83.
●•Harry•●
It was silent besides the sound of the piano, low because I still had my foot pressed to the middle pedal, forcing it down so I wouldn’t wake up anyone at such an hour.
Scarlett was quiet next to me, her head resting on my shoulder lightly as she traced her fingers up and down my arms, her breathing even, her feet safely tackled beneath her legs and her eyelids fluttering shut. They were resting against her cheekbones, pink-ish and soft, looking as kissable as ever. Also, the silence we were lost in allowed me to actually feel her heart beating, her veins pulsing through the skin where we were in touch. It was silent and comforting, and, honestly, perfect.
It’d been a long while since I’d been able to play the piano with such an ease, such a peace spreading inside. The simple sound of the notes, along with the wind whistling through the gaps at the door, seemed right; almost as right as having that silent and beautiful girl sitting next to me. Sometimes she would open her eyes, stare at my fingers in something like awe, trace her own above mine as if trying to learn how to play by mimicking my movements. Other moments she would look at me instead, ghosting her lips over the skin on my cheeks and mumbling silent words sometimes I could make out; sometimes couldn’t.
It was peaceable either way, just being with her and despising the whole entire world around us; despising the fact that it was somewhat 3am and I’d have to wake up around 7 to go to work; despising the fact that she was living with Lana now, and probably her and her daughter would be asleep at this time, and Scar would most likely disturb their sleep when I dropped her off there. That and many other reasons just seemed idle to me at the moment, and I could tell she thought just like I did, because every time I made a mention to stop playing she would rest her hand on mine and tap it lightly as if to say ‘keep going’.
All other kids had gone to bed around two hours ago, and the nuns didn’t seem to bother that both Scarlett and I decided to stay a while more. They were probably asleep, too, and the sound of the piano didn’t seem to be bothering anyone. At this point, really, it had become part of the environment, anyway. The notes were sounding smoothly, getting carried away by the air and into the darkness. It was just fine. It was just like silence.
I got out of my trance once I felt a lingering kiss pressed to my cheek again, this time way longer than the others, and then the lips on my skin left a soft trail until it got to my shoulders. Scar pressed a kiss there, too, above all layers of clothing, and even if I couldn’t properly feel the warmth of her lips, I could feel the warmth of the effect of knowing they were there caused me. It was nothing like the warmth I felt when we were skin-to-skin, curled up in my bed (that was more like fire, honestly), but it was the kind of warmth that started off on my toes and came up comforting every single spot in my body. It was the kind of warmth that made me feel sated, and happy, and stupid for no reason at all, just smiling until my cheeks hurt, and yet, I couldn’t stop it.
It was the kind of warmth that whispered love over and over again, not even bothering to be loud, nor anything but simply noticeable. And it was. Pretty much. Love.
The moonlight creeping through the window high on the wall hit Scarlett’s skin silently, just a small flash, making it glow like ivory; if ivory even glows, that is. Half of her features were hidden in the darkness, meanwhile the other half just sparkled with silent life. She was beautiful. So damn freaking beautiful, I was utterly wordless. The mere sight of her threw several refined and cliché words into my mind, coming up from literally nowhere, apart from her. And I felt like I could write another song, right there, if she stayed with me for a couple more hours.
Maybe I was doing it already, oblivious to my own living fingers pressing down on different combinations of notes I was sure I hadn’t tried before. It was just like that. Just so natural when it came to Scarlett; just so alive, even if it was quiet.
It was like all the hidden colors in the rainbow, all the shades of vivid nuances, like that smooth breeze in summer days, that something of content that I could feel whenever I closed my eyes. That feeling you have when you’re car travelling, or admiring some newly discovered landscape, when you’re away from home, feeling fresh and free and observant. And yet, it was like the comfort of being home itself, that safety and chill just so naturally calming.
I was pretty sure I was running out of sense inside my own mind. She was ruining my sanity.
“We should probably go,” I finally muttered, disturbing the silence for a second, letting the words fade into nothing, waiting for a reply that didn’t come, some sort of opposition of any way; some breathing change, a light move, an unhappy sound. Anything.
But nothing came.
“Scar?” I tried again, this time halting the movement of my fingers, cleaning the thin layer of dust and also that tickling feeling on my trousers. She said nothing again.
And so when I moved to bump my shoulder against hers, was when I realized her eyes weren’t closed appreciatively like before. She wasn’t simply taking in the sounds surrounding her. She was now asleep, leaning on my shoulder, her left hand placed on my thigh lightly and her right one looped around my own arm. Something like that.
Before I dared disturbing her, I smiled a bit, memorized the way she looked soft and fragile (because even though I adored her naughty and confident side, this was way better), and then I did it. Calmly, I nudged her sides. “Scar. Scarlyyy.”
“Nghn”
I giggled softly at her groan before repeating my movements. “Scarlett, wake up. ‘s late. We gotta go home.”
“’m not- just. Uhng. Five more minutes.”
I actually laughed at that, clasping a hand over my mouth right after, the sound reverberating through the room a lot louder than the intended. Though if Scarlett – sitting right next to me – didn’t bother, I doubted any of the others would. Concern didn’t take too long.
“Scar, you’re not in bed, I can’t let you stay five more minutes. The moment I stand up you’ll face first solid ground.” The speech didn’t seem to succeed much, once her face only scrunched up in brief annoyance before falling back into pure peace. “I’m leaving youuuu,” I sing-sang, un-looping our arms and pushing her away, the lack of touching getting (finally) a result. Which was not a happy Scarlett, but.
“You’re the devil.” She grunted, scrubbing her hands over her face and blinking a couple of times to focus into something. Her eyes were still squinted, though, and her face was one of pure sleepiness, so I didn’t believe she was quite thinking much about her actions. Point across once she made grabby hands toward me – who was already standing –, and flung her legs to the other side of the seat. “Carry me?”
And even though I tried to pull a serious and unpleased face, it all went downhill once she closed her eyes tighter and puffed her lips out in a pout, as if guessing my thoughts. And, like, honestly. How could I deny her that? It’d been probably mentioned a couple of times already sleepy-Scarlett was my favorite.
Looking at her that way brought me back to that one night at Angel’s, that first time I felt like she was my gravity, like her lips were the ground and I needed to stick to it. With my own lips, but that were only details. The point was, sleepy-Scarlett was the first Scarlett I admitted to myself I wanted to be near to, I wanted to kiss, wanted to have, and it was still endearing, after what seemed so long.
And I was pretty sure I wouldn’t get sick of such a sight anytime soon. Or anytime, really.
“God, you’re such a kid,” I mumbled myself, curling a hand beneath the junction of her knees and the other on her upper back nonetheless, lifting her up and nuzzling into her neck once she wrapped her arms around my own and did just the same. She kept her face there, though, breath tickling the few spots uncovered on my skin.
“You love me,” she deadpanned as if it was a reasonable comeback, voice completely rough with sleep, limbs all loosen and relaxed.
“Might do,” I smiled sheepishly, bending down awkwardly to use the hand underneath her knees to get to the knob, then pushing the door open with my foot and struggling to get it closed behind me afterwards. That was such a hard task. The things she made me go through, I swear.
“Sappy-” long yawn “Nghn. Sappy little sh–t, you are.” Her eyes were still closed, and her voice was by no means any more awake than it was before, but still she managed to be the devilish prick she is. I maybe wanted to punch her and kiss all over her face at the same time.
“You do love me too, so I don’t see a reason why you’re pretending not to be one yourself.”
By now, I was already laying her on the backseat, hovering over her and grabbing a jacket I had thrown there God-knows-when to place it over her trembling arms. She hummed in approval, to either my action or my words, though I couldn’t be sure.
“’m better at keeping it in,” she stated proudly, yawning again and turning her face to the backseat, curling her legs up to her belly and squashing her cheeks over her hands.
“Nah, you’re not.” I teased, already crawling back to leave the car, and watching as she giggled softly to herself, shifting one more time before coming to a full stop. I assumed she was comfortable, then.
“Nah. I’m not.”
I felt like I needed sticks to keep my eyes open.
It was Tuesday and it was early and I had to wake up at arse a.m. (already late, obviously) to run into the kitchen and drink the fastest tea I’d made in my whole entire life (probably not), plus, also gobble down some burnt toast from last night.
That had also been a quick late-night snack before I plopped down next to Scarlett on the bed (we’d both agreed it would be better if we didn’t wake Lana and Angel up since they would have to be up early, too – or I agreed it would be better if we didn’t wake Lana and Angel up, and Scarlett hummed something like mhmm and so I assumed she was actually listening to what I was saying and had thought it was the best idea as well) around half past four, just then minding to get some sleep.
And I probably didn’t regret last night one bit, except I did. Just one tiny bit.
Because I was so wrecked and I had to talk to actual people, and handle Joe being the usual jackass, like he’s never going to get sick of it. By now, he really should have. It’d been years I was working there, and yet he was the stupidest and also most annoying twat I’d ever met.
Luck was not in my favor.
Some pissed fanatic teenager was having trouble accepting the store had ran out of copies of the album he was looking for, and when I told him he’d have to wait until next week to get his one, he bursted out in flames. Or something really close to that.
I had to hear a few complaints on how he’d been here a thousand times, (“literally, a thousand times, mate!”) – and like, yeah, ok –, and every single one of those he went home with some different excuse. He started going on and on about not leaving the store without his copy, because this was an absurd, apparently, and I was really dying to flick him off and groan ‘what do I have to do with the f–cking damn album selling out too fast?’, but I kept quiet. Because rules and everything.
Besides that, though, the day went by slower than the usual, each minute appearing to have a bazillion instead of sixty seconds only, but with no further incidents. Thank God at least one of my prayers was attended.
Back at home, I fumbled with the keys on the lock, and as soon as I twisted it, pushing the door open, a note flew aimlessly in the air, landing on the floor smoothly, handwriting facing down.
“I’m at Lana’s. Sorry I didn’t stay to greet you properly after work ;) Bet you’re a wreck, and I apologize for giving you so much of a trouble last night. Made you some tea and cookies as a reward? They’re on the kitchen. Enjoy it.
Ps.: Going to Tyler’s to get my stuff back tonight. Just in case you call Lana and she doesn’t reply. I’m taking her with me, so you don’t need to worry. Have a nice class, sappy little sh–t xx”
I locked the door behind me without even looking at my movements, just gripping the paper between my fingers and rereading it a couple of times. My first reaction was to smile like an idiot, because, of course I would. It was a note from Scarlett after all. But then I realized she was going to face that twat once more, to put an end to everything they’d once had together, and, well.
He was a giant.
Who was probably going to murder her when he realized it was definitive this time.
But Lana was going to be with her, right? It would be fine. She would be fine.
And it was the end of something. Something that had been on my way ever since I’d met her. And now she was moving out. Away from him. Towards me.
Yeah. She would be fine. We would be fine.
●•Author's Note•●
dedication goes to: @gillianmoo first off, I'm glad I surprised you! That's one of the things I love doing the most to my readers, so. And well, thank you for reading and recommending this to your friends, as well as watching my trailers. I worked hard on both of them and makes me happy to see it's paying off. Just thank you, in general. Means a whole lot.
note: Okay it took so long but I hope it paid off. I really do. I was so inspired while writing this and I was with my head so light compared to the stressfull routine I've been having lately, so I really consider this pure magic LOL Hopefully you got to feel through my writing everything I felt while typing those words.
Ps.: follow me on twitter & instagram: @DaniMeloGomes
next update: Friday (December 27th)
1000 votes again for early update. I CAN'T PROMISE I'LL BE ABLE TO DO IT, because of all the things I've already told you, but I'll do my best. Pink promise. Best comment gets a dedication :) Love you lots - Dani xx