George Ezra's 'shotgun' he rises standing right in front of me, grinning while efficiently answering his phone and blocking my reach for the mouth wateringly delightful circle of dough topped with creamy tomato sauce, mountains of oozy cheese and freckled with pepperoni pieces. I growl under my breath.
"What's up, bro?" Andy stands there silently oblivious or just plain ignorant to my glare, nodding almost mechanically every few moments, "cool, we'll be right over." With that he ends the call, sporting a wide shit eaters grin smugly on his face.
Callie cocks her eyebrow, first at me then directs her attention to Andrew asking him without speaking what was going on, "Who was that?" She questions, finally breaking the growing silence.
"My neighbour," he replies coolly, "let's go!" He calls grabbing and removing the pizza further away from my reach.
I was so close, i pout in defeat.
He sets off carrying it out of the front door, Callie and i scramble to follow the food.
"Sooo. . ." I begin, "what's your neighbour like?" I question, trying to make my voice sound as bored as possible.
My curiosity was getting the better of me as we made out ascend up the large drive I had previously admired, I was now cursing its very existence, my calves were burning.
"Neighbourly," he answer's with a cocky, 'I know something you don't' grin, he's being uncharactoristicly strange.
I stare a moment longer, before shrugging a shoulder and starting a conversation with Callie about Hunter and his earlier pervy ways.
***
What felt like twenty minutes, two sets of burning calves, and a no doubtedly cold pizza later, we stand, huffing in front of a set of large double heavy oak doors, with intricate hand carved bronze knockers I don't dare touch them in fear that I'll leave a smudged fingerprint or something, on it's gleaming surface.
But to my surprise, Andy grasps the knob and lets himself in.
At first glance the inside is just as beautiful and reserved as the outside. Lonely, even.
I tentively step inside noting the tomb like silence blanketing around me, I don't know if I want to continue further into the house, the sterile stillness was confronting.
I lingered behind Callie as Andy yelled into the emptiness.
"Upstairs, entertainment!" A male shout wafted down from somewhere above us, sounding vaguely familiar.
"Well, lets go, then!" Andy speaks gesturing towards a staircase, hidden in the corner of a large, open sitting room.
The stairs and banister were polished to perfection, walking on them almost seemed like a crime, but I have no intention of remaining down here in the quiet.
So I go.
I'm not sure what I was expecting, it definitely wasn't, "Well, hello again Cupcake." Hunter greets meeting us at the top of the stairs.
Callie's and my shocked reactions were polar opposites.
Callie bursts out laughing so hard she snorts.
I'm so confused, my body seems to be in shock.
All words seem to escape me and the foot I had risen to step up the last stair slips, time seems to freeze as my body starts to tilt backwards, my mouth falls open in a silent scream, while my eyes clench shut, bracing myself for the impact.
But it never comes.
A warmth in my wrist floods through my veins heating me right to the core.
Reluctantly i allow my lashes to flutter open, and the sight at hand is mesmerising, hardened icy blue eyes.
"Do try to be careful, Cupcake!"
I don't know what to say as Hunter carefully pulls my body back up into a vertical position, not loosening his hold on me until i was safely back on flat ground.
Callie yanks me roughly into her arms, "SIRAN! DON'T SCARE ME LIKE THAT!" She cries.
I try to laugh off her worry, but the truth is my heart is beating at least a hundred miles and hour, and my eyes are burning with unshed tears.