Reading Between the Lines

Chapter 15: You Can Learn Anywhere

Fuck this stupid distance.

"Are you ok?" I check in, his eyes widening in surprise as he raises his eyebrows.

"I'm sorry?"

"You just seemed really strained and uncomfortable earlier. And even now. Are you hurt somewhere?"

"I-I... I don't know what you're talking about. I'm not hurt," he denies in embarrassment, scratching the back of his neck while he smiles awkwardly.

"Well, ok then. But just so you know, we're... meant to be together, I guess. Even if I'm the new girl in the house, and I understand that you're trying to warm up to me, don't be afraid to tell me if something is bothering you. I won't judge," I promise him calmly, feeling 10 pounds lighter after putting that out there.

"Um... ok. Thanks," he responds calmly, giving me a pursed yet content smile. And even better? I also noticed his face turning dark red.

I DID IT! I talked to him! And I actually put an expression on his face.

Wow, why did it take me so long to do that?

Tusharika clears her throat next to me subtly before I hear her voice in my head. "Wow, is Prashanth blushing?"

He is blushing, right? I ask her to make sure I'm not seeing things.

"His face has never been that red before. What did you do, hit on him or something?" she snorts a bit. I gasp inaudibly and feel my face getting a little flushed.

NO! No, nowhere close to that. I just made the first move and talked to him, I tell her confidently, which makes her squeal in my brain.

"Okay! I see you, Sarvani. Good job! Now keep doing that more. Told you he's not that bad," she jeers as I involuntarily smile. We get inside the car, where Prashanth sits in the passenger seat and grabs his Soulstone before turning on the car's music system.

"I'm controlling the music today, Sam. No more classical music, please," he begs her which makes Sam roll her eyes and whack his arm. "Fine, but you insult Bach and I will behead you," she threatens him menacingly, but he doesn't budge a bit.

"Yeah, I'm backing her up. You diss Nuvole Bianche one more time and I will slash your face," Vinnie threatens him as he turns back towards her in his seat.

"I'll still survive. But I promise," he winks before he plays his music, a combination of bedroom pop and alternative music. As he sets his music, he gives me one more glance and the tiniest little smirk before playing the first song and relaxing in his seat.

"Next stop: Downtown!" Sam chirps joyfully before we step into her car. With the press of the engine button and the break, she starts the car and we make our way to Downtown Frisco.

***

Downtown time was so fun! Divya was right, it's so much better than New York City if that's even possible. We went around the city, where I just spent the entire time gawking at the buildings. I swear, I saw all kinds of shapes and colors! And there are so many shops here that I would completely abandon self-control just to go into all those stores.

We went to this restaurant inside the Paradise building, a flower-shaped tower whose petals glow pink at night. There was this amazing Thai place there, and we all just had some food and then went around the area again.

Coming back to the present, though...

It's 3 am.

3. AM!

I've been so restless the entire night, most likely because of how much I ate and goofed around today. Should I just stay in bed and reflect on how death works, or should I go down and get myself a snack? To be honest, I still have some empty room in my stomach.

Hmm...

Screw it. I want a parfait.

I get out of my bed, putting on my jacket before I quietly open the door to my room. I thought the house would be pitch black since everyone is dead asleep. But surprisingly, it's bright enough for me to see where I'm going. I look down to see the kitchen light glowing, the brightness going all over the living room.

I silently walk downstairs, trying my best not to let my feet betray me to the wooden stairs. After I reach the bottom floor, I hear some rustling in the kitchen. It's most definitely not a thief because there are 8 badass lycans living here who could easily rip someone's heart out, so I tiptoe to the nearby wall to see what's going on.

And that's when I notice a very tall skyscraper with mile-long legs and strong  lemon smell standing in the kitchen.

Mr. Prashanth Rao-Adhikari is here. Again.

Seriously, why does he have to be everywhere when I don't even talk to him that much? It's as if the universe is doing this on purpose so that I go up to him first. Even fate is telling me I have no game.

He's wearing a short-sleeved gray t-shirt with blue sweats, grooving in place and whistling as he mixes the vanilla yogurt and strawberries together. His hair is still a mess, and he frequently blows it out of his face while he makes his food. With his arms exposed, a cluster of flowers run across his upper arm and end at his elbow. I see some blue ones, probably hydrangeas, and some white roses that fit together like a literal bouquet on his skin.

"Huh, what's he making?" I quietly whisper to myself while I continue seeing what he's doing.

Why does this guy have to be SO ETHEREAL?! Even with his messy hair and dark circles, he's still so fucking beautiful. Moon Goddess, Vishnu, whoever, why did you pair me with a masterpiece like that?

Even worse, why the hell am I spying on this guy making his food?

Great, Sarvani. You're not only turning into a werewolf but also an obsessed stalker too. One conversation and suddenly I'm being stupid.

I'm gonna wait until he leaves the kitchen so that I can make something for myself. He seems really at peace right now, and I don't want to interrupt the moment. I can just watch some TV for that time to suffice.

Oh, look. He's turning to the pantry to get the granola. Great taste.

...He's TURNING AROUND! Shit, he's going to see me!

I turn around swiftly to leave, quietly making my way to the stairs again. But just as I go up the first 4 steps, I hear a small blitz of sound and feel a light tap on my shoulder. The intense lemon scent floods my nose again. Like a bowl in my face, it almost slaps me in the smell.

I turn around to see him, finally eye to eye with him because of the stairs. He gives me a mischievous smile before he hands me the vanilla yogurt and strawberry parfait he made earlier, garnished with some granola and a spoon stuck in the middle.

"Hungry?" he muses, the tone a combination of genuine and sneaky.

Oh, this is definitely way more entertaining than TV.

***