Chapter 2: Slumbering Princess
1125 Words
Riona! Stop, it's me!” Pavlo cried out while groaning on the floor.
Oh my, I can't believe I almost beat my boyfriend to death!
"I … I… I didn't realize it was you, Pavlo”, stuttering in panic.
“Damn! You can work that bat” he said with a chuckle.
“It’s horrifying to realize I attacked you; I never intended to hurt you”, I expressed.
Grunting as he dips into a purple bean bag, he mutters “Somehow I'm not convinced”
My eyes widened in alarm, he thinks I hit him on purpose!
Wringing my hands, I tried to convince him. “Pavlo, it wasn't my intention, Honestly.” I hope he doesn't think I'm a violent psycho freak.
“I kid. I kid” he says with a hint of a smile playing on his lips.
My tense shoulders droop down in relief.
Walking to him, I halt when he reaches me in three long strides.
“Ria!, you had me worried… I called you several times. When you didn't pick up, I—I thought the worst.
I came tearing out here to be sure you're okay!”
“My thoughts got all tangled up in knots, I feared you might have harmed yourself. I know you're not that kind of girl, but you're grieving and I… I just panicked.
What have you done to leave me at your mercy?” he asked while taking my hands into his.
I blushed, looking down at my toes; his words always had a life of their own.
With my head dipped low, my dyed plum-purple hair fell to my face. Making me look demure and innocent.
Not like someone who's been screaming her head off, in a crying contest she lost.
Pavlo just had this effect on me, he stilled my storm.
Suddenly feeling self-conscious, I checked myself out.
I looked…well comfortable in the oversized black T-shirt, matched with black and white plaid shorts.
He cupped my face, making my eyes meet his; he looked frazzled.
He cleared his throat, waiting for me to speak, “I… I fell asleep” I croaked out.
His lips twitch as a small smile tugs at them.
“So my slumbering princess didn't hear her phone ring, not even once?”
“I did not! You make it sound like I'd ignored you on purpose,” grumbling as I plodded across the room to a white bean bag.
Pavlo chortled as he strode towards me. “Some people can be so grumpy even though a bat wasn't cracked over their head”.
I gasped in surprise. Did he have to bring it up?
The giant bean bag dipped as he relaxed into it, pulling me into his arms and as he nestled against me.
“Now that I'm certain you're okay, how about we go drinking tonight?” his voice vibrated as I rested my head on his chest.
“Or we could just cuddle like this forever”, I said, burying my face into his chest, taking a long sniff of his gray fleece pullover hoodie.
He smelled like cloves—warm, spicy and peppery, with smoky notes reminiscent of a wood fire.
We could snuggle all day, and I wouldn't mind.
Drawn out of my thoughts, I heard him ask "Need a bottle of ‘Eau de My Hoodie’ for yourself?”
Giggling as I swatted his chest, meeting his eyes as I confessed, “Your hoodie is my new favorite cologne.”
"My hoodie smells that good, huh?" He asked, wriggling his slightly arched eyebrows.
“No, YOU smell good” I declared, giving him a playful pat on the cheek.
Brushing a stray strand from my cheek, he asked again, “Go drinking with me, Ria. You're finally legal, we can drown in all the booze tonight.
I fiddled with the hourglass pendant of my necklace as I considered his words.
I finally replied, “I don't think I can tonight…but next time we can.”
It wasn't right to go partying with mom's death still fresh in my mind.
Pavlo let out a long sigh.“How unfortunate, declined once again. You bruise me so heartlessly sometimes”, he said, mock-sulking.
I find myself shaking my head and laughing too.
He puts a hand to his heart.
“Ah, and now you laugh. This is my curse; to love a cruel woman.” grinning as he says it.
Suddenly, I scurried out of his arms.
Feeling guilty that, instead of mourning, I was here laughing like I had some giggle juice.
He tilted his head at me, wondering why I hurried out of his embrace.
Faking a yawn, I said, “I'm feeling a bit drowsy; why don't you leave for today, and we can meet again tomorrow.”
Pavlo slid a confused glance at me,“How can you be drowsy when you have just slept? Sitting upright with me.
Why the sudden switch in mood? You said you wanted to cuddle all day, and now you're sending me away?” his eyes questioning me.
Darting my eyes from him as I spoke “I don't think we should be all yummy together when my mom just died”
“I can’t believe you just said that!” he protested, running his hands through his ebony hair. “Your mom didn't just die! It's been two darn weeks, Ria, and all you want to do is bask in sadness,” he quipped.
“You wallow in it for all I care, but stringing me along with words you don't mean isn't necessary.
I'll leave now, I wouldn't want to disturb your rest.” he said coldly as he stood up and marched out of the room.
The evening was broken, as I went to my bed heavily, wrapping myself in the lilac-coloured blanket.
Wishing it would blot out the cold bite of his words.
Is there no situation I'm not driven to make a mess of?
First Dad, now Pavlo. I wish Mom had been here; she always knew the right words to say. It took two hours before I slid into a dreamless slumber.
____________
Pavlo was choked with fury, he didn't understand why she could be so fickle.
Grieving someone didn't mean you had to deny yourself happiness, he thought as he raced down the stairs.
He wanted to get out of there as fast as he could.
Deep in his thoughts, he stumbled into her without realizing it.
He fell backwards, but she caught him in her arms, stopping him from smashing his head on a stair.
“Who are you?” he asked, eyes shining in curiosity.
- Writer
