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Chapter 20: New feelings
Hailey
I was excited as I got to the kitchen for the cooking lesson. Maybe it was mostly because of my "teacher". As I watched him, I noticed how even more good looking he was or more perfect. Even if he's so closed, sometimes I could see a glimpse of the real him. We both agreed to be honest and maybe open up a little bit but I just want to be slow with this because even I'm not ready to give all in... Even if it means my past. As I remembered taking glimpses of his real self, I've come to know that he hasn't opened himself for anyone and I see the fear in them. When he's closed, he's unreadable and all I see is a huge wall. I sometimes wonder what had might happened that caused him to be like that but when he told me his most embarassing moment I could tell that that was when he started getting stronger of not feeling preasured but the part of him closing up like that meant another reason. I understand the reason of his fear but for him to let that out it would be when we're both ready. I put those thoughts aside because I know better than to lose the chances of making a bond with this person I met a few days ago. I didn't want to force things on him because he's the only person that understands me and can read that deeply inside of me. No one has ever seen me like that even though I'm open minded. After all that happened today I know that we both have that desire to get to know each other better and I'll give in to that effort.
"Welcome to Chef Anderson's cooking academy. Don't sit on the chair because I won't be cooking for you. You will be for me and I will be judging everything you make. Let's start the lesson" he said in a serious tone and I laughed histerically
"What is so funny?" He asked
"You serious like a teacher" I said but then he went towards me and hugged me tight to him. He kissed my forehead and when I looked into his eyes, I could see something soften inside them but quickly hardened
"Then you wanted me to be like this" he held me in front of him and then started cutting vegetables with such speed like a pro. He then pulled me to him and started guiding me with his hand and I just tried to follow so I can do that like he does
"Yeah I don't like you all so serious" I said
"Fine, but if you laugh a lot then I will stop" he said and I almost laughed but kept my promise to not laugh
"Okay and I guess it's your first time teaching someone to cook better" I said
"I just don't have patience" he said
"I can tell" I said
"But I will hold it this once" he said
"For me?" I asked and I blushed. He made me blush all the time, I don't get it sometimes.
"Anything for you" he said and continued our lesson in the kitchen. I just felt complete with him but I yet think about how long this will last. I remember that after camp, we will not see each other and that made me sad but instead of just dreading the future, I just enjoy these moments.
I went to sleep thinking about how important moments and memories are for me. How important in life is to cherish every perfect moment we have to have something amazing to remember. I stared at the wall full of pictures after I finished putting all the pictures earlier today. I stared mostly on Bryce's pictures because I could see happiness in his eyes, like his wall was down yet I question that because there was a difference on the two pictures. I could see real happiness on his eyes on the family picture maybe the real him. The other picture though, he looked happy but not the kind of happiness I saw on the other picture like he was hiding the real him.
When I woke up, I was surprised to see a note on top of the drawer. It was from Bryce because he put 'Witters' in front of it.
"Hey beautiful" I could imagine him saying that in his player tone and I rolled my eyes at that thought
I'll be back later today because I'm working on a special surprise. I left really early so I couldn't disturb you. You must be wondering about the surprise and I'm not even half-done on it yet. You'll see it soon but until then no hints" I laughed when I reached that sentence
PS. There is food on the fridge
PPS. Don't make a mess on the kitchen because your lesson is tonight
-the most good looking guy you'll ever meet"
I was laughing hard when I read that because that was too much like Bryce. Even if he doesn't admit it he's so freewilled and open minded in many ways when he wants to. When I see glimpses of him, I see an open-minded person yet has been more free-willed towards me each moment
After I ate, I went straight to the room to look more closely at the picture wall. I would smile seeing all the pictures because they remind me of happy memories. The one that stood out more than the rest was the one of my two best friends before going to Orlando on Summer before I started school as a sophomore. In my school, after Finals we could leave the school to go home so we had all our suitcases when we were waiting for Cole's parents.
Cole... He's my best friend next to Bethany but we always have that guy best friend. He's the only guy that has seen me at my weakest and he's been there inconditionally for Bethany and me. He's the most open minded person I've met and the most caring towards Bethany and me. We're the trio and Bethany and me are his little sisters. Even though he's the same age as us, only two months older than me and one month older than Bethany, he seems like the big brother. To me, he's more than just my best friend, he's like my brother and I always give my full honesty to him and he does the same. Bethany and I have always helped him when he's at his weakest. We all need each other when one is not okay.
"When are your parents arriving?" I asked Cole and bumped him in the shoulder. He started tickling me a lot and I just screamed to stop. This moment felt like a brother and sister were playing around. When we stopped, Bethany was coming with all her suitcases
"When are your parents arriving?" Bethany asked and I laughed
"I just asked that" I said
"You both are just uneasy sometimes or always but soon" he laughed
"We're not that difficult" Bethany said
"Yeah sure" he rolled his eyes and we both bumped him on the shoulder
"What was that for?" He asked
"For thinking we're too difficult and who wouldn't be? We're just excited for the amusement parks" I said
"True" she said
"Fine, I understand" he said
"I can't believe we're going to sophomore year now!" I said
"I know right" she said excitedly
"I can't wait for sophomore year because I got moved to the varsity football team for next school year" he said
"No way! Congratulations! You deserve it! You're the best quarterback here" I said
"I know I know" he laughed
"Show off" she laughed and I laughed histerically
We were just joking around for a while before we noticed his parents taking pictures of us. We took a group picture and it felt amazing. Cole in the middle being good looking as always, dark brown perfect hair with blue eyes, Bethany in one side and I on the other. He was taller than both of us and he seemed like the bigger best friend, he was but it felt like us three united like a family. We got more excited while we were on our way to the amusement parks to begin Summer.
My thoughts stopped when I checked my phone to check if I had signal. I had full bars now, perfect. I replied to Bethany's text and I told her that everything was fine and that I would see her soon at the end of the week. I called Cole and I laughed as I saw his caller ID: "Coleeee :)" and a picture of Bethany, him and me on top of each other. He was on the bottom, I was on the middle and Bethany on top with a funny pose. We were just laughing at that picture yet I like it so much.
"Hailey! What's up?" He said in his cheery tone
"Everything's great. How's football camp?" I asked and started walking towards the art room
"It's great! Met people from all over the states, even Canada" he said
"That's really good" I said
"So, how's your camp? I wish I could've come with you guys. It would have been so much fun the three of us" he said
"No worries. You had football camp and we'll be back by the end of the month so we can go to the amusement parks on Orlando. Everything here is...interesting" I said
"Interesting huh? Tell me more" he said
"Let's start with the beginning of camp, the most good looking guy slammed the door in my face while we were leaving the orientation. He was such a jerk but after getting to know him better, he's so different and not a player like I thought. I knew that after we kissed the next days. We had prank week so it was basically girls vs boys. The end of prank week went a little overboard because us girls changed the showers from water to pink paint and they did the same to us yet put glitter with the paint."
"The prankster Witters has done it again" he interrupted but I laughed
"And I am currently on isolation cabin and I'll be staying with him the rest of camp but the 'isolation' will be for a week" I said
"Who's this guy?" He asked curiously
"Bryce Anderson. He has a twin brother and I feel as if I've known him since forever. Weird huh?" I said
"Maybe you just both understand each other really well. And I'll have to talk to him soon so he gets warned of the consequences if he hurts you" he said
"Wow, Cole James and his ways sometimes" I laughed
"Well, just be warned" he said "tell me more of camp. It definitely sounds interesting" he said and I told him everything that has happened in camp so far
"It sounds really fun. They're already calling all of us. I should get going but be wise on all this. I don't want you to get hurt like in the past" he said indirectly reminding me of that unwanted memory
"I know I will. I'll call you soon to tell you more" I said
"Okay I'll be waiting or I'll probably call you and Bethany anyways soon" he said
"Okay bye" I said
"Bye" and he hung up
After talking with Cole, I stared at the art room and I decided to paint what I feel on an empty canvas. Besides painting peaceful sceneries to clear my mind, I paint memories directly or indirectly. I decided the memory that started it all. Where some deep feelings began to be questioned. I closed my eyes to just go with feelings and I couldn't stop smiling as I knew what I was painting. I stopped half way to put my favorite kind of music when I paint peacefully...instrumental music but after the first song I decided on the song that Bryce and I danced to. It felt right so I continued with the picture in front of me. When I was finishing last important touches, I looked outside to find that it was sunset. I was hours working so hard with this and what I like most is that I put all my feelings there. I opened myself completely on that one painting. Before I finished, I felt arms wrap on my waist and it gave me those chills that always happens when he comes close to me.
"How long have you been watching?" I asked
"Just the last 10 minutes. You looked so into it that I didn't want to disturb you. It's spectacular and is that... The cascade?" He asked and he remembered!
"Yes and do you notice anything else?" I asked
"In the way that you focused some tones in the water means a strong feeling or a memory?" He said and he knew me too well
"What might that feeling be and the memory?" I asked
"I think you know the answer to that but the time I took you to my peaceful place to be here. Where something deep surfaced unexpectectantly at that moment. That's something that confused me too much" he said and when I looked in his eyes, I was able to see deep emotions...the real him...and that made me happy and I hugged him tight
"What was that for?" He asked stunned
"For showing me the real you" I thank him for that because if I to try something new with someone I would like it to be with someone that can be real to me
"No walls?" He asked
"No more" I assured him
"I will try my hardest but I guess it's a start" he said and it was just a step. I got to see more of the real him but it will take more effort to give in completely. We will be taking this slow because for me to give in completely has been hard for me. I am an open minded person yet I can hide so much of my past
"I will try my hardest too" I said and I went deep inside his chest to continue hugging him tight. He started caressing my hair now and it send me the nonstop sparks. We stared at each other deeply and we didn't even think twice before we were kissing completely. I felt more complete by how much passion it gave in. The way he kissed me was like a million fireworks being lit up. The way we moved in sync was just perfection and we only stopped just to catch our breaths. He leaned his forehead to mine and I just smiled since all that happiness within me surfaced completely. I could see the passion in his eyes and almost complete happiness but not all. For me, it's effortless having many emotions through my eyes but the one emotion I leave deep inside is love. That feeling will stay hidden until the time is right. When it happens, I won't be thinking about it because it will only come out effortless. No second thoughts. What will be the next step for us?
"What now?" I asked
"Well, I would like to ask you something?" He said
"And that is?" I asked
"Will you, the best prankster and artist I know, care to go on a date with the best iron chef? He asked and I felt so excited at how creative he was
"Yes, I will go on a date with Chef Anderson" I said and hugged him tight
"Get ready quickly. We're going now" he said
"Wait! We're leaving?" I asked stunned because we were on isolation area
"Yeah, surprised? Our ride will be here in a few minutes" he said
"Okay I'll change quickly" I said and went running to the room to change into more casual clothes. I went with jeans and a cute flowy white shirt with an open back. I went natural with my hair and make up because I'm not the kind of person that would cover up who I really am. I prefer when people accept me as I am. I went running downstairs see that Bryce was ready as well and I got so excited for our first date.
"You look beautiful as always. So natural" he said and held me close
"I really apreciate that" I said and as we walked past the door, I didn't see any ride
"I don't see any ride" I laughed
"We have to walk a little obviously but the rode is this way" he said and we walked towards a path that led to the huge entrance of camp. I couldn't believe what I saw as we got to the main entrance.
"Is that a limo?" I asked surprised
"Yeah, I wanted it to be special" he said and brought me close to him by my waist. Oh my god! The tiny sparks inside me. I need to control that.
"Are we going somewhere fancy?" I asked
"Something you should know about me is that I don't do fancy dinners" he said and we got in the limo
"That's good to know. So, where are we going?" I asked
"Surprise" he said and we were on our way to the place
As the limo went to a stop, I got really excited when I saw where we were eating. I always go there with my friends after a tournament back home. A place where besides eating there are lots and lots of fun games. Dave & Busters...first date...Bryce! Oh my god!
"You've been here before?" He asked
"Of course! Back home me and my friends go after tournaments or on weekends when we're bored" I smiled
"Well then, we're going to have even more fun" he said excitedly
"As long as we don't get our competitiveness overboard" I said
"Deal" he said and we shook our hands
"How many?" The waiter asked
"Two, and put it close to the games" he said
"Right this way" the waiter smiled and led us to a table next to the game room
We ordered quickly and after they gave us our game cards, we went running to the games. There were so many games and for a moment I felt like if I were to freeze at that exact moment I would like to stay like that. It felt so right as we went holding hands. It felt as if the fireworks was twice as instensive. For a few moments I felt too speechless because no words could describe how I felt at that moment.
"Why are you so quiet?" He asked
"I don't know but I'm going to get sleepy if we don't play a game soon" I laughed
"How about air hockey?" He laughed
"Perfect" I said and we got to the air hockey table
"Before we start, let's not get the competitiveness between us" he laughed a bit and I looked at him straight in the eye before laughing
"And don't take it easy on me" I laughed and took the puck out and shot a goal quickly. He looked startled and shocked
"It's on" he said and we continued with a hard core game of air hockey
Those moments were beyond fun but what I most liked was knowing that both of us were having a good time. I could see the thrill in his eyes and I was just smiling and laughing a lot. It's been a while since I've had this kind of fun. I think it has been too long and I'm just enjoying these moments to the fullest. On every game it was just so fun and the competitiveness was hilarious. From him teaching me to shoot basketballs on the hoop on a game, dance dance revolution, skee ball, guitar hero to many others. It felt kind of bad when moments like this ended when we got back to our cabin.
"I had a great time tonight" I said as we went inside. He was holding me close because it was a little cold outside.
"So I guess we'll repeat again in the future?" He asked
"Yeah, I guess so" I smiled a bit and we walked straight to our room
"By the way, I missed you so much when I was gone today" he said as we sat on the bed
"I missed you but I found something to do at least" I laughed
"Yeah me too" he laughs and does the smile that makes me tremble right away
"What's that surprise you were working on?" I was so curious of that surprise since he was all day on it
"It's a surprise for a reason" he said and leaned his forehead with mine
"Will I see it soon?" I asked
"You will but it will stay as a surprise for now" he said and went to the bathroom to change into pjs. I changed quickly into my pjs and he wasn't out yet so I just went on a trance of my memories involving him which makes me happy. My fantasies stop when he's just carrying me to the movie room.
"We're going to watch a movie?" I asked excitedly
"It's early and I'm just bored" he said as he put me on the couch so he could look for a movie
"What are we going to watch?" I asked
"I don't know, I was having a Harry Potter marathon the first day here but if you don't watch it we can see something else" he said and he thought I didn't like Harry Potter movies?
"You think I don't watch that series? It's one of my favorite movie series plus I've seen all of them too many times" I laughed
"Which one is your favorite?" He asked as he took all of the Harry Potter movies out
"I like the first one" I said
"Why? What about the last one?" He asked
"It's just the beginning plus they were just so cute" I said
"Oh please" he said teasingly and I laughed a bit
"Just begin with the first one" I said
"I saw it already when we arrived here but fine, we'll begin with the first one" he shrugged as he sat down next to me, holding me tight
"Okay" I blushed and put my head on his shoulder before we started watching the movie
It was really fun watching the movie because we weren't even silent throughout it. We were always commenting on hints of the outcome of the whole series and so on. We watched the first three movies but then I felt too tired so I ended up almost falling asleep in Bryce's lap. He noticed that I was really sleepy so he just carried me to the room. His embrace was just so warm, gentle and caring that it sent me too many shivers throughout my body. Just simple things he does makes me melt or turn into jelly. When he put me on my head, he kissed my forehead and said goodnight. I opened my eyes a bit and told him goodnight as well. With that, I went on with my fantasies of how he just changed everything. That happens when you meet the right person at the right time?
~
Thoughts on the chapter? How about her talk with Cole? How about that surprise Bryce is working on? What do you think it is? Guess away haha :) Soooo their first date... ;) I just love writing Brycely moments because they're just adorable together :D
Liking the story so far? Keep on voting and commenting for any ideas for upcoming chapters or just thoughts on the chapters, etc :D (320 votes before the next update?)
PS. Check out my other stories "The Academy" (it's on my reading list) and "An Imperial Affliction" (it's on my reading list also and on my joint account @gus_waters17)