A girl named Finn

Chapter Thirteen

Jack's POV

"What's so funny?" I ask.

"No, I can't tell you, you think I am weird enough as it is." She responds, turning slightly red.

Forgetting herself, she gets ready to take her last mouthful. She sniffs it.

She is right, if I thought she was weird before this is certainly over the top.

After sniffing it, she opens her mouth so wide, a little too wide, puts the food in and then closes her eyes and crosses her arms over her chest while she swallows her mouthful.

Once she is done, she opens her eyes to see me staring. I am almost certain I am frowning.

Part of me is in shock, but mostly I am just curious.

"Come on, you have got to tell me what that was." Laughing now, she sets her bowl down on the blanket. Reaching for one of the juice boxes I brought along, she stabs the straw into the box before finally looking back up at me. I am certain she is buying time.

"Okay, but I swear if you laugh, I am getting up and walking away." She tries to remain serious, but I see a smile threatening to blow her cover.

I nod anyway.

"So Hell's Kitchen is not the only show of his I watch, I also watch Masterchef. Graham, one of his co-hosts, always tastes the food like that. I just thought I would try it."

Her cheeks are a beautiful crimson colour now, and her eyes are glued to the mat. She is twisting her fingers in her lap, and I can tell that she is nervous. As cute as it is to watch, I can see that it's pure torture for her waiting for my response.

Picking up the next course, I handed her a plate.

"So this Gary guy, not only does he eliminate people out of his kitchen, he also does this Mastercook show?"

I can see her relax the minute she looks up at me and I smile at her. Taking a forkful of the sea bass, her eyes close once more and the most delightful noise rolls from her lips that may have started in her throat. Its barely audible but somehow it resonates in my chest.

I drop my fork the minute I hear it and I am sure my eyes are the size of saucers when she looks at me. She takes in my untouched plate and fork lying beside me as she opens her eyes and says

"Oh. my. Gosh. You have got to try this, it's amazing."

When I don't move she leans over to get my fork for me and takes a forkful of my sea bass and brings it to my lips.

I think I might just faint.

Somehow some basic instincts take over and I open my mouth. She is right, the sea bass is amazing. But it's got nothing on the amazing smell coming from her, it's the vanilla again. Vanilla and something else.

Damnit, I need to know what that is.

"Earth to Jack." She says as she sits back down and continues eating.

"You cannot be in a food coma yet, you haven't touched your sea bass and we still have dessert." she laughs to herself as she finishes the rest of her food.

I stupidly nod and try and focus my thoughts. What the hell is going on with me? I keep telling myself that this is nothing to worry about, but honestly I am starting to freak out.

How does she affect me like this? Why?

We finish off dessert and me being the complete i***t I am, I sit there hoping and praying that she makes that little noise again.

I can't help my thoughts from thinking up all the different ways I can make her make that noise. And none of them have anything to do with food.

"Seriously, are you okay? Should I call the nurse or something?" Finn is now staring at me and when I look down I see that there are several little stones lying in my lap.

"Hey! Have you been throwing these at me?" I said, pretending to be offended.

"Yeah, well I should have clearly used something bigger. Do you do that alot? Zoning out like that?" She looks at me waiting for an answer.

And I should say, only since I met you.

"I guess."

Eager to change the subject, I ask her to tell me more about Grant and the cooking show.

"You really don't listen, do you? Firstly it's Gordon, and the show is called Hell's Kitchen."

Smiling, I reply, "That's exactly what I said."

She laughs and shakes her head but just continues.

She tells me all about some guy called Graham. He is the one who does the funny tasting thing. And then there is Joe, who never smiles. And the two of them along with Gordon, have a different show called Mastercook. Or something like that.

"Okay, so when do you get to watch all these shows and get to be such a smarty pants?" She looks serious now as she responds.

"It's not as if I have a hectic social life." And even though she tries to brush it off, I can see that the words hurt her.

"Well, I can't blame you. I would also do anything possible to avoid the bobbleheads that live around here."

She smiles now.

"You call them bobbleheads too?" she asks.

But before I can reply, my phone rings.

"Hey, what's up? Okay...okay." I hang up and shove my phone in my pocket. Finn occupied by a book on her lap, is clearly uninterested in my call. Part of me again wishes that she was though.

Yes, I want her to be interested.

Fine, I can admit that.

"So, that was Sarah." I say, hoping for some kind of reaction, but I don't get anything.

"They're done."

"Okay, cool. Let's pack up." By the time she says this she has half the things in the bag already.

I can't help but be slightly pissed that she is this eager to get away from me. Sulking a bit, I pick up the rest of the things and take the bags from her as she tries to insist on carrying half the bags.

"No, I've got it." I say and walk ahead of her.

"Hey, wait up, my legs are way shorter than yours." she jogs to catch up and although I am annoyed, I can't help but smile as she comes into view.

"Well, hurry it up short stack. We can't keep the girls waiting." I smile as she fakes being offended.

"Hey, do you want to take the girls out for ice cream to celebrate?" Yes, I am pathetic. I am trying to spend more time with her. What can I say, I am not quite ready to take her home.

"Oh, uhm, I don't know." From her awkward response, I remember her scratching around for coins during lunch and I want to punch myself for being so insensitive and mostly stupid.

"Actually you know what. Would you guys be okay with making ice cream at our place. I can make the girls sundaes and you, if you like?"

She looks at me now and scrunches her nose slightly. This I have come to realize is her thinking face. And it just makes me want to kiss her nose.

Wow!

What the hell was that, and more so? Where did it come from?

"Sure, we can do that."

And it all seemed like a great idea, until I pull into the driveway and see my mom's car.