h o o k e d on a f e e l i n g | mew + theo + arsen
Mar 22, 2015 1:51:46 GMT -5
Post by gamemaker kelsier on Mar 22, 2015 1:51:46 GMT -5
B A R T H O L M E W T O D D
Because it's a Tuesday afternoon, I thought that I'd bake a cake. It's nobody's birthday but Haven and I never have much to celebrate but each other we don't get to eat cake often. So I'm baking a cake and it's a chocolate cake and I've made homemade strawberry icing for it too that's cooling in the fridge. Theo's sitting at the kitchen table, idly licking the mixing bowl as I pour the batter into a baking pan that's shaped like a circle. The sun is shining idly through the kitchen window and dust motes dance in it's spotlight. I try to keep the kitchen clean like the rest of the house but getting all the dust is hard, especially when it chooses to dance so nimbly.
"Oh!" I say suddenly, a sudden smile forming across my face as I remember something that I've forgotten to tell Theo. Having news for Theo is always exciting for me because then I get to kick him out of his thoughts and I know that he thinks about bad stuff a lot even if he pretends that he doesn't. "You'll never guess what happened to me," I hum happily, putting the pan into the fridge to bake later.
"I bet I can," he says it like he's only half listening and his eyes are focused out the window. I frown slightly and drag a cloth across the kitchen counter. To be honest, I've been mulling this particular news over for the better part of a week, wondering if it actually happened or if I just dreamed it because I wanted it to happen. Theo tells me that I'm a bit of a romantic, that I shouldn't just expect someone to come along and sweep me off of my feet but to be honest, that's how it works in the books mom left behind. There's always a prince and there's always a princess.
After a lot of thought, I'm certain that this was no dream. My blood is still boiling from the pressure of his lips against mine
"I had my first kiss," I say it all smooth and nonchalant like the very idea of it hasn't been keeping me awake at night for years now. Maybe in my head I've built it up to more than what it was, maybe he's not half as cute as I remember him, not half as charming. I don't know. It was my first kiss. It's grabbed Theo's attention at least. He's finally looking at me. I glance at him shyly and continue wiping down the counter, already eyeing the bowl full of dishes in the sink to be done as well.
"I didn't know you were interested in anyone," he finally says and I'm certain that a slight blush blooms across my cheekbones even if I can't feel the heat.
"I'm not," I answer him, correcting myself quickly, "Or at least I wasn't before. Now I think I am." I smile and turn on the tips of my toes, enjoying the feeling of liking someone for the first time far too much. With a graceful move, I flick the hot water tap on and warm water that is slowly getting hotter pours into the sink. I don't look at him as the water fills, I always miss when it's done and I've filled the sink too full far too many times to count.
"Then...." he says and a knot forms in my stomach like I've done something wrong. It happens a lot because I'm a bit short on brain cells and I do stuff wrong a lot. "You didn't want to kiss them?" he asks me. I don't answer him, cringing slightly as I realize that I've opened a bad can of worms here. "Mew," he begins, voice almost dangerous, "Did they ask permission?"
"Uhhh," I answer noncommittally, shoving my hands into water that is probably far too hot judging by the steam rising from the sink but I forget to pay attention to it. I'll probably end up burned but trying not to raise suspicion is suddenly taking up all of my brain cells.
"Mew," he says, voice suddenly sounding rather tired, "Who is this person?"
Heck.
"Wellllll-"
"Oh my god, Mew." he interrupts me and I shyly slide out of sight beneath the counter, like I'm hiding from a hail of angry Theo bullets. "Was it just some weirdo on the street?"
"I met him like three times before!" I tell him desperately, as if steadying him on the street every now and then counts as a meeting. I think it sort of does because I'm pretty sure a meeting's definition is 'having contact with someone' and I definitely had contact with him, right? "He likes pigeons and I have his sketchbook?" I offer the information I have to Theo, peaking hesitantly aver the counter at him.
"Mew you can't just go around kissing..." he waves his arms around in the air with frustration, sort of like the way my math teacher does when he can't handle me anymore, "...weird, pigeon-obsessed, homeless people!"
I blink at him from my perch, my hands are an angry red so carefully I reach up and flick on the cold water tap, dowsing my hands in what is hopefully freezing water to cool them down. I don't take my eyes away from Theo's during this whole silent exchange and he doesn't look away from me either. I'm at a loss of what to say. There's no point in telling him that I didn't kiss him on purpose because in the end I liked it too much.
Finally, he sighs and pushes the mixing bowl to the side, "Right, let me see this sketch book, maybe it has a name in it at least."
I brighten up at his acceptance and crawl two steps across the kitchen floor, pulling myself to my feet in order to scramble into the living room to get the book from where I've stowed it in the shelving. "I didn't want to look too much inside because it's private, but there was a shop name on the front page," I say, as I enter the kitchen again and carefully place the book in front of Theo, flipping the page open to the address I found. It reads:Hooked On Ink
21383 89th Street
District Two
Theo doesn't look pleased when he reads the shop name though, in fact he looks less than. My smile fades as he begins to frown and I wring my hands slightly, flicking water onto the kitchen tiles. "Goddamnit Mew," he mutters and stands up so suddenly that I stumble backwards. He grabs onto my wrist and is dragging me towards the door before I can even think. "Come on," he says, taking me outside and down the front walk, "Homeless pigeon man is about to get a stern talking to."
Despite fearing for his safety, a happy warmth blooms in the pit of my stomach at his words.
I get to see him again.