GAZE

Feelings for Him

Gradually our friendship was growing. He used to come to my home after school and we do our assignments together.

Sometimes I caught him staring at me for no reason. I asked many times but he shook his head without saying anything. I too never paid attention to it as it was nothing important for me when he was at my side.

I was loving his company and after getting him I didn’t need anyone else by my side. The blank space in my life was filled by him and now I stopped paying attention to others or running behind them for friendship.

“BEEP.......BEEP”, Jaxon was honking from his car continuously.

“Why you are always late? What you do all the time?” He was yelling at me and giving me annoying looks.

I was used to his morning treat. He was very punctual in his work and always on time.

Here I am a lazy girl.... not lazy actually but I love to read novels and I almost ended up in late-night readings. So in the morning, it’s a very tiring job for me to wake up on time.

“Sorry,” I apologized to him with the most possible puppy face. He shook his head in annoyance.

It’s been three months after starting our friendship. Today his birthday and he invited me and my family at his home for dinner. It will be the first time when I will go to his home.

My mom was very excited as she was looking at this dinner as a good business deal.

I did little extra efforts for getting ready. I wore a brown bodycon dress with jewel neckline which was ending up at my knees. It has a  little shimmer. I wore big hoops and left my brown hair free with little curls. I did very light makeup. Just a moose and lip gloss.

My dad was yelling at me from the living area. So I hurriedly picked up my clutch and put my mobile into it. I ran downstairs while wearing my platform heels.

So in the evening at 7 o’clock we all three headed towards his home. Both of our families are living in Belgravia but far from each other’s place so it would be the best choice to use the ar despite walking.

We reached Hales Mansion. My eyes bulged out after looking at his place.

It was not just a mansion, it was a freaking palace standing in all his glory. Big stone build walls, a huge entrance gate which leads to a narrow pathway up to the home. Big beautiful gardens and fountains. Sycamore and Horse Chestnuts were standing long on the edges of the gardens.

My heart was jumping like a kid to run in the garden and roll over the soft grass.

When we reached the house door, my father pressed the bell button and a sophisticated lady opened the door. She was looking in her forties and wearing a very elegant royal blue gown with little diamond work on it. Her skin was radiant and her hairs were tied up ina neat bun.

“Hello, Mr Livingston we were waiting for you. Please Come in.” That lady welcomed us with a  warm smile. “Myself Agatha, mother of Jaxon.” She said while hugging my mom.

“Violet,” my mother returned the same.

“You must be Scarlett, right. You are so beautiful, my dear." She asked me by pointing her index finger. “Jaxon always talks about you whenever came back from school.” She giggled and I felt shy and started adorning their home.

It was having the architecture of the old era. Big halls and 4 floors. Two big staircases going in different directions. Their big family pictures were hanging on the walls. The house was looking like a palace but the interior decoration was of the twenty-first century yet elegant.

We entered a big Living room followed by Agatha, Jaxon's mother. She asked me to sit comfortably till then she left us to call her husband and son.

Elbert Hales and Jaxon entered in the hall. Elbert was in his late forties and having a  magnificent personality. he was wearing formals and clean shaved face. both Son and Father are almost of the same height.

Jaxon was wearing a white formal shirt which was untucked on his khaki chinos paired with matching blazer. my eyes were gawking at him. He was looking super hot today.

He realized my gazing at him and looked at me with raised eyebrows. Our eyes met and I started looking in another direction to avoid any unwanted comments from anybody.

We stood up and greeted each other. I sat near Jaxon and we started our talking like nobody is seeing us.

“So, what’s your plan after high school Jaxon?” My father asked him when breaking our conversation.

“Umm, I am planning to g to America for research in the field of genetics. But sometimes I think about to go to wildlife photography. I have not decided completely on this topic.” He purred and pursed his lips.

Till now what I understood about him that apart from studies he loves his hobbies much like painting and photography. He is a good scholar so his father was asking him to pursue his career in research. Maybe it was his unfulfilled desire which he wanted to fulfil through Jaxon.

I looked at him in contemplating manner that why he was suppressing his burning desires?

“Son, why don’t you show her the mansion? Till we will chit chat a  little bit.” His mother purred and looked at me for confirmation.

“Let’s go, Scarlett.” He stood up while shoving his hands in his trousers’ pockets.

We both left the place and he took me to the first floor where we were exploring his house. There were many rooms and a big lounge area with home theatre.

“You said that there is a Birthday party tonight, but where are others? Means you didn’t invite anyone else.” I asked in curiousness.

“Oh, I have done the spell on them and they are invisible now. You can’t see them.” He said in a heavy voice.

My eyes widened with little fear.

“Look at you,” he was laughing hysterically. He was aware of my fear about ghosts, witches and this kind of stuff.

I punched him on his biceps in anger and started to walk away from there. But he grabbed me quickly by my wrist and pulled me towards him.

“Sorry, I was just kidding" he apologized quickly and gave me a peck on my right cheek. I looked in his eyes to read his emotions. Our eyes locked again with each other searching for something.

We were very close to each other at that moment and it was making me little uncomfortable. Today he was behaving differently. We usually do bickering on any topic and never give up or lose the conversation. How come he said sorry too quickly.

He broke the eye contact and dragged me towards the other floor. He showed me his parents room, his study, his father’s study room.

When we reach to his bedroom, he took me inside. It was a  big giant size room. Big king size bed with side tables topped with table lamps. Big walk-in closet and a big Balcony which was opening toward the garden.

The decoration was quite modern and impressive. It was quite chilling outside so we decided to talk in the room only.

I sat on the bed and asked him, “Are you sure about your career?”

He gave me a dreadful look, I gasped and started looking here and there in his room.

“Can we talk other than this topic?” he raised his brows.

“OK, Ok,” I raised my hands in surrender.

“Hmm,” I took a deep breath.

“You know you are looking beautiful today. I never saw your side.” He praised me and my cheeks heated up after listening to him.

“Thank you,” I said to him with a  smile. I was a little surprised on his comment but didn't mind much because I was loving it.

“So where is my birthday gift?” He asked me and came closer to me.

“It’s downstairs,” I informed him and quickly stood up from my place to go and pick it up for him.

But he hold back me from my waist which made me startled. He locked my back with his front and his arms were around my waist. He kept his chin in the valley of my neck.

What the hell is going on in his f*****g mind today. My heart was thumping on his action.

“I want it right now.” He murmured in a slow voice.

“But it’s downstairs. Let me go to get it.” I again ranted and tried to move his hands from my waist.

“No, you will not go anywhere until I will get it." He whispered in my ears. He was leaning at my shoulder.