Page 17

"Risotto?" Mable asked as we walked back to our apartment for with Thomas and Marcus.

"Fuck yes." I said.

"Absolutely." Marcus said, practically salivating.

"Alright, risotto it is." She said as we started walking up to the apartment.

"I'll help." I said as we entered the apartment.

"You don't-"

"Mable, it's fine." I said and she gave me a grateful smile.

"So, when did you guys move here?" Marcus asked as he and Thomas sat on the sofa facing the kitchen.

"Nearly five months ago now." I said.

"What about your families?" He asked and I immediately stiffened opposite the fridge, onion in hand.

"Mable is originally from New York." I said, trying to relax. "Her family has a house here but they're currently in London."

"What about you?" Marcus asked and Thomas gave him a warning look.

"My father and three brothers are in London but my mother was from New York." I said quietly, focusing on chopping the onions next to Mable who was measuring the risotto rice.

"Does she live here?" Marcus questioned.

Mable, Thomas and I stiffened in unison.

Marcus seemed to notice the shift in mood because he said, "...What?"

"Marcus." Thomas warned.

"It's fine." I hurried to add. "My mother passed away around four years ago."

"Shit. I'm an asshole." Marcus said, his head in his hands.

I heard Thomas mumble something a lot like, "Yes you fucking are."

I gave him a reassuring smile. "It's okay." Then I cleared my throat. "What about you guys?" I already knew a bit about Thomas' family from the disaster that was his 20th birthday party but I would be lying to myself if I lied and said I didn't want to know more.

"My mother and father live in New York." Marcus said.

"You're an only child too?" Mable said, her head lifting from the rice.

"Only children are insufferable." Thomas said and I nodded,

"Agreed."

Both Marcus and Mable looked between us before Mable said, "And yet here you are, both best friends with only children."

"Tell me about it." I rolled my eyes playfully. "It's a nightmare."

Thomas laughed which in turn made me laugh. His laughter is contagious. He's contagious.

Mable frowned before sending a sly grin my way.

"What about you, Thomas?" She asked.

"My mother, brother and step-father are in New York but my sister is in..." He paused, as if considering whether he should say this before he looked at me and he must have come to a decision because he said, "she's in Edinburgh."

"I love Edinburgh!" I exclaimed because it was very true which made Thomas' eyes brighten.

"Remember that school trip we went on?" Mable asked.

"Oh my gosh yes! And we performed in Edinburgh."

This seemed to have put Thomas at ease because he asked, "What did you perform?"

"Swan Lake." I said with a small smile.

"Who was the black swan?" Thomas asked.

Mable grinned mischievously, "Val, of course. She was the best after all."

I rolled my eyes. "Exaggeration."

She was wearing a look that said this was absolutely not true.

"How old were you?" Marcus asked.

I thought about it. "I was thirteen I think." I said.

"Thirteen?!" Marcus said.

Mable nodded before pointing at me and saying, "Prodigy." I rolled my eyes.

"Who was the white swan?" Thomas asked.

Mable stiffened next to me before plastering a smile on her face. "A girl called Bee." She said.

"A right cunt." I added which Thomas laughed at. Marcus' head swivelled in his direction as if he's never heard the sound before. Knowing Thomas, maybe he hadn't.

"You know, I never used to use words like that until I met you." Mable said thoughtfully.

I shrugged. "Having three older brothers teaches you things."

"Like what?" Marcus asked.

I grinned because I loved talking about this part in my life. Before everything bad happened. Before Mum died. Before my family started to hate me.

"Will taught me to smoke, Fred taught me how to take a shot without tasting it and Michael taught me which places in a man to hit for maximum pain."

"Jesus." Marcus said.

"They also taught me good things. Will taught me how to love books. I'll forever be grateful for that." I said, smiling. "Though I think his favourite book is still the Lord of the Rings."

"Fair." Thomas said.

I nodded. "Fair but basic."

"Alright, Divergent."

"Shut up!" I laughed as Marcus said,

"Fucking nerds."

"You told him about Divergent?!" Mable exclaimed.

I shrugged. "We both like books."

"You guys are creepily similar." Mable said.

"Fuck off. That's so mean." I said, not caring that Thomas could hear me and ignoring his smirk at what Mable had said.

"It's the truth. You both hold huge grudges." Marcus said. "You both love books."

"And you both aren't that afraid of confrontation." Mable finished.

I looked at Thomas but he had a look on his face that said he thought this was the absolute best thing ever.

However, what Mable didn't know was that I could be afraid of confrontation. Especially when it came to my family. Which was why I tried to face things and people head on in other areas of my life. Triedbeing the key word here.

Just as Thomas opened his mouth to say something, the red phone rang. Instead of the usual feeling of dread making it's way through my body, I felt light, almost excited at the prospect of talking to my brother.

"Sorry, I have to take this."

"It's fine talk to Will. I'll finish the prep." Mable gave me a reassuring smile.

I padded over to the phone and picked it up.

"Hi Will." I said with a smile, facing away from the others as they began another conversation.

"Hi Val." Except it was not Will. It was Michael.

"Oh, hi Michael." I said nervously. Fred and Michael my older twin brothers never called me. It was always either Will or... Dad.

"Yeah, look, I've been meaning to call but you know..." He trailed off.

"Don't worry about it. I know you've been busy." I hurried to say.

Mable came over, sipping on some water and gave me a confused look. "Michael." I mouthed, causing her to choke on her drink.

"Is everything okay?" Thomas asked, getting up. "Can I help?"

"Yes, actually, you can." Mable said, sending a final glance over to me before thrusting a courgette into his chest.

"Thomas Verner, helping?I never thought I'd see the day." Marcus said, also getting up.

"Who's that?" Michael asked over the phone.

"Just some friends." I replied.

"Any um...?"

"Boyfriend?" I filled in. Michael was never good with his words and never liked guys around me, hence his self defence lessons. I felt Thomas' green eyes on me as I said this. "No, no. No boyfriend." Thomas looked back at his courgette that he was chopping. Weird.

"That's good. Studies and all." This conversation was getting progressively more awkward. "Listen, um, there is a reason I called you."

"Oh yeah?"

"Yeah um, I know Will is coming to visit..."

"You can totally come too!" I finished for him.

"No, that's not- I'm sorry- I can't, Val." He said, and I felt myself deflate slightly.

"Oh yeah, sure. I know you're busy. It's fine." I said, suddenly realising that I was probably about to cry at my foolishness and selfishness. In front of Thomas.

"I don't think you should let Will come." He finished before he abruptly hung up.

I pulled the phone from my ear, staring down at it, tears welling in my eyes. Not only had I embarrassed myself, but my brother wanted to ruin the one good thing that I was looking forward to. I took some deep breaths before gaining the courage to turn around and find everyone gone except for Thomas.

"Where did they go?" I asked, well aware that my eyes were glassy.

"The supermarket. Are you okay?" Thomas asked gently, coming over to me so he was very close.

I plastered on a fake smile. "Fine, I'm fine."

"Bullshit." He said calmly.

"...Excuse me?" I said, shocked.

"You've been looking forward to your brother's visit for ages. What's changed?" I didn't even realise that he had noticed that.

I looked away. "I don't want to talk about it." I said quietly.

"Okay." He surprised me by saying and before I knew what was happening, I was being pulled into his arms.

Thomas smelled like pine, spices and sweat from the game. He was shockingly warm despite his cold personality and I felt... safe. That was worrying.

Before I could think twice, I found myself wrapping my arms around him which only made him tighten the hug.

I was the one who broke away because I was pretty sure that if I didn't, we would be standing like that for ages.

"Thank you." I said quietly.

My heart rate was picking up at an alarming speed. The only person I really let touch me was Mable and even then, that wasn't very often. It didn't take a comfy sofa and a licenced professional to know that this definitely stemmed from my childhood. I just gave Thomas a hug.

"It's no problem." Thomas said with a shrug and it was then that I noticed that his cheeks were slightly pink.

"Are you... blushing?" I asked, laughing.

He instantly scowled and his cheeks paled. "No."

"You definitely were." I was still laughing.

"Whatever. I don't hug or touch people often." He looked away.

"Me neither." I said and he looked back at me, a thoughtful expression in his eyes.

Before either of us could say any more, a key was turning in the front door and Mable and Marcus came into the apartment, laughing.

"Is everything okay?" Mable asked, sobering.

"Fine. Everything's fine now." I said and Mable seemed to buy this and came to the kitchen.

"It's risotto time." She said.

I smiled at her before I smiled at Thomas, gratitude brimming in my eyes. He smiled back at me which Marcus caught, his eyes going wide in shock.

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