Alistair's Pov

I drove as fast as I could towards Huffers, where I sheltered Evelyn in. I looked at my digital watch whilst steering the wheel right. It was already 11:30 pm.

I took a right turn and slowed down my speed on seeing the lights blinking on my phone. It read 3 missed calls from Jane. I called on the number at once because I knew that it must've been something really important for Jane to call me at this time of the night.

"Yes, Jane?"

"Thank God, you're awake", Jane answered on the second ring.

"What makes you call me?" Well, I really was being straightforward but I had nothing to talk about, with Jane.

"It's Rosaline-"

"What about her?" I cut her statement, intrigued.

"She might be back any day, could be even tomorrow"

"You sure...?"

"One hundred %"

"Well, then I know what you're implying with that not-so-pleasing news. I'll bring Evelyn back first thing in the morning. Good night", I canceled the call and drove towards Huffers at a speed faster than which I was driving.

Every lie of mine drew me farther from Evelyn. The guilt kept on accumulating concealing every other thought which came across my mind. Yes, I regretted lying but I had no other way out, plus, I had no idea that I would come this far with my lie. Things and matters started complicating with the involvement of my father.

A part of me died every time Evelyn's eye contacted mine. Her eyes felt like a mirror of hope. A mirror that made me view myself as someone I was not. A better, truthful, and loving person, which was something I could only aspire to be.

On reaching the hotel, I exited the car and threw the keys towards the watchman to ask him to park it. I had wasted a lot of time with Chloe and my family because of which I couldn't be with Evelyn knowing that it was our only chance to spend time together. I somewhere knew that things would go back to normal but I wasn't prepared for it to be.

As soon as I reached the hotel, I started rushing towards Evelyn's room after greeting the manager. "Everything's fine... Alistair?"

"I'll be good. Thanks for asking" I side hugged the manager

I knocked two times when on reaching Evelyn's room but when she did not open the door, I took possession spare key I had.

I sighed after seeing Evelyn peacefully asleep. She curled herself up like a ball and hugged her pillow tightly. I silently strolled towards her bed, removed my shoes, and comforted myself in the vacant space next to her. I turned myself in her direction and ogled at her serene face. If she would've been awake, she definitely would've felt uncomfortable with my stare. I wanted to look away but I couldn't. That beautiful face asked to be seen, to be admired, to be worshipped.

As cliché as it may sound, when a few strands of her hair settled on her cheek and obstructed my view, I pushed them behind her ears softly with my index finger. She, as a result of her reflex, twitched and let out a small fizzle whilst slowly opening her eyes.

"I'm sorry. I didn't mean to wake you up"

"You should have. I was waiting for you"

"I'm sorry. I really am so sorry", only the context of the apology for me was different from her.

"You don't need to me", she stretched herself as she rose. She tied her hair in a messy bun as she crossed her legs and sat on the bed taking the support of the wall, which it was against.

She then pushed her body closer to mine, increasing our proximity to a point where our shoulders touched. "Come on, let's eat food"

"You did not?" I questioned, shocked. I'm not used to women waiting for me to eat food.

"Of course, not", she curved her lips into a beaming smile "The least I can do is wait for you. You've done for me so much. You can't even fathom how grateful I am to have met you. You're helping me without expecting anything in return", she took my left hand and intertwined her fingers with mine.

"Who said I'm not expecting anything in return. You owe me smiles. You promise me that"

She tightened her grip and grinned looking at me. She then pulled the telephone with its wire and placed it on my lap. She tapped on it indirectly asking me to order food. I already ate dinner to my heart's content but I didn't mind eating another time if it was for Evelyn.

"What shall I order?" I questioned arching my brows

She shrugged giving me the red signal. Ordering food is one of the most important responsibilities when you're doing it because then your taste buds are directly at stake and are being questioned and judged. I called up the reception knowing the kitchen would be closed at this moment but I decided to give it a shot.

"Hey, Bud. I'm calling from Room 202. We needed to order food. By any chance, is the kitchen still open?"

"I'm sorry, sir but it isn't"

"No problem", I hung up the phone. I moved my head from left to right tightening my lips giving her a signal that there's no food to order from. "Guess what. Grab your sweater, amigo. You're in for a special treat", I picked her up, out of the bed bridal style.

I made sure she wore her sweater as it was cold outside. I held her hands pulling her towards the reception area. I winked looking at the manager. He smiled back and threw towards me a bunch of keys. I took possession of it and started walking towards the hallway again.

I, on coming across a huge door, placed the keys inside. "We can cook our own dinner, can't we? It's my treat like I said. I'm going to cook and you", I hauled the vacant chair close to the table we were sitting at, "You just need to sit here and pass me directions, if required", I chuckled as I started looking for the ingredients.

I pulled out a pack of noodles from the shelf above and propelled it in her direction. "You're okay with noodles?"

"Anything eatable", she laughed hinting at sarcasm in her statement. I winked and continued reading the instructions behind the pack of noodles. I was good at hyping myself even when I didn't have the slightest of skills. I was a pathetic cook. I even faced troubles while boiling water. Leave alone the thought of me cooking or doing anything similar to it.

I shrugged "I mean how difficult can it get?" I chuckled nervously.

"I can take over. Let me"

"It's my treat Leaf. Leave it to the master-chef"

I emptied the pack in a vessel, just like it was mentioned on the pack, and added two glasses of water to it. "That's a pretty lot for two packets, you know?"

"Don't worry leaf. I have it all sorted", I cut the masala pack with my teeth and sprinkled it in the vessel in an attempt to act like Salt Bae. To my discontent, the pack couldn't make it entirely to the vessel. "I guess I need some more of it", I tightened my lips and removed another pack. "The water isn't dissolving leaf"

"It's not photosynthesis Arnold. Give it some time", she stood up and peeped in my vessel, "but considering the amount of water you've poured in, I guess you should add some more noodles", I did as instructed, covering the mess I just made.

"Let me help. I insist"

"Just guide me", I cornered my eyes only to see her amused face.

"Let it cook. It's almost done"

We waited patiently for the water to dry out and as soon as it did, we emptied the cooked noodles on a plate. "Fruit juice or wine...?"

"Fruit juice", she helped me clean the mess I made on the table. I pulled out a container of orange juice from the fridge, added some ice cubes in a glass, squeezed half of a lemon, and poured the juice in.

I looked out for straws but was unsuccessful to find one. "I may suck at cooking but this sure will taste great, I bet", I picked up the plate and the glass one by one and placed it on the table.

I pulled the chair for her so that she could sit comfortably. "I'll get my plate-"

"We can eat from the same plate. It's not like we haven't exchanged saliva earlier", she cut me off. Damn, she finally was opening up. She was finally talking and not answering my questions like she usually did.

"Isn't bad at all", she took a spoon and gave me a comforting smile.

"Isn't that good either", I responded after tasting it.

"The drink is relishing", she gulped half of the glass "The best I've ever had"

"You're exaggerating"

"I ain't", she lifted herself from her seat and took slow steps towards me. She bent down forcing me to see her curves which looked very fine. I tried not to eye her in that way. "Thank you", she kissed my cheek "for everything" she continued.

"At your service, always", I bowed down making her feel elite.

After eating our meal, we sauntered towards our room silently. We found solace when we looked in each other's eyes, which numerically speaking was three times. We took possession of either side of the bed. I, after a while, raised myself to freshen up. I unbuttoned my shirt and rushed towards the bathroom.

I took a quick shower and marched outside the restroom and saw Evelyn laying, her stomach against the bed. She was in trance so I decided not to knock her out of her thoughts. To a certain extent, I was sure what she was thinking about which made me realize that I hadn't told her yet that she had to be by her place first thing in the morning.

I comforted myself inside her blanket whilst lying down. She, for a moment, was stunned by my touch, which was because of her reflexes. She must be in a trance, real deep.

"I guess we've to go back tomorrow", I broke the silence.

"Is it?" she tightened her lips, concealing her sorrow with a fake smile.

"I-uh", I replied in a low tone "But, I'll be taking you out again real soon. That's my word. You know you can rely on me, right?"

"That should be a rhetorical question because my answer would always be a yes. If there's someone I trust, then it's you"

"Trust is a big word leaf", I instantly reacted.

"You mean big to me", what was she saying. Whatever it was, it shouldn't be out of love. I didn't deserve it. She was showing me her soft side which I wanted to see for a long time but not anymore. I had a fair idea that she wouldn't be able to digest the real me. She fancied the me which was created and didn't have any authenticity in real life. If she knew that I was the son of the person she was looking for or whom she partially hated, she wouldn't even eat a single meal with me.

I pat her back softly and kissed her hair taking in her smell. She smelled divine and by that, I didn't mean her perfume or her body shower gel. I was describing her body odor which happened to rejuvenate me every time I encompassed it. I had no clear idea or vision of my feelings towards her but whatever it was, it was deep, real deep. The deepness was consuming me, making me forget about anything and everything, demanding and circulating itself in my mind.

We held each other in our arms, our breaths fanning each other faces, our noses touching. This moment could last forever and I wouldn't ever complain about it. What was it happening and why was I losing all my peace even when it was the most peaceful I have ever been.

***

Vote, Comment, Share.

Instagram: Aafrynn