Luckily my headache cleared up by the time Bradley dropped me back home. I wasn't sure if it had just passed on its own or whether the pill had finally kicked in but I was relieved all the same.
As I made my way inside, I saw the pile of dust and other crap at the bottom of my stairs again and scowled as I glanced around. No one was in sight. I looked over at my mysterious neighbour's apartment but their car wasn't there and there were no lights on which I could see. I was tempted to go over and peek in the window but realised that was probably going a step too far.
I ended up grabbing the broom and sweeping the pile back over to their side of the path. Maybe I could catch them in the act next time and finally see who lived next to me.
I made my way inside, tossing the broom into the corner carelessly and shutting the door.
I still had the whole day ahead of me but I just didn't have have energy or motivation to go out and do anything. I kind of just wanted to hang out and watch TV all day. I should have stayed with Remi when she asked me to earlier but I was worried my headache would come back and I didn't want her to find out. Bradley knowing was already one too many people.
I threw myself on the sofa and patted my stomach with a frown. I'd eaten far too many pancakes earlier. Bradley had helped finished cooking them and I was surprised to find that he was a very good chef. Yet another talent of his.
I flicked on the news but it was all far too depressing for me to deal with and I ended up changing to a rerun of Friends. I used to watch it on repeat with my mom all the time
I let out a sigh as my thoughts turned to my parents and what they must be going through right now. Here I was relaxing and they were probably at home worrying their asses off about where I was. For all they knew, I could have already dropped dead. I had to call them and explain. I couldn't leave them in the dark and just turn up at the end of the month.
I rolled over on the sofa grumpily, staring at the screen without really seeing anything and began planning what I could say when I finally got my phone back from Bradley.
* * *
I was woken by knocking on my front door and sat up with bleary eyes. Crap, I wouldn't sleep tonight now. I stumbled to my feet with a groan and headed towards the door.
Maybe it was the neighbour coming over to complain about the dust pile. If it was, I certainly wasn't in the mood to speak with them right now. I was deep asleep before they knocked.
I whipped open the door speaking at the same time. ‘If you’re here to complain about that pile of dust then I swear I have a few things I would like to sa- oh hey, Bradley,’ I said, my scowl falling off my face as I blinked up at him. 'What're you doing here?' I added, shaking off my surprise at his random appearance.
‘Er, complaining about dust?’ he said with an uncertain grin. I rolled my eyes at him but couldn't help smiling at his confusion. ‘By the way is that the pile you were talking about?’ he asked, making my smile disappear just as quickly as it had arrived.
‘Ah, hell no,’ I muttered. I dodged around Bradley, who put his foot in the door to stop it closing, and grabbed the broom once more. Once I'd returned the dust back to its rightful place, I stomped up the stairs again and dusted my hands.
‘Dare I ask?’ Bradley questioned, looking past my shoulder at the pile.
‘No, I think it would be safer if you didn’t,’ I told him with a deadly serious expression.
‘I came by to bring your phone,’ he said after laughing at me. He fished around in his pocket for a moment before producing my phone and offering it to me. It was like he'd read my mind earlier and knew I needed it back. Or he was just adorably thoughtful.
‘Oh,’ I said dumbly, accepting my phone and tucking it into my own pocket. ‘You didn’t have to do that. You could have just given it to me in school tomorrow,' I said, meeting his eyes once more.
‘I just finished football practice and had nothing else to do so I thought, why the hell not,’ he said with a shrug. ‘Plus I was actually curious about the inside of your apartment,’ he added with a mischevious smile.
‘So that’s your motive!’ I smirked. ‘I think you’ll find yourself disappointed, Bradley. My place is pretty bare.'
‘You’re just saying that to keep me out, right?’ he asked with narrowed eyes.
I laughed at him and went to shove his arm but my foot slipped from the top step and I nearly toppled over backwards. Bradley, with his quick reflexes, managed to snatch my wrist and jerked me towards him out of harm's way.
‘Jeez,’ he complained as he glared down at me. ‘What’s up with you and trying to dangerously fall down stairs?’ he asked.
‘Um,’ I said, shaking my head slightly at my clumsiness. ‘If I recall, you were there the only two times I’ve ever done that. Are you trying to kill me Bradley?’ I asked.
If he was planning some kind of elaborate murder, then he'd have to hurry up. I didn't exactly have much longer left. I'd managed to convince myself that the dark humour I had been expressing recently was just a coping mechanism. It was better than bawling my eyes out at least.
‘And if I recall, I think I’ve saved you both of those times as well,’ he pointed out.
‘Oh, but Bradley, I wouldn’t have needed saving if you weren’t there,’ I sighed.
‘That may be true, but I was there and I did save you and you are still alive,’ he grinned.
‘For now,’ I said without thinking. Bradley raised his eyebrows. Did I say that one out loud? Crap. ‘I mean,’ I said hastily ‘You are trying to kill me, aren't you? Did my mother hire you?
‘Actually it was Remi. She and I both want to be your favourite sibling, you see,’ he shrugged. 'She soon realised that you loved me too much and so she wants you dead – I agreed to this because I think you’re too clingy Raegan.’
I clutched my heart for dramatic effect. Now that I'd come to think of it, we had been hanging out pretty much all week. In fact, most of my time at school I spent talking to him. Maybe I was too clingy. I really liked spending time with him though, he made me forget about all my worries. Which was exactly what I wanted.
'Wow that hurts,' I said. 'But that’s coming from a guy who came all the way to my house to drop off my phone? I think you’re the one who’s clingy,’ I smirked.
‘I don’t think we’ll stop this argument for a while, so let’s take it inside. I want to snoop around your place – by the way I think you’re more clingy,’ he said.
I punched his shoulder in response before dodging around him swiftly and heading back inside. He followed close behind me and closed the door after himself.
‘Okay this is the hallway, that’s the kitchen,’ I said speedily. ‘If you can call it that it’s the size of a wardrobe,’ I snorted. ‘Anyway – this is the living room and that’s the bedroom,’ I called out, standing in the doorway of the living room and looking back at him.
I watched him as his eyes surveyed the kitchen. He brushed by me into the living room and I leaned against the doorframe as he immediately made his way over to the shelves.
‘I like the loving pictures of your family and friends,’ he said, turning and raising his eyebrow at me.
‘I didn’t bring any pictures with me,’ I shrugged. 'Frames were here when I moved in.'
‘Why not?’ he asked curiously. I could tell from his face that we was genuinely interested. I really did love that about him. He didn't play games, just showed his honest emotions.
‘What’s the point?’ I said. He raised his eyebrow in question. ‘You know some Native Americans believed that having your photograph taken captured part of your soul,' I said, pushing away from the door frame and joining him by the shelf. I picked up one of the frames and turned it over slowly. 'I don't really believe that but... I suppose photos are just a shortcut.'
‘A shortcut?’ Bradley asked. ‘What d’you mean?’
‘People think that taking pictures help keep the memories alive but they don't really. Most pictures are posy. None of it is real,' I shrugged, realising I was probably sounding bitter. 'The real memory is over the moment someone pulls out a camera and says "cheese",' I muttered, dropping the frame back down with a thud
I looked over at Bradley and noticed he was studying me closely, the curious expression was back on his face again. I began to feel self conscious under his gaze but he finally smiled slightly.
'I never really thought about it like that,' he said slowly. I half smiled at him and brushed by to sit on the sofa.
‘So, I was wondering,' I said, getting comfortable and looking over at him. 'Is there anything fun to do around town?’ I asked.
‘You mean besides me?’ he replied with a wink.
‘Oh my, God,’ I said. ‘Do I really look like I’m over sixty?’ I exclaimed.
‘I should have known that you’d be able to turn that around on me,’ he groaned.
‘Yeah you should have,’ I laughed. ‘I have a comeback for everything, pretty boy.’
‘Pretty boy?' he asked with a frown, crossing his arms and making his way over to the couch. Yeah, pretty boy? What kind of insult was that?
‘How was your football practice?’ I asked, leaning my back against the arm rest as he sat on the opposite end of the sofa. He leaned against the arm rest too and smiled at my question.
‘You’re genuinely asking about football?’ he asked with raised eyebrows. 'From the way you speak about sports, I assumed it wasn't really your thing.'
‘Of course I'm genuinely asking,' I replied in a tone of outrage.
I mean, I was more asking about how his day was going rather than football in particular but he didn't have to know that.
‘D’you even know the rules?’ he asked doubtfully.
‘I’m offended,’ I told him, putting a hand on my heart.
‘D’you even know how long a football game is without extra time?’ he asked with a raised eyebrow.
‘Um...’ I said. Okay my dad took me to a game once. It was super long and had about three hours of ad breaks and boring replays. Come to think of it, I didn't remember watching much of the game at all. 'An hour?' I asked, trying not to show my hesitation.
'I guess you know the basics,’ he said with narrowed eyes. ‘Maybe I should have tried a harder question,’ mused as I internally celebrated.
‘Only one question, dear Bradley,’ I told him. ‘Anyway you doofus,’ I added, changing the subject away from football swiftly. ‘What else is there to do around here – other than you?’ I couldn't help but smile at the last part.
He smiled in response and made a low noise as he thought. I found myself abruptly losing my train of thought as I watched him. His eyes drifted to the ceiling and he chewed his lower lip as he considered my question. That whole lip-biting thing made anyone look hot. Even Bradley who dated eighty year olds. Though, he didn't exactly need to look any hotter than he already did. He had that classically handsome look going for him. Dark hair, dark eyes... which were now looking into my own.
‘Were you just checking me out?’ Bradley asked, breaking into my train of thought. Oh shit. This was a rabbit-in-the-headlights kind of moment.
‘Huh?’ I asked him, blinking. ‘Checking you out? I was waiting for an answer, you dumbass, not checking you out!’
‘Yeah, I’m sure,’ he said with a wink. He seemed to be only teasing me though which was good because I came to the realisation that I actually had been checking him out. He did not need to know that.. I leaned forward and rested my elbow on his knee for balance as I smacked the top of his head. ‘Okay, okay,’ he laughed, batting my hand away as I continually slapped his head. ‘No more abuse!’
‘Yeah that’s what I thought,’ I grinned, leaning back slightly.
‘God, you’re evil,’ he muttered as I leaned my elbow on his knee once more and dropped my chin into my hand. I stared at him expectantly, still waiting for him to answer my question.
'Um...’ he began meeting my eyes and pausing for a long second. He shook his head sharply and looked away. ‘There’s the bowling alley and the arcade – plus the beaches and there’s this river that leads off from the sea that uh...’ he met my eyes again and trailed off before looking pointedly somewhere behind my head. 'Yeah, if you follow the river then there’s this great lake where we’ve camped out before and it’s pretty cool. Oh and there’s the mall of course,’ he added, grimacing slightly.
‘Are any of these places included in where you’re going to take me before the thirtieth?’ I asked. He blinked, seeming surprised that I was the one bringing it up for a change.
‘Maybe,’ he said evasively. ‘But I won’t tell you because I want it to be a surprise.'
‘Ah, a surprise? I hate surprises!’ I complained.
‘That’s because you’re an impatient person,' Bradley said, leaning forward and patting my head reassuringly.
I decided to test out my puppy dog face again on him – it worked last time when I needed his help to climb the school fence. I pulled on his forearm and clasped his hand between my own; I couldn't help but notice the difference in size. He met my eyes with a suspicious look.
‘Please, Bradley?’ I said, sticking out my bottom lip slightly. ‘You know it’s unfair to keep secrets,’ I told him, lowering my voice and tracing the back of his hand with my fingers.
'I’m not the one keeping secrets, Raegan,’ he replied softly. His eyes flickered down to our hands before back to my face.
‘But Bradley, I’ve already promised to tell you all of mine, haven’t I?’ I said, leaning closer. ‘So can’t you tell me yours?’ I asked, throwing on my best pout. He jaw tightened.
‘But Raegan it’s a surprise,’ he murmured. I traced my fingers up to his forearm and gave him my most sultry look. 'Raegan-’ he began before cutting himself off with a groan of frustration or something. ‘Your mind-games are infuriating,’ he complained, dropping his eyes to avoid my own.
‘Mind-games?’ I asked.
I took one of my hands off his and leant forwards to touch his chin. He looked up and something seemed to shift in his expression. I found myself forgetting whatever I was going to say as I lowered my hand.
‘I can’t tell you those secrets,’ he said lowly with a glint in his eye. 'But I can tell you others.'
‘How many secrets do you have?’ I smiled.
He turned his hand over in mine and trailed his fingers down my palm slowly. It was then I realised I'd lost control of the situation. I was supposed to be using my womanly ways to get answers but he'd somehow turned it around on me.
‘About as many as you,’ he replied with a mischievous smile.
‘Go on then,’ I insisted. ‘Tell me your other secrets.’
‘I think,’ he murmured ‘it would be easier to show you instead.’
I didn't reply to this - well I didn't get a chance to reply. Bradley’s free hand came up and brushed over my cheek for a moment before he slid his fingers back into the hair at the nape of my neck.
I took in a shallow breath as I saw him leaning forward. I realised I was too. His fingers tightened in my hair and his other hand slid up to my elbow, pulling me closer. His dark eyes flickered between my own.
And then a son-of-a-bitch shrieking noise filled the air making me jump back and into the arm of the sofa. Bradley also looked startled by the noise and glanced around for the source – his fucking phone. Wait – why was I so pissed off by this?
‘It’s... Remi,’ Bradley said in a breathless voice before answering.
‘Yeah?’ he asked. I heard her faintly speaking and let out a low breath as I tried to collect myself.
‘Okay,’ Bradley said after a few moments. ‘Okay, I’ll be back in a few,’ he added before ending the call. ‘Uh, apparently she tried to make dinner and set the fire alarms off so I’m going to go and sort her out,’ he laughed, rubbing the back of his head as he met my eyes.
‘Okay,’ I said simply. I hadn't recovered enough to come up with any other response.
‘Yeah so I’m going to... take off,’ he said slowly, getting to his feet.
I hopped to my feet too and balanced on the balls of my feet for a moment, unsure whether to walk him to the door or not. I opened my mouth to speak but he stepped forward and pulled me into a hug.
'Thanks for the tour,' he said against my hair before pulling away and sending me quick smile. I didn't have time to respond before he'd disappeared out of the front door.
‘Oh my, God,’ I said, sliding my hands into my hair as I sank back down onto the couch.
Did that just happen? Did Bradley and I nearly ki- woah. Calm down, calm down, calm down. I took in a deep breath and leaned back into the cushions. I jumped to my feet again as I caught the smell of his aftershave lingering on the couch and scowled. He did smell pretty damn good.
How did begging him for answers nearly end up in a make out session? I sent silent thanks to Remi that she rang when she did. Just one more second and...
It’s not like I didn’t want to kiss Bradley or anything. Actually, I think you'd have to be insane to not to want to kiss him. He was very kissable. I just couldn't do that to him. If Bradley and I were to start something up and then I just randomly dropped down dead then that would (excuse the pun) kill him.
No. I couldn't do that to him. I'd just have to control my annoying hormones no matter how difficult that may be. My feelings, however, were a different matter entirely.