Sunflower

85

A gentle, warm breeze flew over my shoulders, forcing my eyes to open. I felt the warm arms of someone around me as I looking straight into a dark piece of fabric. A frown formed above my eyes as I lightly looked up, suddenly freezing when I saw his sleeping eyes.

My mind reminded me of what happened the previous night, which made me notice what mistake I had made. Slowly I moved my body down, out of his arms, before I slipped out under my duvet covers, onto the cold hardwood floors. Without looking twice, I pulled out a piece of clothing from my closet, before slipping out of my room, quietly closing the door behind me.

The house was silent, like no one was awake. I snuck into the bathroom, where I groaned the moment I saw what clothing piece I had plucked out of my closet. The summer dress was the softest yellow with light green flowers sown in at the bottom. It reached just above my knees and had a low v-cut. I was in no mood to return to my room for something else.

After slipping the dress onto my body, I threw my clothes into the laundry basket, before exiting the bathroom barefoot. Easily I found my way down to the kitchen quietly, where I noticed the entire house was dark, merely lightless. Looking through a window, I puzzled together that it was still quite early before sunrise. The clock stated that it was only 04:34. The sun ought to rise soon.

Light footsteps behind me had my spinning around, seeing the soft smile of Natasha. I sighed in relief before turning back to the sink, pouring myself water.

“Morning,” I said as I turned back around to face her.

Natasha leaned back against the counter as she looked at me. “Morning beautiful. Why are you up so early?” she asked, making me shrug lightly.

“I woke up early,” I said, avoiding eye contact as I pulled a bowl out of the cupboard. I walked over to the fridge, pulling a bunch of fruits out.

A giggle escaped her lips. “Right. So it was probably not because of a super soldier sleeping in the same bed as you?” she asked, making me turn back around, turning my back on her.

“It could be,” I said, before opening the fridge again, pulling out berries.

Natasha smiled as I turned back around. “He spent the night?” she asked, watching me pull out a knife, cutting an apple into slices.

I shrugged lightly. “He helped me to bed, and I didn’t want to be alone. But I didn’t ask him to get into bed with me. He did that himself-”

“And you let him stay?” she questioned, watching me peel a nartjie.

I looked at her, seeing a wide smirk on her lips. “I fell asleep,” I said, looking back down at the food as I placed the nartjie into the bowl.

Natasha giggled as she walked to stand next to me. “Do you still like him?” she asked, making me shrug.

“I don’t know. I don’t think I’m capable of just liking someone.”

She smiled softly. “So, it’s either they’re friends, or you love them?” she asked, making me nod lightly.

I cut a kiwi, before adding it to the fruit bowl, then adding blueberries, raspberries, and half-cut strawberries. I pulled a layer of gladwrap over the top of the bowl, before pulling out a marker. Natasha watched me as I wrote: ‘Dean’s breakfast’ on top. I placed the bowl into the fridge, before placing everything in the sink.

“Where are you going?” she asked me as I rinsed off my hands.

My eyes met hers. “I’m going to do a light run through town. I want to go to the shops for a few groceries.”

Natasha smiled lightly. “Groceries? Don’t you have enough?” she asked, looking past me at the cupboards filled with food and snacks.

I smiled lightly. “Well, maybe we could do with some more?” I said, making her chuckle.

“Where are you really going? The compound?”

I shook my head. “Like I said, groceries.”

Natasha laughed. “Alright. I’ll tell the other’s that you’re out for some ‘groceries’.”

I giggled, before walking past her. “Thank you Nat. I owe you.”

She smiled, before pouring herself a glass of water, watching me slip boots on at the door.

I pulled my hair up in a bun, before exiting the house with a bike helmet in my hand. I shut the door behind me, softly, before walking to the bikes that were parked in front of the garage.

My eyes met these of Sharon’s, before I looked around her, seeing her and Scott tweaking lightly on some equipment. It was not even light, and they were already working. I looked away, before pulling the helmet onto my head. My leg swung over the bike, before I started the engine. Without glancing back at Sharon, who I knew was still looking at me, I rode off, not even knowing where I wanted to go. All I knew, was that I didn’t want to stay here for when James woke up, knowing I left him in my bed alone.