Iris

"Hmm, this one right here is the heart line," I said as I softly traced the line. He sucked in a breath as I did that and I paused before continuing. "It deals with love, friendships, relationships, sexuality...all of that."

"This is the one I've been waiting for," he teased. "Turn it up."

"Anyways, it begins below your index finger so that tells us, you're content with whatever relationships you're in and it's longer so that means you have potential to be in a long and healthy relationship."

"But..."

"But there's a fork in it," I said.

"Haha. There's a fork in my hand," He teased.

"You're not funny," I said as I tried to stop myself from bursting into laughter.

"Okay, okay, what does the fork mean?"

"It means that love won't come easily for you. The depth of your line tells me that there is potential for heartache or..."

"Or what?"

"Infidelity."

"Meaning I'm going to cheat?" He asked.

"Well no, your palm shows that you're loyal so this would mean that you would be the one that gets cheated on."

"No way," he laughed.

"It could also mean something else," I said as I studied it.

"What?"

"Transformative bonds."

"What does that mean?" He questioned.

"It means what it sounds like. The transformation of a bond from one person to another. It's not exactly infidelity, but it can be seen as a sort of betrayal in a spiritual sense."

"Even if I'm not the reason why that bond has been transformed?"

"I'm not sure. According to all of this, when you form a bond with something, it can grow or weaken but it should never break for another person. The rupture or tear of a bond for that reason can be added to your karma."

"Comforting," he muttered as he slowly pulled his hand away.

"Too real for you?" I asked as he took off the mask.

He shrugged and looked up at me. "Were the other ones important?"

"I guess not," I shrugged. "You can always do it another time."

"Tell me what yours say," he said softly.

"Umm..." I said as I looked down at them.

"Your hands are small as fuck," he said. "So what the hell can you read?

"I can read that they'll be slapping you across the face if you make fun of them again."

He burst out into laughter and I giggled at the sound of his hearty laugh. This was a side of him that I didn't see at all in the penthouse but it was pleasant.

When his laughter died down, I sat next to him and he shoved me with his shoulder. "Can I say something and you not think it's weird to say?"

"You can say something," I said. "But I'll make fun of you if it's weird."

"Okay," he started as he glanced down at me. "I feel happy when I'm around you."

His eyes were locked onto mine and I could feel the seriousness radiating off of him, but I was suddenly nervous. Butterflies floated around my stomach as I realized the reality of the situation. I was alone with a guy...in my room...on my bed.

As he continued looking at me, I bit the inside of my cheek and looked back. The eye contact became too much and I pursed my lips to stop myself from laughing, but it was useless.

I began giggling hysterically and he pushed me off of the bed. I laughed even harder when I landed on the floor and he shook his head as he looked down at me.

"You're lucky I was joking," he said with a small smile. "If I was serious, you could've really wounded my ego."

"Hmm," I hummed. "I'm sorry for wounding your ego."

"You suck, Iris."

And you, Cain," I said as I stood up from the floor. "...are happier around me."

"It was a joke," he grumbled.

"No," I said. "Your jokes are usually funny."

"You laughed."

"Because eye contact makes me laugh," I said. "There's no shame in saying that you enjoy being my friend."

"I don't enjoy being your friend," he said with a sigh as he lied back. "You're quite annoying and abusive, and you enjoy throwing pizza at innocent people."

"Pffft...innocent. Don't lie." He laughed again but it was cut off by a yawn and I looked at him. "Tired?"

"A little bit, it's been a long day. I tried to sleep when I went home earlier, but I couldn't."

"Why?"

"Some stuff happened," he said as he rubbed his temples. "I'm a little stressed, to be honest, but your poor humor and annoying voice may have helped a bit."

"See?" I asked. "If you had left out that one bit about my humor and voice, that would've been the nicest thing ever. But you had to ruin it."

"Can't have you thinking I'm too nice," he yawned again.

"Why don't you try to go to sleep?" I asked.

"Here?"

"I mean you look too tired to drive," I said.

"I appreciate the offer, but I won't fall asleep even if I try," he said.

"You know what helps?" I asked as I walked to my library.

"What?" He asked as he eyed me.

"A bedtime story."

"I'm a million years old, Iris," he groaned. "Bedtime stories are for children."

"Come on," I said as I picked up a story from the shelf. "Let my 'annoying' voice bore you to sleep."

"Hmm, you're right. The voice might help."

"Bitch," I mumbled as I crawled onto my bed and leaned against the headboard.

"What was that?"

"Nothing," I lied. "Get comfy."

He got up with a groan to removed his shoes and then he moved his shoes to the door. When he came back to the bed, he took me by surprise by laying his head on my lap, and looking up at the ceiling. "Are those the stars?"

"Yes they are, Mr. Holmes."

He laughed softly and rolled his eyes at me. "Fuck off and read the goddamn story."

For the next fifteen minutes of my reading, Cain would laugh when I tripped over my words and I found him trying to make funny faces at me while I was reading. The only way I knew he was sleeping was because I noticed that I was no longer getting roasted.

Somehow while I was telling the story, I didn't notice his change in position. His head was still on my thighs but his arms were wrapped around my waist as he laid on his stomach. It was a weird position but he must've been comfortable enough to fall asleep.

I carefully adjusted myself in the bed to not wake him up and when I was comfortable, I relaxed and closed my eyes. It didn't take me long to fall asleep from his comfortable arms and soft snores.

꧁꧂

I woke up to the brightness in my room and the pungent smell of bacon and eggs. It was rare that the breakfast was made when I woke up considering I was the one that did it, but I got up slowly and looked around.

Cain was no longer in my room and my window what shut right so I took it as a cue that he let himself out. A part of me felt sad that I didn't get to say goodbye, but I still owed him money so I was sure I'd see him again.

I got up and quickly did my morning routine before walking downstairs to see what was going on. I slowed down when I saw my grandfather sitting and eating on the kitchen island and I raised a brow.

"Goodmorning?" I said hesitantly as I looked around.

"Hey, sweetie," he said sweetly. "Eat breakfast with me. I wanted to be the one to do something for you for once."

I sat down and smiled at the gesture but I was still suspicious. My grandfather was incredibly weak these days and he found it hard to even get out of bed, let alone cook an entire five-star breakfast.

"You did this all by yourself?" I asked.

"No, your friend helped me," he said as he eyed me with a smile. "He heard me drop a bunch of pans and dishes and he came down and helped."

"Cain helped you?" I asked.

"Yes he did, he picked up all the pans and glass on the floor and when he was done, I told him what I was attempting, but failing greatly, at doing," he said. "He helped me cook the breakfast and you just missed him a few minutes ago."

"Wow," I said with a large grin on my face. "That's sweet."

"I like him," my grandfather admitted, which was rare. He usually hated any boys that I introduced to him. He raised me from the time I was born until now so he was always protective.

"He's okay," I said.

"Sure," he said as he raised a disbelieving brow at me. "He left this for you." My grandfather reached for a yellow folded-up piece of paper beside him and passed it to him.

I unfolded the piece of paper and bit the inside of my cheek as I read the note.

Iris, turns out I accidentally took your crystal ball with me on my way out. I guess you'll have to just come and get it. Tomorrow, before I accidentally lose it :(
-Cain

I rolled my eyes at the words scribbled on the paper and I eyed the address at the bottom. I didn't recognize it but I guess for the sake of my crystal ball, I'd have to figure it out.

"You better go get that crystal ball back," my grandfather said.

"You read the letter?!" I laughed out loud.

"Not at all, but I did tell him to take the crystal," he admitted.

"Why?"

"You young people always need an excuse to see each other besides just going. I gave you an excuse, now take it."

"I-... I just can't believe you let him take my ball though."

꧁꧂

Author's Note

I just can't 😭
Lmk your thoughts ✨