CHAPTER THREE
1294 Words
CHAPTER THREE
MOLLY POV
I plopped down onto the comfy couch in the living room. My eyes were glued to the screen as I watched the latest episodes of 'Never Have I Ever' on Netflix. I was totally into it! But then, this yummy smell drifted over, and it made my nose twitch. I turned my head and saw Drake sitting right next to me. He had this big bowl of noodles mixed with a fried egg. The smell was so good; it actually made my mouth water a little. I even licked my lips without thinking!
"Want some?" he asked, holding out his fork. I frowned a little.
"What are you doing?" I said quietly. "Mom always gets mad if I eat on the couch."
He just chuckled, like it was a funny joke. "Yeah, your mom doesn't want you eating on her couch. But me? I'm different, right?" he said with a playful grin before taking a huge bite of his food. Slurp!
"Ugh, why are you watching something so... boring?" he said, leaning closer. "We could be watching something way more exciting, maybe something a little... blue?" He winked, but I just rolled my eyes and tried to pay attention to my show. But honestly, that delicious smell was making it really hard to concentrate.
A few minutes of silence went by, with just the sounds of the TV and Drake happily munching away. Then he suddenly said, "You know, I don't even know that much about you. How about you tell me a little something about yourself?" He carefully used his fork to pick up some more noodles and egg before bringing it to his mouth.
I watched him for a second. "There really isn't anything about me that you need to know," I said, trying to sound firm. "I think you should just enjoy your snack quietly until my parents get home. Then you can get your butt out of my house," I added, maybe a little rudely.
He just raised one eyebrow, like he was surprised by my words. Then, he burst out laughing. It wasn't a mean laugh, more like he found me amusing.
"First of all," he said, still chuckling a bit, "you look kind of grumpy but also really cute when you make that face." I couldn't really tell if he was making fun of me or actually saying something nice.
Then, he asked a really random question. "So, tell me, are you more of a dog person or a cat person?”
I blinked. What kind of question was that?
"Ugh, I really don't like animals," I mumbled, my eyes glued to the bright colors flashing on the television screen. We had changed it to a nature documentary, showcasing all sorts of furry and scaly creatures, none of which particularly appealed to me.
He chuckled softly, turning his head to look at me. "What kind of a question is that anyway?" he asked, a playful smile dancing on his lips.
I shrugged, trying to sound nonchalant. "Perhaps you were wondering," I replied.
He leaned back on the couch, considering my words. "Actually," he admitted, "I'm not a huge fan of them either. That's why I was secretly checking to make sure you didn't have any hiding around the house." His confession made me giggle. It was a silly thing to bond over, a mutual dislike for the animal kingdom. The thought that I had only said I disliked animals because his question about it had sounded a bit odd was a complete lie. A mischievous idea popped into my head. ‘Maybe I should get a pet just so he has a reason to leave tomorrow,’ I thought, a tiny smirk playing on my lips.
Suddenly, his tone shifted, becoming more direct. "So," he began, taking the last bite of his eggs "do you have a boyfriend?"
My eyebrows shot up in surprise. Where did that question come from? Was that part of his babysitting duties? "Why do you want to know about my personal life?" I asked, crossing my arms defensively. "Is that in the babysitter job description?”
He leaned forward slightly, a hint of something unreadable in his eyes. "Well, you did mention not wanting me to stay all night, remember? I've been giving that some thought," he said casually, as if discussing the weather. My heart started to thump a rapid rhythm against my ribs. I opened my mouth to say something, anything, but the words seemed to get stuck in my throat. How could he be so straightforward, so… bold, without even a hint of awkwardness?
"Oh," was all I managed to exhale. The single word hung in the air between us. A nervous laugh bubbled up inside me, escaping before I could stop it. It probably sounded a little crazy.
He pulled out his phone, his fingers flying across the screen as he typed a message. A wide, genuine smile spread across his lips, softening his features. I was surprised by a sudden pang of curiosity. Who was he texting? A girlfriend, maybe? My eyes couldn't help but drift to his face, studying the dreamy, love-struck expression as he continued to type.
"Do you…" I started, wanting to ask about the person on the other end of the text, but I quickly changed my mind. It felt too nosy. "How old are you?" I asked instead, a safer question.
He finally put his phone down on the coffee table, close to the edge of the soft cushion. "Well, I just turned twenty-three," he said, his voice a low murmur. My mouth dropped open slightly. Twenty-three? He seemed younger, immature for his age.
"Don't you go to school or something?" he asked, tilting his head slightly.
"Waiting for college admission," I explained. "Just graduated from high school."
He nodded in understanding as his phone vibrated again, a soft beep breaking the silence.
"What about you?" I asked, turning the question back to him.
"I'm in my last year of college," he replied. "I needed to make some money for something important, and that's when your grandma asked me to fill in for her. Honestly, I almost said no because I couldn't really picture myself babysitting a little kid. But then she mentioned the pay, and it was a lot. Plus," he added, a charming smile creeping onto his lips, "seeing that you're seventeen and pretty is definitely a bonus." A warm feeling spread through my chest, and I couldn't help but smile back.
"Why didn't you go on the trip with your parents since it's a holiday?" he inquired, leaning back again.
I sighed dramatically. "My parents are super protective. I don't get much freedom, and I'm grounded at the drop of a hat. The last time they tried to leave me home alone, I threw a party," I confessed, a small smile playing on my lips as I remembered the fun chaos of that night. "Honestly, the trip would probably be boring for me anyway. It's better to be stuck at home with a babysitter than have them constantly watching my every move.”
As I finished speaking, his gaze flickered down to my lips, and he subtly licked his own. They did look rather inviting, perfectly shaped and full. A shiver ran down my spine. Just then, his phone started to ring loudly, breaking the charged silence. He glanced at the screen for a moment, his expression unreadable, before picking it up and heading towards the kitchen, his voice a low murmur as he began to speak.
I picked my phone to text Abby again.
MOLLY: I’m telling you Abby. He is way hotter than any guy I have seen but then again he is proud.”
- Writer
