Chapter 5 Chapter 5

/Elio/

"You've not changed a bit?" I repeated the words over and over in my head. What was that supposed to mean?

All the muscles in my body went still, I haven't changed a bit? Did he know me from somewhere before?

A nervous laughter escaped my throat, "I'm sure you meant to say something else," I whispered, making excuses for him because I was scared of whatever answer he had.

For a slight second, I saw his eyebrows cave in, he seemed confused but he caught himself quickly

"You smile the same way you did at the café despite being scared right now. Did you read a different meaning to it?" He added, boring his eyes into mine.

I heaved a gentle sigh of relief; the knot in my chest loosened quickly. Of course, that's what he meant; it was my overthinking getting the better of me. Still.... I wasn't completely satisfied.

"Well, it sounded as though you knew me before now," I answered then tucked a strand of hair behind my ear.

Caius didn't respond, he just kept staring and I couldn't help but turn my back to him.

I couldn't tell if he was stalling for time or if there was something quite interesting about my eyes.

"Mhmm," I cracked my throat. "Maybe we should uhmmm......"

"Talk about why you are in Palmlake?" He said quickly before I had the chance to complete my statement.

I swallowed. "Should there be a reason? I mean," I shrugged my shoulders, "I wanted an apartment very secured and I came here, didn't know there should be a different reason."

"Elio," he sat up. "Every single person in Palmlake has a crazy story that all boils down to the fact that they were either running away from or towards something."

I shook my head. "Mine is different, I just love being in a really secure and quiet space, besides the view over there," I pointed to the door referring to my room, "is so beautiful, I could take a million pictures of it."

Caius didn't seem satisfied with my answer, but he didn't press further.

Soon, the room became uncomfortably calm.

My senses became heightened as though I were some werewolf or vampire.

I noticed everything. How warm the blankets were, how close I was with this total stranger, the scent of sandalwood surrounding him and even how our breathing rhymed. 

I shifted a little, hoping to get comfortable without looking so nervous, I wasn't a detective for crying out loud!

"Look who's thinking again," Caius spoke as though he could read my mind.

"Everybody thinks," I rolled my eyes.

"I know," he laughed softly. "I meant to say, look who's overthinking again."

I paused for a second or two, not because I had no reply, but because he was very right about me overthinking.

"You are right," I breathed softly. "I do overthink."

The next words that came off Caius's lips, though ordinary, froze me.

"Please turn," he said softly.

"I want to stare at you while I speak."

Heat rushed to my face that instant. I couldn't bring myself to turn towards him immediately, I didn't want him to see how red my cheeks had become.

"Please," he added softly.

I turned slowly, using the duvet to cover half of my face.

"You can talk to me, I will be so happy to help someone as charming as you are."

I rolled my eyes. "You enjoy teasing me don't you?"

"A little," he licked his lower lip.

"A menace," I muttered holding back the laughter that had built up in my chest.

"A charming menace I must say," he answered. He sure did have a very good sense of humour.

I laughed before immediately regretting it because he now looked so pleased with himself.

"Everything about you is beautiful, I mean, you sounded like flowers, I really don't know how to explain."

I was speechless.

This was a stranger for crying out loud, but he felt like a lover I'd known for years.

Something about the way he complimented me made my chest ache, something Marcus never did the whole years I spent with him.

"Don't look away please," he whispered.

I didn't. I couldn't. I turned away immediately, my cheeks had become so red, like I was a teen flirting with her new crush.

"No Elio," I whispered. "Don't do this to yourself."

I didn't realise it was raining outside until thunder rumbled softly and I flinched.

Yes, I had always been scared of thunder, it reminded me of my dad before he died.

I was just seven. He had come home that night completely drenched and maybe drunk but he reeked of blood.

Wondering how I knew what blood smells like at such a tender age? Well, as little as I was, I helped my mom dress up my dad's wound always!

He would always come back wounded. Most times I watched my mom do it, until she began to ask me to do the little things like throwing the blood-stained cotton wool away, or even helping her to clean the wound while she prepares her needle for stitching, little did I know that my mom was preparing me for something heartbreaking.

She disappeared one day and that was it. 

Father lied to me for years, saying she had travelled and wouldn't be coming back soon.

I took up the duty of dressing my father's wound without asking questions until it became a part of me.

That fateful evening he had come back reeking of blood, it was raining heavily.

He stood before me trying to speak, but thunder struck, the glass shattered and my father fell on his knees before me and died instantly.

It was a clear shot. The work of an experienced sniper.

For months I thought the thunder struck my father, and somehow it stuck with me.

"Oh my little Bonnie," Caius's voice jolted me back to reality. "You are scared of thunder?"

I shook my head. "No I'm not," it sounded more like I was trying to convince myself.

"You...." he was still speaking when it struck again and I whimpered in fear.

"Come here," he said, removing the pillow and pulling me towards him.

I curled up beneath him like a three-year-old while he stroked my hair. "It's okay my princess, I'm here."