The lines were falling into places for Cyrus Axton. That was how she felt and that was how it kept going. The short peaceful conversation they had had was enough to make her pull back and she had chosen altogether to not allow anything more between them. Sakura never expected him to follow her as she ran her errands. He had made constant attempts to strike up a conversation again, but she had downplayed every move and completely ignored his entire existence. By the end of her short run, she had made the decision to have breakfast at the local diner that served the best blueberry pancakes she had ever had in her life.
Now, she sat across from him, trying not to pay attention to his piercing gaze that stuck to her face like adhesive glue. Along the line, he had stopped speaking and only followed her wordlessly. That didn't mean she didn't feel the lingering gazes. There was no definite way she could know if it was from him or the townsfolk. Even now, she was sure more than a couple of eyes were on her. The dark-skinned woman with 'exotic' features. Sakura never cared to refute anything they said or claim the title they had given her. Growing up, she was just like everyone else and only started to get stares her way when she had moved up to high school.
"Morning. What can I get you, fine people, today?" Sakura looked up at the waitress that was all smiling. She was definitely new and looked far younger than she was. Her gaze was directed at Cyrus and Sakura could see the literal stars in her eyes as she chirped up again "We have a new breakfast special. You'll be one of the first to try it!"
With a roll of her eyes, she told the young girl her order; blueberry pancakes with a cup of black coffee. Faintly, she heard Cyrus mumble his order but didn't pay attention as she looked around the diner. For the first in a long time, people's eyes were not on her, but on the man across from her. Did they know who he was? Or were they just gobsmacked at the fact that he looked like he belonged on the cover of a magazine?
While she was lost in thought, she heard Cyrus' voice echo louder and turned to look on instinct. His jaw was set in a lock and she could see the vein almost popping on his forehead.
"I'm sorry, did you say something?" she asked in a monotone voice, her eyes levelled
"You've been ignoring me." He spoke. The unexpected statement caused her to snort loudly
"No shit sherlock." She said, going back to observe everywhere around her
"I never knew you had a bi-polar disorder."
Her eyes narrowed in annoyance, her head whipping back to his "What did you just say to me?"
"I wasn't speaking to you. I was simply letting my thoughts out into the wind."
Immature. He was being completely immature and although she knew she was the reason for it, she would never accept that her just wanting to be by herself would warrant rudeness, especially not from him. Sakura was cut short by the energetic female that bounced up to their table, placing down their meals.
"Two stacks of blueberry pancakes served to perfection. I'll have your coffee brought over in a jiffy."
"Thank you." She mumbled quietly, glaring at Cyrus as he said the same in unison with her. When the girl walked away, she picked up her fork and pointed it directly at him "Do you have a problem with me, Mr Axton?"
She watched as he slowly cut into his pancakes that were coated in sugary caramel. "Not at all, Miss Guerro. In fact, I appreciate that we can communicate with each other this way. Would you like to have some more syrup?"
"Why are you bring such an ass all of a sudden?" she didn't know what came over her. The next thing she knew, she was leaning over the table, bringing herself closer to him. It annoyed her how he stared black unflinchingly
"You're mistaken. I'm simply relating with you the way you're most comfortable." He said as a slight smirk etched onto his features
She bit her tongue just as she was about to curse him out and focused on her meal. The fresh surface of the pancake stacked to perfection did nothing to elevate her mood as it usually did. Cyrus carried on without care and when the waitress came back with their two cups of coffee, she watched in irritation as he winked at her with a polite smile. They ate in a tense silence and she wondered if the others around them could sense just how heavy the air had become. By the time they were done, he had allowed her to pay with the card she used for runs and didn't utter a complaint.
The walk back to the car was no different. As she hauled her bags, she walked ahead of him, listening to the sound of his footfalls behind her. The people ahead of her parted like the red sea. There was a part of her that felt bad because she hardly let her aggression transfer to her immediate surroundings. Her mother had constantly made sure to beat it out of her growing up and it was something her father had always encouraged. Even now she heard his voice 'When in anger, choose kindness rather than destruction'. She had carried it around with her. It had given her pain and yet had given her the most beautiful days of her life.
Biting the inside of her cheek, she waited patiently for him to come closer and to unlock the car. When the lights blinked in indication, she opened the backseat and loaded everything she was with and closed the door with a bang. Her hand had just touched the door handle when the world suddenly spun and her back hit the hard surface of the car. Her eyes lifted to look into Cyrus' eyes. In them, she found a type of emotion dancing in them that she couldn't decipher. They sucked her in and promised her things she couldn't fathom. She felt his hand secure on her waist as he stood so close to her.
His mouth lifted a little bit as he stroked her waistline before he spoke.
"Let the games begin Miss Guerro."