not edited
— vellichor —
(n) the strange wistfulness of used bookshops
origin ; new word suggestion
next morning
T H I R D P E R S O N P O V
Her eyes softly fluttered open and a small yawn escaped her lips. Rolling over to his side of the bed, she huffed when she found it empty and rather cold. He's been up a while, Adrianna thought to herself. Rolling again, only this time to the end of her side of the bed, she grabbed her phone from the nightstand.
05:14, the time read on her lock screen and she internally cursed herself and Phoenix for being such early risers.
Against her lazier judgement and wanting to stay in bed, Adrianna got up, pulling her PINK charcoal grey sports bra over her head along with Phoenix's soccer jersey with his name on the back. A soft giggle left her lips seeing as the jersey came past her mid thigh.
Walking into his en suite, the mansion seemed fairly quiet for anyone to be up at the current ungodly hour for a Saturday morning. This, in turn, only made Adrianna wonder greatly where Phoenix was.
She spent all of the next fifteen minutes brushing her teeth, washing her face with Bioré and then finally drinking a glass of water.
Now she stood, in the frame of Phoenix's bedroom door, her eyes running from one end of the hall to the other as she mentally debated where she should start wandering.
Taking off in the direction of her right, she came across bedroom after bedroom and a washroom or two. Another room she poked her head in, a gasp left her lips as her eyes took in the sight of a grand library with a brilliantly high ceiling and a spiralling staircase in the back middle to take one to the second story of the room. Adrianna felt in heaven in the room, wistful even, surrounded by probably a million books in just one room. She momentarily forgot about Phoenix before remembering again and a frown settled on her lips.
Closing the door to the library, her feet silently padded along the carpeted floor as she made her way to the next room. Silently opening the door and praying for no creeks, her jaw fell open and her eyes widened.
She found Phoenix alright.
But greedily drinking in the sight of him, she wasn't sure just how much more in love she could fall for the man. She leaned against the frame of the door, her arms crossing her chest as she quietly watched him. In the middle of the rather small, cozy and antique decorated room, Phoenix sat on a small brown cushion and wooden bench before a grand piano, in just his bloody boxers. From where she was standing, she could she a single forelock of his luscious hair dangling on his forehead as he muttered to himself with a pencil in his left hand and staffs on music sheets on the piano stand.
His fingers lightly graced the keys of the piano, playing a sweet and soft melody before he stopped and scribbled on his music sheets. Adrianna lost track of time as she watched him before she decided to walk over to him and sit next to him on the bench. Phoenix visibly jumped and had a sharp intake of breath when he took into realisation of another presence in the room with him. Looking over and seeing Adrianna, he couldn't stop the soft smile that made it's way on his face.
"Good morning, my étoile filante," he said quietly, still not taking his eyes off of her. His smile widened even more when he saw what she was wearing.
"Phoenix," she said in her soft, delicate voice that he loved so much with a smile playing on her lips.
"I didn't wake you up because I thought after our long night... you would like the sleep," he smiled nervously, rubbing the back of his neck. Adrianna felt a blush spread across the apples of her cheeks remembering the way he took her, cherished her, and the way his fingers trailed along her skin as if to memorise her every detail; understanding, she nodded with a bright smile.
Sitting next to each other, his height towers over her. Adrianna's eyes drifted the window and the magnificent view that came with it. It was an oceanic view and making the scene even more perfect, the sun was still in the midst of rising. The pastel colours of the dawn sky was Adrianna's canvas for the melancholic thoughts that always lurked behind in the shadows of the darkest parts of her mind. Always.
His long, slender fingers rested on the keys ever so lightly and she could not help but stare wondrously at the simplistic and minimalistic aesthetic. Before she could get too lost in her thoughts, his fingers began to move, gracing the keys as he played a piece she'd never heard before.
Her eyes lit up with a passionate fire, passionate love, as she listened intently to the piece and focused solely on the rhythmic movement of his fingers. Her eyes lifted to see the musician himself in his element and gasped softly seeing how unbelievably breathtaking the sight was - with his eyes closed, his breathing even, and his fingers just moving on their own accord.
His eyes opened slowly as he hit the last key and his eyes searched her being until they eyes met and locked in place.
"Ph-Phoenix, that was beautiful," Adrianna was rather breathless; the passion she noted Phoenix playing with knocked the air out of her lungs. She couldn't help but find the beauty in such small things.
"Phoenix, you're so talented," she found herself saying quietly. His eyes widened slightly - he'd never heard those words being said to him by anyone all except his mum, father, and Elliot. And now, hearing Adrianna saying it, speaking the words with such passion and so genuine, he felt his heart swell in his chest.
"Thank you," he muttered quietly while a cheshire grin found its way on his face. His gaze kept flickering from his gold irises to her soft and inviting pink lips. Fuck I am so in love with this girl, he thought to himself.
"The piece is Frühlingsglaube, by Schubert." Phoenix found himself saying, well, asking her if she knew of it to which she shook her head. All she did know however was how romantic and sweet the piece was and how she'd give anything to hear Phoenix play again.
"But I love it," the words were the ghost of themselves as she said it with another smile.
Her head fell on his shoulder and he played a random melody and she watched with amazement.
"Pyper can play as well," Phoenix said softly amidst the quiet between them and Adrianna smiles at the thought.
"Does Blake play too?"
Phoenix shook his head, "He didn't want to." The reply caused Adrianna to openly gawk, what the hell?! She thought everyone would want to, playing the piano was such a beautiful thing.
"Do you want to learn, étoile filante?" Phoenix glanced down at Adrianna sweetly. She becomes flustered remembering she once played when she was five but hadn't touched a piano since. All she's even know to play was the violin, for the major part. She begins to formulate a response, stuttering. Before she could answer, he got up and went directly behind her.
"I'll teach you, étoile," he whispered and put his hands lightly over hers on the piano and they began moving graciously. She gasped, closing her eyes and she has a flashback to her five year old self. Before either of them know it, she's moving on her own, playing Morning Mood by Edvard Grieg.
Phoenix took a sharp intake of breath and regained his seat next to her. After keying notes to almost the entire song, Adrianna stopped and froze in her spot. She felt lost.
He was staring at her in disbelief, yet so much passion.
"Étoile filante," he breathed out and pulled her in for a tight hug, "I love you."
"I love you too," she whispered, still staring at her hands.
"You didn't tell me you could play," she heard a smirk in his voice.
"I didn't know I could," she said truthfully, "The last time I played was when I was five because my dad forced me," she chucked softly, "But then my mom introduced me to the violin and then our piano just started collecting dust."
"How did you remember," he asked softly.
"W-When you started playing with me, I closed my eyes and had like this flashback," she replied just as softly while he hummed appreciatively.
"It was beautiful," he said with love, "And what made it even better was watching a goddamn angel from heaven playing it." His voice was thick with emotion, it left her breathless. Adrianna turned her head to look at him and his lips smashed down to hers. Her hands go to cup his face and his go around her small waist, pulling her inhumanly close.
They pulled away, both breathless upon hearing cluttering and clanking in the kitchen.
"Seems like mum and dad are up," he said quietly. Her eyes lit up as she was very fond of his parents but the smile on her face faltered for a second.
"It's so early though."
He scoffed, "Early? There is no such thing when it comes to this family," he grinned.
"Come, let's go étoile filante," he got up and pulled her hand, leading her out of the room to the kitchen.
His mum was working on breakfast and his dad was already seated at the table with his coffee mug and newspaper. They were both wearing robes, slightly hinting at what they were doing before. Celeste turned around the same time Cartier lifted his head up and their eyes widened when they saw their son and his girlfriend standing before them. And specifically what they were dressed in.
Adrianna was stuck in her place, absolutely frozen, while Phoenix smiled cheekily. Cheeky sod, Adrianna thought when her gaze flickered over to him.
Cartier coughed, looking slightly uncomfortable, "Morning son.
"Morning Adri," he looked at her tenderly.
"Good morning it is indeed," Phoenix muttered, though it was loud enough for everyone to hear. Adrianna's eyes widened and her jaw dropped to the floor. She turned and smacked him, hard, causing him to groan. She turned back to his parents wearing a wide smile.
"Good morning, to my favourite parents ever," she grinned madly knowing just how much it would bother Phoenix. Celeste and Adrianna wrapped their arms around each other in a tight hug before Adrianna went over to Cartier. Temporarily forgetting her lack of attire, she pressed a light kiss to his cheek.
"Follow along," he muttered. He wrapped his arms around her waist and she wrapped her arms around his neck and he picked her up, spinning her around.
Behind them, Phoenix growled, "Dad." Cartier set Adrianna down just in time for Phoenix to pull her in his embrace, "Mine." Everyone, but him of course, laughed wholeheartedly.
"Adri, honey, I heard the piano playing, I hope it was you. It was beautiful," she smiled wistfully.
"It was me," Adrianna nodded happily, "Thank you."
"I'm making crepes with chocolate covered strawberries, I hope that's fine with you all," Celeste looked a bit unsure. Meanwhile, Adrianna's jaw dropped.
"Crepes? With chocolate covered strawberries? Yes please," she nodded enthusiastically while Celeste laughed. But she was cut short when Adrianna spoke up again, "Can I help?"
"Absolutely not!" Celeste's voice bellowed as she laughed at the girl, "Adrianna, you're my guest, relax and enjoy yourself," she practically pushed Adrianna in a chair next to Cartier while Phoenix took the seat next to her.
Ten minutes later, Celeste placed a plate with a crepe and chocolate drizzle down the middle surrounded by strawberries dipped in chocolate along with a sprinkle of powdered sugar in front of everyone.
Cartier came to the table with four mugs, freshly brewed coffee for his wife and himself, and two mugs of white tea for his son and his girl.
"Oh my god," Adrianna moaned in delight as she bit into the crepe.
"Now I know where you get you cooking skills from!" She exclaimed at Phoenix in the midst of breakfast causing his shoulders to slightly shake as he chuckled. Turned to Celeste with a wide smile, "Will you please teach me your skills?"
"Mum, don't listen to her, she cooks perfectly, she just wants to spend more time with you and dad," Phoenix whined like a little boy.
"Oh," Celeste laughed heartily, "My baby boy, are you jealous," she asked with a smirk, arching a perfect brow.
"Yes! God, yes!" He continued to whine, bringing his hands up to cover his face while his parents along with Adrianna laughed endlessly.
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thoughts on this chapter ? i love you all ! and it's officially twenty nineteen, let's make it bloody unforgettable ! though i write before i publish, i'm writing this chapter on january first, twenty nineteen. this marks gold skies' second birthday ahhhh thank you all for the continuous love and support. i love you all ! <3