Soren's P.OV
"It was absolutely magical," Sakura fawned as she collapsed on the bed in contentment. "Who would have guessed? You've only recited every explicit detail to me about ten times already, but who's counting?"
I teased with a grin. I was happy for Sakura and was glad that she had her perfect date. That didn't mean I needed to feel as though I was a part of it.
"I'm sorry but not really. He was so sweet and kind-" I cut her off before she went into yet another ramble and reenacted her entire date...all over again.
"And has a witch as a Luna. One we still need to investigate so while I'm sorry to rain on your parade, Ela takes priority right now."
Her lovesick expression morphed into a sour one. "Seth said that he was going to get a room for us in the pack house today so we wouldn't have to keep coming to Kate's house. He was going to take me on a tour." Her eyes watered and she widened her irises to look cute. She ended up looking like a not-so-cute pug.
I cringe at her expression. "Whatever, I'll handle Ela and you can go on the tour with your boy toy." She piped up and wrapped me in a hug. "Thank you, you won't regret this." She smiled. I already was.
"Hey, guys. Food is ready." Catalina said as she opened the door to Kate's room. Sakura said a quick thank you and went down the stairs.
I shake my head at her excitement.
"Did she stop rambling?" Catalina asks. I give her a you-already-know-the-answer-to-that look. She grins and leads me down the stairs. We take our seats at the dinner table Mrs. Ellen had set up. While Sakura was on her date, we were quickly introduced to Mrs. Ellen. A sweat lady in her mid-thirties.
We ate and talked for twenty minutes before Laurence came through the door and joined us. "Hello, Mrs. Ellen," he kisses her cheek and rounds the table toward Lily. "Hey, bunny," Lily jumps out of her seat and slams into him. "Laurence! You're back!" she smiles.
"Sorry I'm late for dinner," he tells Ellen. She waves her hand to dismiss his apology. "You're a hard-working man Laurence. I can't complain about that." From the smell lingering off of him, I would say he was very hard at work. Perhaps not in the way Ellen thinks. He makes his way around the table until he reaches me. He opens his arms for a hug but I quickly shut him down.
"Take a bath and then we can hug," he blushes in embarrassment and excuses himself.
Catalina sighs. "You didn't have to call him out you know?" I cross my arms. "I was not going to let him hug me after knowing what he just did less than a few minutes ago." Kate laughs and Sakura shakes her head. "You could have left him some dignity," Ellen says.
"He was going to be late anyways. He could have at least taken a shower." I huff.
We're almost done eating when Laurence comes down the stairs in a hoodie and low-waisted joggers. His hair was still wet from his shower. Sakura slightly blushes and Catalina straight out gushes at the sight. I put my hands over my eyes and put my head on the table. He was criminally sexy. It wasn't even fair.
"Can you all not fawn over my brother?" Kate says, annoyed. "I always openly stare at Laurence," Catalina responds. "I'm not fawning over him...I was acknowledging his presence." Sakura says, trying to make up the worst excuse.
"Your brother is a hunk," Ellen says. I look up to see her wiggling her eyebrows. "Oh god, not you too," Kate groans. "What is a hunk?" Lily asks.
"Nothing bunny. It doesn't mean anything." Laurence chuckles and lifts her. There was nothing sexier than a hot man who is good with children. And I don't even like kids that much.
After squeezing her into a hug, Laurence sets Lily down. He makes his way toward me and opens his arms in the same gesture he did not too long ago. I get up from my seat and snuggle into his chest.
His body soap smelled of mint and his shampoo was strawberry scented. For some unknown reason, I felt safe in his arms. I frown at the thought and quickly break the hug. I shake my head, trying to get his scent out of my head despite knowing the action is futile.
"Is anyone done with their plate?" I ask.
"I am!" Lily yells. I grab her plate and make my way to the kitchen. I try to clear my mind while I wash the dishes. When I am done Sakura comes up to me. "Are you okay?" I nod my head and tell everyone I am off when I leave the house.
I follow Ela's scent. It leads into the pack-house. The one place I can't go. I huff in annoyance. I decide to take a stroll around the area. I reach the back of the school where the track field is. I see a guy under a big oak tree that stood on a hill. I let my curiosity get the better of me and go to see who he is and what he is doing.
I stand right in front of him but he doesn't seem to notice. "If you continue to stay oblivious to your surroundings you are going to get killed one day," I say to the young man in front of me. He had messy black hair, big circular glasses, and light silver eyes. He looked to be around the age of 18 or 19. He jumps in surprise. I tilt my head to the side. I wasn't trying to be stealthy. Surely he had at least heard my footsteps.
He wore a cardigan over a white button-up shirt. He completed the nerdy look with khakis and dress shoes. "I am sorry, I did not see you there." Why did he apologize? "Hmm," I hummed. "I was distracted." He says. I look at the sketchbook he holds in his hands. I peek over to see what he is drawing but he quickly hides the book in his chest.
"You...you're new right? I-I-I umm," he fumbles with his words and adjusts his glasses despite them not needing the adjustment. I assume it is a nervous habit. "I am Soren. Who are you?" I ask the stuttering guy.
"I-I-I'm Ash-Asher," Stuttering has always annoyed me. But right now I don't feel annoyed. I feel curious. "I have never heard of you." He looks down at his sketchbook and his eyes sadden. "Of course, you haven't," he mumbles. "Why wouldn't I?" Why was I asking him such questions even I wouldn't answer?
He doesn't respond. "Do you mind if I sit here?" I point to the ground. He looks up at me one more time before lowering his head again and nodding. I sit a good distance away from him. We sit in silence. It takes him a second before he goes back to sketching whatever he was sketching before I came along.
After enjoying the wind I start to hum. I stare at the sunset and close my eyes. I open my eyes and notice Asher is looking at me. I jump at a sudden realization. "Is my humming bothering you? If so, I will stop," I say apologetically. He jumps again and shakes his head.
"No, I like it. It's calming," he tells me as his eyes soften. I stare at him for a moment before I go back to humming with my eyes closed. We sit and don't talk for the rest of our time together. After a while I ask, "Are you drawing me or something behind me?" He jumps once more. He is so easily startled. "No-I-I-I..." He doesn't finish his sentence. I don't nag him on the topic and continue to stare into the sunset.
Without realizing it I slowly fall asleep. When I open my eyes the sunset is gone, replaced by dozens of stars and a shining moon. I smile at the sight. I turn and to my surprise, Asher is still with me. He wouldn't be able to draw at night so why was he still here? "Why are you still here?" I voice my thoughts.
My words take him out of his daze. He removes his gaze from the sky and turns to me. He starts to blush. "I couldn't leave you here by yourself and I didn't want to touch you. Not that I would be able to carry you." He looks down. I keep a straight face. His face quickly transforms. His entire face is as red as a tomato and he whips his head so hard that his glasses actually need to be adjusted now.
"I-I didn't mean it like that. I just mean I am not the strongest and don't have big muscles like the rest of the guys. I promise I wasn't trying to call you fat or anything I just I..." His face explodes with multiple shades of red. I break out into a laugh. How cute. "Being heavy doesn't make you fat. I didn't take your comment in such a way." I look at him in fondness.
He rapidly blinks. "You're cute," I tell him. I think I finally killed him because his face looks like it is about to explode. It doesn't help when he turns side-ways and drops to the ground in a fetal position with his hands over his eyes. I can't help but laugh at the position.
I lean over him and whisper in his ear. "Exactly my point. Adorable." He quickly sits up. To prevent our heads from colliding, I quickly retract myself. He gathers his supplies and says, "Since you are awake I think you should be fine." He scurries off with his glasses still crooked and his face red.
I smile at his retreating figure and continue to gaze at the stars.