Captivating mr millionaire heart

“Wake up, stinky!  Ruth awakes to the curtain ringing up, bringing dawn with a new freshness of light, as if the world has been upgraded to some high definition.   “It’s too bright” she groans, shifting away from the light - definitely not ready for the morning “close the curtain, marris”   “It’s morning already” Marris quips and rings up the remaining curtains.   I’m not a morning person and you know that.”Ruth shoves her face in her pillow to block the emerging light. Marris snatches it and glares at her.   I know you love your beauty sleep, but you need to get up. eyelids. She looks outside her window. Today,the light is oddly bright, coasting the seagulls into dark shadows against a sky of palest blue. Their wings beat, hugging the air as they drift on unseen thermals. For a few moments,they have Marris eye, keeping her spun into some sort of daydream. Okay what’s with you Marris snapped out of her daydream and frowns at Ruth “can’t believe you forgot “ forgot what ?” Ruth groans already tired of this conversation. Tomorrow is our graduation party Ruth Ruth straightens up in shock oh crap I forgot probably because you were dreaming about Lincoin all night Trying to hide the flush in her face. Ruth hurls a pillow at the giggling Marris who catches onto it in a spin and shoves it back to Ruth’s face. Damn her cat reflexes.  “I was not!”   Marris giggles more at her weak attempt at denial and snatches a pillow that Mia is trying to reach for and shoves it right at her. She grabs her in a wrestle and they fall on the bed.    “Eww, you reek!” Marris jumps away making a gross face.  “I thought you loved me so much and you wanted a big hug. Come, give momma a tight buggy wuggy” Ruth chases after her.   “Get away from me, you filthy beast!” She giggles “Go take a shower”       “You sure you don’t want all this love?” Ruth makes an exaggerated attempt at a gypsy wiggle and her teardrop breasts jiggle in her tank top. “We really have a lot to do today, Ruth”   “Fine, so what’s the plan?”   Get a shower first, then we’d get breakfast. we would need to pick our dresses from the boutique”   “Okay, and?”    “And we need to get manicure.”   “I’m always up for that”     Of course, you are Marris shakes her head, lays on the bed, and Ruth mouths her a kiss as she walks into the bathroom. In the soft white-gold light of the new day, the hues of her bedroom move from impressionist postels to brilliant pop art. Ruth has always hated mornings but this morning seemed like it would birth a special day.   The shower didn’t take the usual 45 minutes which includes endless sing alongs to her favorite Ariana grande songs, kick-ass dance moves and self impressions of Beyoncé poses in the mirror. She changes into a casual outfit of a Real Madrid home jersey top, blue ripped jeans, and a pair of brown sandals. Ruth comes out and Stella makes a run into the bathroom. “I need to pee.” Marris says Ruth scoffs and pulls out a blow-dryer from the drawer close to the window is a view of the ocean one of her favorite things about this university is the set of students lodge rooms with built in vertical arrangements just close to the ocean. It isn’t on Ivy League school or a very expensive school but it needed a good buck. A few minutes later Marris phone rings and she peeks her head from the bathroom. “It must be lincoin” “she says” Answer it and tell him I am busy! Marris has got to be kidding her.     Ruth picks up Marris phone in her hand and her heart starts to thump in sync to Marris regaeton ringtone threatening to beat out of her chest.    “No, I won’t answer it”    “It’s lincoin. Isn’t it ?”    “Yes, it is and that’s exactly why I don’t answer it.”    “You’re such a drama queen.” Marris rolls her eyes “just text him!”     Ruth frantically types a quick text telling him that Marris is busy and then she slumps on the bed to stare at the ceiling. It feels just like yesterday, 16 years ago when she realized she was in love with lincoin Ben. There was something about him that drew people to him she guessed it didn’t hurt that he was a good looking boy, but it was more than that. He was quiet, but not out of painful shyness. It was a reserved ness, like a conscious choice to observe the lie of the land before he got involved. Yet he Wasn’t stand-offish, he remained friendly-faced and welcoming in body posture. It wasn't like he sat down one day and planned to be like that, it's just the way he Was. She never saw him go out and deliberately make a friend, they just came to him. There was nothing threatening about him, nothing at all. He was an easy listener, a good audience, giving erncouraging feedback laced with intelligent comments, especially for his age. He worked hard, he got his work done. Only once in a while would he sink into a sulk over getting some school work wrong, it didn't happen to him often, and he had poor tolerance for the feeling when it did. She remembered that particular bright and sunny afternoon she and Marris were stuck in a stupid argument over whose turn it was to ride the bike around the backyard. Marris and Lincoin being cousins meant lincoin visited Marris much more often than normal.        “Marris, it's my turn!" she remembered saying       "No, it's my turn!" Marris shot back       "This is my scooter".       " I'm your best friend."       "And I'm yours. But. . .but it's my turn." "ll give it to you after taking one more ride," Marris said as she rode away. Ruth tried running after her but ended up twisting her ankle and bruising her knee. It hurt like hell. She remembered glancing at her sore knee every now and then and crying. From absolutely nowhere, a figure came kneeling and wiping her tears. It was non-other than Lincoin Harris. "Are you alright?" he asked "It hurts" she cried "Let me see?"   He touched her knee and she flinched. "Im sorry." he laughed as he wiped her face with his hands. "Let's take you inside and patch it up."Ruth remembered nodding silently with her tear-stained face and planting a kiss on his cheek as he blushed. Afterward, he helped her up and carried her into the house on a piggyback ride. Marris backyard was a miniature woodland of holly trees and native shrubs, each of them trimmed as if they were green flames. It was beautiful. The insides of her home gave a different feeling to its own unique beauty. It was welcoming from the open door to the wide hallway. Upon the walls were the photographs of Marris and her brothers, so obvious, so loved. The floor was an old-fashioned parquet with a blend of deep homely browns and the walls were the greens of summer gardens meeting a bold white baseboard. The banister was a twirl of a branch, tamed by the carpenter's hand, its grain flowing as water might, in waves of comforting woodland hues. Under the lamp- shine, it was nature's art, something that Soothed right to the soul. It really was beautiful in there but what was more beautiful was the boy carrying Ruth on his back. He took her to the living room, let her down where everything was, left the room and returned with a first aid box. He wiped her wound with some antiseptic and patched it up and all the while checking in with "are you okay?", "does it sting?" and the occasional soothing wind blown from his mouth. In all honesty, at that moment, nothing else mattered. . .she was under the attention of hervery own beautiful prince Charming. God, he was so beautiful. His sea-blue eyes occasionally regarded her with concern. "I should call uncle; he will take you to the hospital," he said Ruth has always hated hospitals. She jolted. She didn't know if it was from what he said or the sharp pain she suddenly felt. "Are you okay?" he asked again "I don't want to go to the hospital. "Why?" "Because I hate hospitals." "Yeah, I hate hospitals too." Isn't he just perfect? "Do you want ice cream?" he asked "Yes" Ruth grinned despite her tear-stained face and Lincoin laughed as he headed to the refrigerator. Lincoin came back with two bowls of her favorite vanilla ice cream with chocolate chips - she didn't know if that was just random or he knew her so well. They sat in the living room quietly eating their ice cream and watching his favorite show on TV. Marris came home not long after and the girls hugged and made up while Lincoin scoffed. The blow-dryer hummed, bringing Ruth  back to the present."What are you smiling about, you weirdo?" Marris asks as she makes her way to the bed. "Oh, nothing." "Oh come on!" Up "It's nothing. I was just remembering when we argued about who would ride the bike along Hamilton Street" "Oh yeah, I remember" Marris laughs "Especially your little rendezvous with Lincoin" "Oh, stop it" "Okay okay," Marris says putting her hands up "You know, I never really understood what was up with you two. I mean you both like each other, obviously. What's the problem then?" Marris is right. The hots,Ruth and Lincoin have for each other is so obvious to see but it keeps feeling like they are both.. . waiting. Sometimes she thinks maybe he isn't attracted to her the Way she is to him, maybe he's just being a 'good friend' but then again he makes gestures that make her think he might like her romantically. The conundrum frustrates her. Ruth remembers the day he got into a fight for her. Even Marris had no idea why Lincoin broke the face of that Caleb kid. However, she has a vivid memory of that day. Her parents were out of town and she had been at Marris house for weeks. Lincoin was home from boarding school on break. Ruth wondered what they fed him in that school. He had become tall, muscular, and more attractive as he was a high schooler now. He had just gotten his driver's license and you could never not see him behind a steering wheel. Marris and Ruth took advantage of this and made him drive them to school every morning. That particular day, Marris was sick so Lincoin drove Ruth to school alone when he noticed how quiet she was throughout the ride. It took a few side glances from him to ask what the problem was "What is the matter??" he asked "What do you mean?" "You've been particularly quiet for a few days now. You're always lost in thought. Sometimes I catch you shaking and then get jumpy when I call you. What is the problem?" He noticed. How did he notice? "Oh, It's nothing." He stopped the car and grabbed her shaking hand. "You look scared. It feels like you are avoiding something. You don't want to go to school?" he asked regarding her carefully "It..It's nothing." All of a sudden, her phone beeped and he caught the horror on her face just before she could hide it. He snatched her phone away in record time. He read the message aloud: Don't wear a bra. I want to see your n*****s. Ruth saw the rage light up his eyes and all she could do was wish he never saw that text message. “Who is this guy? Are you dating him?" "I'm not!" she sniffed, “Then why he is telling you he wants to see your n*****s. Is he some kind of perv?" "Lincoin, he's an asshole. He keeps tormenting me" “How long has this been going on?" "Since 'Seven Minutes In Heaven' happened" "What? Does he sends you these pervy, messages often?" "Yes, he does. He sometimes tries to touch me" Without further questions, he pulled her in a hug. He smelled of mint and soap. He felt so comforting. Without further questions, he pulled her in a hug. He smelled of mint and soap. He felt so comforting. "I'm here. I'm here” he said into her hair “And as long as I'm here, you don't have to feel scared. I'll take care of this boy. He'll not bother you again." When Lincoin dropped Ruth off at school, he messaged Caleb with Ruth phone to meet him at the back of the school. Lincoin made Ruth  promise to wait in the car while he had a few words with Caleb. When Caleb arrived at the back of the school, hoping to see Ruth, Lincoin pounced on him. Letting her curiosity get the best of her, Ruth left the car and crept to the back of the school to see what Lincoin was up to. When she got there, she saw Lincoin go past his personal tipping point. He tore into Caleb as if he was less than meat, each blow landing precisely on its intended target" “Lincoin please stop!" was all it took for him to stop his latest blow mid-air. Lincoin looked at Ruth with bloodshot eyes. Oh God, was he crying? “Stop...please stop" she begged. He avoided her eyes and looked at the poor Caleb holding his bloodied face and said “The next time you make as much as a whisper in her direction, I will kill you" Caleb nodded and ran off as Lincoin cleaned the blood and bruises off his fists with a rag from his pocket. Ruth ran to him and held him tight. “You stupid ...stupid boy" she sobbed into his Spider-Man hoodie. "He won't bother you again," he said as he held her. "So, is he coming?" Ruth asks "Who?" Ruth rolls her eyes and Marris grins “Oh you mean Lincoin?" Ruth shakes her head and walks over to her tabled mirror to hide her reddened face and avoid Marris eyes. Damn her best friend for knowing how to push her embarrassment buttons. "Oh! I forgot to tell you. Sadly, Lincoin won't be able to attend our graduation party that came as a dagger driven through Ruth’s beating 'heart. She hiccuped. “Are you okay?" "Of course, I am okay" “Are you sure?" "I'm fine" Ruth irritation growing. "You know I could call his ass right now and make him come" Unable to control her impulses or feelings, Ruth throws Marris a hopeful glance. Marris throws her head back in a burst of silent laughter. "Aww, you sad sad sad love-struck chihuahua" Stella teased "You could do that?"| "Pleaseee...easy peasy!" Marris says as she picks her phone and calls him. He doesn't let it ring long before he answers. Marris presses the speakerphone. “Hey! What's up?" he says "Hey, Lin. I was just wondering if you could make it to our party tomorrow." Marris says as she waggles her eyebrows at Ruth who hurls a pillow at her. “Our?" "Yeah. Ruth and I are throwing our graduation party together." “It's weird how you two aren't related but you do everything together." he chuckles “Not everything..." After the awkward silence, she continues “Anyway, if you care for me, get your ass to the party tomorrow and stay with us for the weekend. Dad misses you." "Uncle misses me? I didn't exactly catch that vibe when we spoke over the phone last weekend. What's going on Marris?" he asks skeptically "What?" "Marris?" "What, dude? Can't a cousin miss her cousin?" “Not this cousin" "What?" "This cousin never misses her cousin unless she wants something..." Lincoin laughs and Ruth, joins him silently. Marris glares at Ruth and the grin disappears from her face. “Low blow, Lin" “... or is scheming" "Your words cut deep, pretty boy! Sometimes I don't even know you" "Okay, I'll try to come home for a weekend, but no promises," he says "Okay, boy bye. I have a lot of work to do." Marris ends the call before he could reply and glares at Ruth. Ruth glares back at her and then they both burst out laughing. Their laughter is so free and pure, so childish despite their adult years. It comes to their ears as a tickle and bounce - and only a rocky heart could do anything but join in such generous mirth. An hour later, they arrive at Tino's, a café just fifteen minutes away from Ruth lodge. They "What's up. Lil" Marris says as Ruth smiles at Lily. "Same old same old" "You look hotter than usual today," Marris  says “Ah, well probably not hot enough to get invited to your graduation party," she says as she stands hands akimbo “Oh shoot, Lil I'm sorry. I asked Dante - the bald guy over there, to tell you about it on Tuesday" “No worries. I'm just messing with you. I know Dante forgot. I wasn't going to miss it” Lily laughs “Attagirl" "So you'd both be having the usual? An Arabica for you and a latte for Ruth, right?" “Yes please" Lily smiles in affirmation and walks to the espresso machine to mix the girls' order as Ruth still sucks in the place. Tino's is one of her favorite corners in town. Firstly, because Lincoin loves it there. Secondly, it is where the chattering chefs can be heard from the tables, joking and teasing, or perhaps singing loudly, and out of tune. The food is simple and the decor plain. Marris couldn't stand it there but had no choice because Ruth loves it there. She loves it for the people, for the conversations she has had and the routine of seeing one another, the chance to make these casual bonds. All she knows is that when the sun rises, when those first rays tell her that the day has already become a vibrant scene, she's looking forward, to being there. A notification beep sends Ruth’s attention to her phone and when she is done, like, 'hypnotism, she flips through her i********: account. As if fate plays a cruel joke, she comes across Lincoin picture posted by a business magazine. It reads “An interview with the youngest and most eligible millionaire bachelor, Lincoin Harris" The surge of curiosity is so overwhelming that she finds herself clicking on the link to the magazine read just to find out if he is single or in a secret committed relationship. She scans through the magazine page in record time and as she finds out he is single, she squeals and jumps up in excitement, catching the attention of the people nearby. "What happened?" Marris asks, her big eyes getting even bigger. "He's single! OMG!" "Who is single, you weirdo?" Ruth sits down and whispers. “Lincoin." “I don't think so. It's just for an interview." “Really?" Ruth asks pretending there isn't a huge lump growing in her throat now “That sucks. He shouldn't have lied for an interview by the way." "Yeah, I know," Marris says as she checks her own phone “He had to lie to stop the media from interfering in his personal life - that sorta thing" Without Marris eyes regarding her every expression, Ruth sighed and jutted her bottom lip out, redirecting the airflow to her long bangs. For that brief moment, her black hair fanned upwards before resettling just over her eyes. Ruth stirred her latte absentmindedly, with everything else out of focus. So much so that she didn't notice Marris saying something. "I'm sorry, what?" Ruth asks, deciding to stop punishing the latte and actually drink it. "Where did you head off to?" Marris asks with a tinge of concern on her face. "Oh, it's nothing...nowhere" “Ruth..." “I know I know, I am pathetic" "Well that you are" Marris smiles but not with a tease but a rare sympathy “You know Lincoin deserves to know what you feel for him." "You know I can't do that." Ruth groans Impatient with Ruth’s annoying excuses, Marris sips her coffee and says “You mean, You scared of rejection, honey, and honestly, it is a chicken move – cowardly. You know I can't bear to see you like this. I've had to endure it for fifteen years -" “Sixteen -" “My point is -" Marris counters back with a serious face “You can't keep waiting in the wings for things to fall into place. You have to do something. Get up and get what you want", “I'm not scared of rejection." “No?" "I'm not!" “Mmhmm" "I'm just waiting for him to show me a sign that he sees me as a woman now, not like a little sister.” Marris exhales, shakes her head, and gets her attention enslaved by a hunk of a man walking into the café. "Who the devil is that?" Marris says, jawdropping. Ruth follows her gaze and sees what she sees and hiccups. The man has the kind of face that stops you in your tracks. Ruth guessed he must get used to that, the sudden pause in a person's natural expression when they looked his way followed by overcompensating with a nonchalant gaze and a weak smile. Of course, the blush that accompanied it was a dead, give-away. It didn't help that he was so modest, with it, it made the girls fall for him all the more. "Wow." Marris sighs unintentionally as her eyes follow him walk gracefully all the way to the barista behind the counter where he orders a cappuccino. Marris even feels a pang of jealousy at the young brunette sharing a smile with him. Oh if deathly stares could m**m. As the barista goes to the espresso machine to fix his order, he lets his eyes wander the cafe. Unanticipating the inevitable, Marris eyes brush his and their eyes lock for a moment. In that fleeting moment, the world, stands still for Stella. Bad goes to worse when he nods and smiles a “hey" at her and her world, spins backward. His golden eyes break their wordless communion as the barista calls his attention to something. "Go talk to him," Ruth says, tearing Marris away from her limbo. "Why?" Marris finds herself asking. “Marris , I haven't seen you this smitten ever since Luke" "Oh God, I look smitten?" Marris makes her signature gross face “I must be hanging out with you more than I should. What have you done to me?" "You're even red as a scarlet lipstick" "Oh f**k no!" Marris covers her face in her hands. “But what does it matter? He seems your type" "Oh stop talking, Ruth" Ruth giggles as Lily comes back to their table with their food. “Do you remember Lincoin used to take us out here?" "Yeah, I do. His favorite sandwich was the Baloney Sandwich." Marris answers, happy for the change in topic. Lily places the order on the table and Marris gives Ruth a teasing smile. “So...you ordered his favorite sandwiches?" “It's not why I ordered it. I like Baloney Sandwiches" "Since when?" Marris laughs “Since forever!" "You just like whatever Lincoin likes." “Na-uh." Ruth almost yells and then checks herself "We just have common likes and dislikes. That's all” "Same thing." “No, it's not, you big goofball” Breakfast goes entirely uneventful as both girls seem engrossed in their phones. Ruth raises her eyes from her phone and catches the handsome man staring at her best friend in a not-so-creepy way while having his coffee. "Don't look now but Mr. Cappuccino keeps checking you out" Ruth says “For real?" Marris asks excitedly and unintentionally turns around to meet his eyes. Damn those golden eyes have torn her defense to shred. “I said, don't look now, genius" Marris quickly turns back around to face Ruth who can't hide the smug on her face. "I think he certainly wants to talk to you." "You're right. OMG! Is he -", "Oh s**t, I think he's coming here" Ruth squeals under her voice. Mr Cannuccino stands up and makes his a survival skill. Marris feels her palm sweat. A few steps away from their table, Mr. Cappuccino is intercepted by another girl. Who's this unfortunate b***h? The girl even hugs him and leads him back to his table and they sit back down. Marris goes livid. Ruth glances at Marris to see something build on Marris face, something she might not like. Marris grabs Ruth wrist and heads for his table. "What are you - oh boy!" Ruth hiccups In a few strides, Marris and Ruth are at Mr. Cappuccino's table. Ruth can't tell if the 'expression on Mr. Cappuccino's face is admiration or amusement. "Hi!" Marris grins at him, totally ignoring the other girl sitting next to him “My friend and I here are collecting some responses from couples for our college project. It's a survey on relationships" Well played, Marris Ruth smiles other girl sitting next to him “My friend and I 'here are collecting some responses from couples for our college project. It's a survey on relationships Well played, Marris Ruth smiles "Oh, we are not together. Not anymore anyway. We just bumped into each other after a very long time." Mr. Cappuccino's baritone voice reverberates Marris and Ruth heartstrings. The girl sitting next to him looks upset and excuses herself from the table. The awkward silence lasts only microseconds before Mr. Cappuccino breaks it. "I'm Kevin, by the way. Kevin King" this deep voice of his had a way of igniting Marris internal engine as if it knew she wanted to ride him and with him before she had a chance to process whatever it is he was saying. Marris momentarily forgetting how to speak is bailed by Ruth. “Ruth," she says “And this is Marris , my best friend." “A pleasure" Do you come to Tino's a lot because we pretty much know everyone that comes in here down to their latest sins and we certainly don't know you" Ruth chuckled as Kevin laughed, his voice driving in more nails into Marris coffin. “Latest sins, huh?" “It's a small neighborhood" Ruth laughed, “No, I just moved into the neighborhood. I have heard some good things about Tino's so decided to check it out today and I am glad I did" he said that last part looking at Marris "We are throwing this party tomorrow. Would you like to join us?" Ruth asks "Well, ummm, I have an important meeting lined up. But if my itinerary changes then what the heck ...I would love to join you guys." he smiled "Awesome," Ruth says grinning and not breaking eye contact with Kevin while pinching Marris , who wakes up from her daydream. "Right. Yeah umm save your digits, so I can send you the address of the party." Marris finally says as she hands him her phone and he saves his contact number then gives it back. "I do have to leave now though. I have work and I only left it for coffee" Kevin says "Oh sure sure. It's fine, it's really fine we would be leaving anyway" Marris replies this time, "Okay then, text me?" "Sure" Kevin smiles at the girls and leaves the cafe. "What the hell just happened, Marris?" Marris keeps staring at the door long after Kevin is gone. “Is that a man's ass?" Marris says. The anticipation in the air sparkles like a firecracker. Everyone wanted to attend Marris and Ruth party as they are known to throw the best parties in Dawson's Deep College. Ruth stands in front of the mirror in her room and admires her dress. A form-fitting, strapless, sparkly gold sequin dress that accentuates her good features; like the coke bottle curves of her waist while pushing up her teardrop breasts and complimenting her not-so-pale skin. Her big brown eyes sparkle as she flips her straight jet black hair to fall on her back. Marris whistles as she comes to stand, behind Ruth. Even when they are both in heels, she is taller than Ruth by a couple of inches. "You look stunning, stinky!" Marris says, "You think so?" “Absolutely! Here hold on a minute" Marris licks a little hankie from her purse and cleans an out-of-line lipstick from Ruth’s face. “There! You are a spitting image of Ariana Grande! Look at you!" "Oh stop" Ruth blushes “You look gorgeous yourself, Marris! Kevin is going to lose his mind" Marris wore a beautiful sleeveless, V-necked, red dress that flattered her generous breasts. Her blond wavy hair fell on her shoulders and her back. Ruth loves her curves of softness. With the muscle of a footballer and the blessed fat of a baby, she is the most astonishing girl Ruth has ever met."Well...." "What?" "I didn't send him the address." "You didn't text him? Why?" “I don't know. I have been waiting for Luke to ask me out for a very long time now and I think that tonight luke will really do it. I think he has just been waiting for us to graduate."