Branch One Hundred and Fifty Five
Xavier climbs up the stairs after Olivia has stormed out on him. He has a lot more to say but could not get to say it when she went out. He enters the room to see Jessica sitting on the bed and staring into space.
“Jessica,” he says slowly trying to get her attention. She whips her head to him and smiles.
“I did not hear you come in”
“Are you fine?”
“Yeah, why do you ask?” she asks back standing up and walking to the vanity table.
“Because you were in tears a moment ago and now you are sitting here staring into space,” he tells her as if it was the obvious answer.
“I am fine”
“You know since we are going to be a real couple we might as well go all out,” he said coming to stand behind her.
She squints her eyes and waits for him to go on. She did not know where he was going with that statement and she did not want to assume.
“You know what I mean don’t you?” he asked and she pulled up her most puzzled face so he knew she did not get it.
“You know the way couples tell each other everything without hiding anything,” he said emphasizing the word everything.
“I told you already that nothing was wrong” She glanced at him through the mirror. “Moreover it is not something I can’t handle” she added in a whisper.
“And if I help you out you could handle it faster”
“You heard that?” she asked shocked.
“Did you not say it so I could hear it?” he asked back.
She shuffled on both feet and turned to him. “I don’t want you to be bothered by such minor things. I would make sure she leaves very soon. She was demanding a ridiculously high amount of money but I am sure that if I offered her a few bucks she would leave”
“And then come back a few months later for more?” he asked. He knew very well what that kind of situation she was in. He had his own fair share of madness with his aunt.
She came occasionally and tried her best to get the best out of the situation and then she disappeared for some time only to reappear when she was low on cash.
“I don’t know” Jessica confessed honestly.
“That’s why I said we can do this together”
She felt comforted by his statements. She knew how hard it was for her to face those things on her own for a very long time.
“What do you think we can do to stop her from coming back?” she asked ready to do anything to free herself.
“Leave that to me,” he said as his voice came low.
“You won’t share the plan with me?”
“Well I have not thought of a plan yet but when I do I will make sure to let you know”
She nodded as she wanted to put her trust in him hoping that all would turn out good and nice.
“Now smile” he commented and she looked up at him weirdly.
“What?” she asked feeling a laugh coming up her chest. She was going to laugh because she found the situation strange.
“You always look better when you smile and I have seen your frown for way too long”
“I am just going to ignore that so I can get ready so we can go see Dawson”
As Jessica turned to leave Xavier grabbed her hand. “Xavier,” she said in a playful tone.
“I would not let you go until you smile,” he said and she felt her tummy start a butterfly wing flapping competition.
“There,” she said opening her mouth to display her teeth while showing the weakest smile ever.
“Jessica,” he said. The tone his voice took was playful and warning at the same time.
“Xavier, we will be late and I am sure sometime during the day my mood will improve,” she told him.
He nodded and released his grip on her hand. “I want to see you come out of there with smiles”
Sh hurried from his grip into the closet and she closed the door behind herself as she put her hand over her chest as if that was to silence her rapid heartbeat.
She closed her eyes to steady her raging breath. When he stopped her she had the urge to run her fingers through his hair and dig them down and she planted a kiss on his lips.Còntens bel0ngs to Nô(v)elDr/a/ma.Org
“Jessica get yourself together” she whispered as she opened her eyes.
She entered the bathroom and took a quick shower to subside the sweat she had worked up in the kitchen while cooking. When she came out of the bathroom she wore one of the clothes she was yet to wear that she had gotten from Alicia’s store.
She came out and met Xavier sitting on the bed. His eyes followed her from the door of the closet to the vanity mirror where she sat down.
“Are you going to make up?” he asked as she sat down and stared at herself in the mirror.
“Just something light” she replied rubbing on some lotion to her body.
“Don’t” he said his voice firm and demanding.
“Why? ” she asked as his hands suspended in mid-air close to her face.
“You are already so pretty, I don’t think anyone would be able to take them off you. If you make up any further you would be too pretty you might have to be a god”
Jessica cleared her throat. She stared at herself in the mirror and she wondered how she was not redder than how she looked. No one had ever said something of such to her before.
“I want to be prettier” she replied and picked up her powder case on the table.
“I guess I will have to keep you at home all day then” he replied standing up and starting to walk slowly towards her.
“You can’t do that,” she told him and continued to pat her face with the powder pouch.
“Do not make me do that” he said going down on his knee.
She felt his hot breath on her neckbone. She shuddered under how she wanted him to stop and how badly she wanted to have it. She was confused and she did not want to deny it.
“Xavier, I have to get ready, Genevieve is waiting downstairs for us and we have to go see Dawson,” she said slowly her voice low.
“I did not say anything to stop you from getting ready” he told her as he watched her from the mirror.
She gulped hard and closed her eyes. “Okay fine,” he said kissing her back and standing up.
“Get ready,” he said walking to the door.