What a surprise?

There he was, Dominic, in front of me with his dark blue eyes, staring deeply at my 'existence' in the elevator of Richardson Spa & Hotel, in Perth, Australia when he should've been in Scarborough, Toronto, living of his days, eating those delicious cookies.

"What are you doing here?" both of us asked in unison, unaware and then attempted to pause while one of us decided to answer the question first.

"I just followed my parents for a meeting here, actually. I'll be gone in two days." Dominic answered first.

I was unsure of how to answer his/my question. Why exactly was I here? To attend Ollie's funeral, or watch my father fall for his past love in front of our eyes?

"It's because of my brother, Ollie, he um, passed away. We're here for the funeral, actually. Yeah." I said, controlling myself, still unable to state his death publicly.

"Oh my God, Gigi, that's devastating." he said opening his arms.

Was he asking for a hug?

I hugged his broad, yet lean frame and held onto his body for dear life. Then, I started crying, for no apparent reason. Ollie and my father, it was too much to take.

"Gigi, I'm so sorry. It's okay now." he whispered in my left ear, gently stroking my hair with his palm.

"Shush, it's okay Gigi, we'll go through this together."

'Ding!'

The elevator had arrived at the ground floor.

We pulled away from our little 'hug' before the doors opened, and I managed to smudge off my tears.

I skipped out of the lift, after Dominic, my heart racing, pumping adrenaline throughout my body.

"So Gigi, where are you headed to?" Dominic asked, swiftly turning his whole body around.

"I'm just checking this place out, honestly. And I'm getting myself some breathes of fresh air." I replied, managing a small smile.

"It just so happens that I'm doing the exact same thing! So, why not we check out this place together, eh?" Dominic suggested.

I nodded in sign of my agreement and caught up with Dominic, who was already walking towards the poolside.

"So, let's take a stroll in the park behind the pool. I read the brochure just now, it stated that the park has a lot of trees, and to fulfill your wish of taking breathes of fresh air, I think it would be a good idea, right?"

"Sure." I replied.

"You don't seem to open up much, about your life. I mean, I respect you have social anxiety and that is a barrier, but let's maybe get to know each other."

"Well, what can you expect, Dom, we've just met and a lot happened in three days and I haven't even had a day to sink in everything. I just feel like a ghost, floating around in my sadness. I'm lost, I mean."

"I'm sorry Gigi. I didn't expect that."

"No, it's fine."

There was a rope of silence that hung so low for about fifteen minutes. We were walking by ourselves, awkwardly, not knowing how to start a small conversation. But, Dominic broke that silence.

"So, what school have you decided to enroll yourself in?"

"Um, that section isn't on my to-do list, yet. I haven't discussed anything with my parents yet so." was my answer.

"Oh, well there's a school nearby; Seaford High School. I heard it's really good, academically." Dominic told me, shoving his hands into his pockets.

"Thank you, I'll keep that in consideration." I told him, nervously playing with the hem of my skirt

Dom turned towards a park bench facing the lake. He slowly took a seat and patted the empty area next to him and motioned me to sit down.

I sat down slowly, adjusting my skirt and ensured the small space between us. I checked my time on time on my watch; 5:30 p.m.

The scenery spread out in front of me was simply exquisite. In our moment of silence, I absorbed the surroundings. There was a lake, clean, crystal clear waters and the reddish orange skies were filling the evening with a strong sensation of beauty.

I felt my bag vibrating. I zipped it open to see the lights on my phone. And then my loud ringtone sounded.

Slightly embarrassed at it's loud sound, I pulled out my phone to check who the caller was. My father. I ignored the call. He shouldn't have anything else to justify. I mean what else was there.

But he simply didn't want to leave me alone. He called again.

I answered it. But I didn't say anything.

"Hey sweetheart, your mother wanted to know where exactly you are in the hotel?" I heard my father say, with some jazz music in the background.

"It's getting kind of late and we're kinda worried. You're mother left her phone in the room." he continued.

He was here? In the hotel? With my mother? Okay. Smooth.

"Pass her the phone." I rudely told my father.

There was a moment of silence ( except for the music in the background ). Then there was some movements. And then I heard my mother's sweet voice.

"Baby, where are you?" my mother slurred.

Was she drunk?

"I'm at the park. Mum, are you drunk?"

"No honey. I'm having a great dinner in the bistro here. I'll meet you in the room. You can order room service, if you like." my mother said, laughing afterwards.

"So dad's coming back?"

Silence.

"Hello?" I asked.

Silence. And then the phone was hung up.

I clenched my fist as I shoved my phone in my sling bag.

"Woah, hey chill, is everything okay?" Dominic asked me, his arm spread over the bench.

"Yeah, it's just some family matters." I answered, taking in a gulp of fresh air and cooling myself down.

"You wanna discuss it?" caringly, he asked me.

Yeah, sure, I could use a ear to hear and a shoulder to cry on." I said chuckling.

"I'm here for you. Go on." he said, filling the gap between us.

Well my words began to flow out so easily, they never do. Maybe there was a bloom in our friendship that would last forever, hopefully.

"Wait, won't your parents be worried about your whereabouts and safety and all the basics?" I asked him.

"Nah, as long as I'm back before midnight, they shouldn't care much. I'm a responsible guy after all, I can very much take care of myself well." was his reply.

For a moment all I could do was stare into his gorgeous blue eyes and notice the smallest sparkles. It was magnificent as if fake, but beautiful and artistic.

I know, it's rude to stare, but I couldn't help notice that I wasn't the only one staring. He was too.

And then I felt us leaning closer towards each other. Our lips only centimeters apart. Were we going to kiss?

Spaces in between were filled with our bodies.

And then I felt the rush.

Our lips touched.

And then it continued from that into a kiss.

Then I saw some sparks, adrenaline pumped through me. It was as if I was high.

I felt his hands in my hair. I moved my fingers to trace his cheeks.

And then we slowed down, and finally pulled away.