It took awhile to fall asleep from the heat Eros left coursing through my body. Both from how he teased me then how I saw Chrissy undress herself through his window. You would think she would draw the blinds before exposing herself like that.
Nothing happened between us and I was well aware Eros had no intentions of actually dating me. It still stung that he touched my body, drove it into overdrive, then left and called his on and off again girlfriend. What was going on in that boys head? And he says I'm immature.
I dressed in my gray long sleeve shirt with a rainbow knowing how much Eros would cringe at it. Sorry if I didn't flaunt around with all my skin showing like Chrissy! God he really irritated me.
"Hey princess! Off to class?"
"Yes, daddy. Running a little late." I scrambled to the coffee machine. "Good morning, Mom."
"Good morning, sweetie." She gave me a kiss on the head then went back upstairs. She never really looked at me. I knew it was because I looked just like my dad. I wish I could take her pain away from losing him.
"Hey! Let me see that smile." My dad flicked his finger under my chin.
I gave him a real smile with a giggle. He knew when I smiled but it didn't reach my eyes. I don't know if I would had survived all these years without him. My mom checked out on the family she had left, the entire city treated me like a weirdo, and the only kind of friend I had yelled at me more than anything else.
"Why are you wearing that shirt?" Eros' voice made me jump. Jesus, did he live here now?
"Why are you here?"
"Your daddy is driving me to work." He teased reaching to the top shelf to grab the coffee bag. The container was empty for me to make a fresh pot.
"It's too early for your teasing, Eros. Go away." I looked away annoyed.
Like always he just acts like it's no big deal he was kissing my neck last night or running his hands over my chest. He did quickly leave before anything actually happened, but he still touched me like he wanted me then acted like nothing happened. Every time it made me feel rejected.
He leaned close to my ear. "I thought you liked my teasing." He whispered watching my dad read his newspaper oblivious to our interaction.
"Not really. If you're feeling a certain way you should probably call Chrissy again." My eyes met his with so much anger in them. I hated feeling this way and what was worse it was because of jealousy over stupid Eros.
His eyes dipped to my lips and he smirked at my anger towards him. Then he looked away and cleared his throat.
"Tomorrow we can go check out this girlfriend of your brother's. Hopefully she has some answers so we can be done with this shit." His tone and expression was back to the laid back Eros that was annoyed to have to deal with me.
"Whatever. I have class I'm already late for. I guess I'll see you tomorrow." I rolled my eyes walking over to my dad. "Have a good day! I made you brownies last night."
"Thanks princess. You know I love your brownies." He rubbed his belly then kissed my cheek.
I'm a really good baker which I mostly learned from my father. He could make anything and it always tasted like the best food in the world. We use to all cook everyday together. I missed that a lot. Now my mom never touched the stove and most our meals were cooked by Lucy our maid or we eat out.
"Don't I get a brownie?" Eros asked as I walked past him to the door. I was going to be so late.
"No!" I scrunched my eyebrows at him.
"Really! Not even for helping you in this new mess you got yourself in." He threw on that sexy smile as his green eyes shined from the sun shining through the window. It really wasn't fair how gorgeous he was.
"Fine! One." I walked to the island and grabbed one out the tubber ware box. I slapped it next to him on the counter. "Here! Enjoy!" I might be a little more mad at him than I realized.
"Touché." He teased, then snatched a piece that broke off from smashing it on the counter. "Mmm these are really good, Ella." He licked his fingers clean and my eyes watched his lips way too intently. Shit! Bad thoughts.
"I hate you." I said through gritted teeth as my cheeks blushed. I could hear him chuckling behind me as I stormed out.
I made it to my class five minutes late getting a glare from my Art teacher. I was thankful college didn't give out detentions like high school or I would live in it. This was an advance sculpting class only available at 7 am. The campus was over an hour drive and I definitely didn't want to live on campus or by myself so every Monday I left before 6 am. It was brutal.
I had work after class at a small pastry shop in the heart of the city. My step dad gave me anything I wanted, which I didn't ask for much, but I loved being in the shop baking a few hours a week. It was close to my dad's office and he would stop by often. The little shop made some paninis and salads too so it drew in a small lunch crowd.
"Princess!" I heard from behind the counter. I would normally smile wide hearing my dad call me that, but I knew that voice didn't belong to him.
"Be nice, Eros!" That was my dad's voice.
"Why is he here?" I whined looking at my dad who was giving Eros unamused eyes.
"I was hungry! What?" Eros shrugged his shoulders at me.
"Oh my, hi." Lisa straightened her hair gawking over Eros. She also bumped me out of the way as she stood in front of me. "What can I do for you?" She batted her lashes at him then poked his chest.
"A turkey and mozzarella panini would be great." Eros winked at her and I swear she nearly fainted. He shook his head as she ran straight to the kitchen to start making his food.
"Are you wearing a tank top!" Eros widened his eyes like it was so scandalous.
"Why did you bring him daddy?" I whined again with my hands on my hips. He was a total sucker to my pout.
"Sorry princess. I thought you two were getting along. I won't make that mistake again."
"Hey, I'm helping her!"
"It doesn't feel all that helpful when you keep throwing it in my face like I owe you now."
"Oh, but you do owe me." He wiggled his eyebrows. It was actually so hot when he was playful, even though he was messing with me.
"Whatever!" I turned back to my dad. "What do you want to eat? We got salmon in this morning. I can make you bruschetta." I got way to excited about making food. I loved putting together the perfect blend of food and seasoning then seeing how others melted in happiness as the flavors burst on their tongue.
"That sounds perfect." My dad winked at me and I spun around to make his lunch. I loved when he came to visit me at work. He was literally the only person that was ever friendly to me in this town.
I set two plates down with four pieces of toasted bread drizzled with a garlic tomato infused oil, salmon, and shaved Parmesan.
"Hey that looks way better than this." Eros picked up his panini shaking it back and forth. I swear Lisa's heart just broke. He was so insensitive to other people's feelings.
"Be nice. Lisa makes amazing sandwiches. Eat and enjoy it." I scolded him. He just squinted his eyes at me.
"This is amazing Ella. You are truly an amazing cook." My dad hummed as he took another bite making me smile wider. It was just bruschetta but I was still happy to see him enjoying my food.
Eros quickly grabbed a piece of my bread.
"Wow! This is really good." He took another bit as I stared at him with my mouth dropped open. Did he seriously just take my food?
He went to grab my other piece but I smacked his hand away. Maybe if he wasn't so mean to me I would willingly share with him. "This is mine. Make your own." I quickly took a bit before he stole it.
He looked at me with that stupid smile. His eyes were trained on my lips taking another bit and it was making me uncomfortable. I put the bread down and wiped my mouth. Then he quickly stole the last half and shoved the whole thing in his mouth.
"Eros! I can't believe you did that!"
"It's so good." He said with a mouthful of food.
"I think we should go." My dad said looking at Eros annoyed. "Thank you for lunch princess. It was delicious." He kissed the top of my head. I was still staring at Eros in his grey suit looking like a professional business man yet he just stole my food like a child.
"It was really good." Eros raised his eyebrow at me then kissed my cheek. "Bye princess."
I clenched my jaw. What was his deal? I couldn't find a word to say to him I was so mad. He was so arrogant and just rude.
After he left I burnt two batches of pastries I was so frustrated. He always made my head go haywire and I hated it. I don't know why I let him bother me?
He had come to my job before but barely paid me much attention. Lisa was of course extra mean to me after they left too. She was annoyed that Eros blew her off. It wasn't my fault he was jerk to everyone.
I left work and headed straight to my studio. Next week I was showcasing six of my paintings. No one would know they were mine, which I was thankful for.
I met a gallery dealer, Cheryl, at one of the exhibits my school held and she said she saw potential in my work. She offered to have me include some of my pieces at one of her openings, but I wasn't ready for the world to see my art, or to hear them trash it like they did me.
This event was to raise money for cancer patients and the money raised from the art sold at the show would all go to the hospital. I could remain completely anonymous while getting some non bias feedback.
Cheryl was meeting me at my studio to help decide which ones to bring. It needed to be edgy but not my best work because it was donated. I didn't understand all the politics of it. I just wanted to get my work out there and see how the world would received it. It was beyond nerve racking. Now that Eros annoyed me all afternoon, and this morning, and all yesterday, I was not ready for this meeting.
I sat staring at my blank canvas wanting to do nothing but throw paint at it. Abstract wasn't really my style but I was feeling a little different right now. I stood up dipping my brush in the black and began cover my canvas.
After three hours I finished. The right corner was darkness filled with the city life and the left corner shades of yellow of the country life. The middle blended diagonally between the two worlds. A girl in a blue sun dress was stuck between the worlds watching sadly at the people laughing in the city world.
"Wow! Ella this... wow." Cheryl must of let herself in.
"Thank you! I'm a bit off today."
"Well I hope you are off more often. Watching you work was a real treat too. You were in the zone, almost like you were hypnotized by the world you were creating in front of you."
I smiled at Cheryl confused. I looked back to my painting seeing how beautiful the colors of light and dark blended. I wanted to brush my fingers over the garage that sat in the fields. In a few weeks I'll be back home for Christmas. I can't wait to be back there.
"I would like to add this to the Charity."
"No way! It's too good to just give away."
"I don't want to keep it Cheryl." My tone was a little clip with her. "Sorry, it just reminds me of things I don't want to remember." I walked over to another. "This one too." I pointed to my painting of a woman peaking at her window sadly watching the world from it. She was set in black and white like everything in her house. You could clearly see her room was void of any life while everything was buzzing in color outside.
"Ok. I'll add them both." She gave me understanding eyes then moved to my other work. After another hour we had all six decided and we packed them in her car. She would setup everything this week for the event and needed all the inventory in the hall.
It was dark out already as I closed up my studio and I headed home. It was a long day and I felt oddly satisfied.
Sculpting class I finished my statue of a little girl and her dad baking Christmas cookies. It should be ready to bronze in my next class and then I could bring it back home over winter break. Even though I burnt a few pastries, overall I stocked the cases and prep most the treats for tomorrow at work. Plus, my dad stopped by and loved the lunch I made him. I won't mention the other visitor. At my studio I started and finished a painting in one sitting then picked out my first six to showcase for next week.
I walked up the stairs quietly to not wake my parents. I didn't turn the light on as I crept in my bedroom needing to sleep more than anything. I was exhausted and tomorrow I had to deal with Eros and my brother's horrible friends. I hated the people in the city. I peeled my shirt off then slipped my pants off and fell straight on my bed.
The second I felt a hard body under me I screamed. So much for being quiet and not waking my parents.