The Spy's Inheritance

Chapter Six: A Visit

Weeks had passed and the term was coming to an end. The holiday was so close I could practically taste it. The only cloud in my perfect metaphoric sky was the fact that my dad wouldn't be home. Ever since he found out about the bullying he has been the perfect dream dad, so him going away now was more heart breaking than it had been before...

*                                                                                       *                                                                                        *

I entered the parking lot noticing that Josh was already waiting for me. He noticed my car and smiled. My heart spluttered before going back into rhythm. If I didn't know better I would've thought I had a crush on him. He opens my door, a routine he started about two weeks ago... Odd, how do I remember that easily but when it comes to the flaming math I am supposed to do I can't remember a thing? He pulls me into a hug and I hug him back, already used to the gesture. "Last day of school." He smiles down at me. I giggle. What the hell? I don't giggle... "Yup, I guess I'm spending it alone watching movies." He looks at me and a smirk appears on his lips. I found myself staring at his lips intrigued wondering how'd they would taste, when they suddenly moved. I froze feeling a heat creep from my neck towards my cheeks. What was happening to me? "Chris, are you with me?" He asks and I nod. "Did you hear what I said?" "Umm, nope." I say popping the 'p' accidently. He smiles shaking his head. "I asked if you would like me to come and visit?" When I stopped in my tracks he looked at me embarrassment clear in his eyes. "Umm, that would be great?" I reply my answer coming out as a question. The bell rang and I took it as blessing I need to get away from him. "See ya." I yelled and broke into a sprint and waving a quick goodbye.

I walked into the classroom happy that it was a class I didn't share with him. I walked to my usual seat and listened to the daily announcements. Luckily for me, we were due to come out early today. Which means I'll be in time to see my dad off before he heads to the airport. It also means I spend a little less time around Josh, which is a relief because I don't know what he is doing to my body.  

The lessons are cut shorter and so is break time. When the bell rings for break time, I head to my last period hoping I could sit there instead of going to sit with Josh. I catch Mr. Braxton just as he leaves his classroom. "Good morning, sir. Do you mind if I sit in class during break?" I ask sweetly. He smiles. "Of course. Just don't be too loud." He jokes. I smile and head into my French class closing the door behind me. I take out my phone and earphones. I put my ear phones on and play "Stitches" sung by Shawn Mendes. I take out my homework I got to do during the holidays. Maths teachers are awesome, not. 

I start working on the homework when I feel the atmosphere around me shift as if I'm not alone. I look up from the pages of work only to notice Josh sitting next to me. Instead of interrupting me, he moves his arm around my neck causing a heat to flow through my veins. Where our skin meets it is as if my skin is set alight. Our eyes contact locks and I'm hyper-aware of his movements. His hand effortlessly removes my earbud before he removes the other one. I swallow hard and as if he is as hyper-aware of my movements as I am of his, his eyes drop to my lips. They stay there for a while before he slips an earphone into his ear and one into my ear. His hand stuck in mid-air as if he doesn't know what to do with it. He moves his hand to my cheek and cups my face. My mind goes into emergency while my heart takes control of my body. As if I had done it a million times before I lay into his touch. The small gesture causing my brain to panic and my heart to flutter while my veins send flames through my body instead of blood. 

The bell rings and Josh removes his hand as the stampede of loud teenagers walk into the classroom. When Mr. Braxton walks in, I move my arm somewhat stiffly towards Josh's ear. I carefully remove the earphone but my heart won't allow my hand to just remove the earphone. My brain doesn't get a say as my heart pulls the strings and I find myself brushing his ear with my fingers as I remove the earphone. He looks at me, his eyes dark with an emotion I've only ever read about. Lust.

I pack away my math and phone. When I look at him again, I realise our moment had passed. The girl in front passes the work to us and I take two pages before passing the work backwards. As I'm about to pass the page to Josh his hand brushes mine. 

My brain being in control now, forces my hand to move under the table as if I had been electrocuted. Josh looks at me confused before his confusion turns into knowledge. At that moment I wished that the earth would open up and swallow me whole. 

I don't know why I felt like I had been caught red handed stealing from the cookie jar but that's how I felt. I could feel his stare on me as I stared at the page. The French turning gibberish and I felt like running. The emotions inside of me warring to get my brain to understand them. The emotions apparently speaking Latin because my brain couldn't comprehend what they were saying. I lay my head on the table feeling sick. 

A hand slips into mine and I look at him slowly. "Are you okay?" He whispers concerned. I nod and sit up straight not really feeling well. "You are turning green." He says smiling a little bit. I stick my tongue out at him and he laughs. I turn back to work feeling a smile play on my lips. 

The bell rings just as I finish my work. "Homework all done?" He asks excitement burning in his voice. "Yup and yours?" I ask smiling. He nods and walks me to my locker. When we get there he watches me curiously yet nervously too. "I know you want to ask a question so shoot." "Wellll... I wanted to know if I could visit you today." I smile. "Sure. What time were you thinking?" "Maybe two o'clockish." "No problem. I'll send you the address." He smiles brightly. He collects his things and then we are off to the parking lot. Most of cars already gone since no one could wait for the end of the day. He walks me to my car. As we reach it I unlock it suddenly feeling sad that we'd have to say goodbye even though we'll see each other later. He pulls me into an unexpected hug and my heart flutters against my ribs. I put my arms around him returning the hug. He pulls away after a moment and looks at me smiling softly. "I'll see you later." I return the smile and nod. We hug one more time and then I pull out of the parking lot. 

The drive home would've been a lot quieter if I had, had control over my thoughts, but thanks to my brain and heart I didn't. My brain fighting that I was getting flu or something and my heart retaliating with a 'yeah right'. When I arrive home I discover my dad packing his bags into his car. I sigh having forgotten the cloud. I pull into the garage leaving my school bag in the car. "Hey, sweetheart. How was the last day of school?" "It was interesting and dad's?" "What made it so interesting? Mine was busy like always last minute preparations." "We got homework for the holiday." I groaned and my dad laughed. "You're starting to sound like your age." He looks at me sadness and regret playing in his eyes. "Thanks to you, dad." I smile trying to erase the sadness. He sighs and pulls me into a hug. "I promised your mom that I'd look after you and protect you. I thought that by being cold I'd protect you from me and the men out in the world but all I did in the end was make you even more vulnerable to it." He hugs me tighter and I hug back. I have dreamt of this moment so long now that it felt like a wish. A wish that had finally come true. 

It isn't long before we pull away only to say goodbye causing tears to form in both of our eyes. My dad smiles weakly before he waves goodbye and heads to the airport. I walk into the house and head to my bathroom to wash my face. I look at myself in the mirror and almost get a heart attack because I look like a monster straight out of a horror movie. I quickly wash my face and put some make-up on. So that when Josh gets here he won't be able to see that I cried. I head downstairs remembering I hadn't taken my bag out of my car and I haven't texted Josh the address yet. I quickly grab my car keys and unlock my car. I grab my bag and head inside. Once I take my phone out of my bag, I put my bag away in its safe spot in my closet. I quickly type out a message and send it to Josh: "Hey, sorry just remembered that I still have to send you my address. It's 27 Parkview Avenue." I turn my phone's sound on and then head downstairs. I switch the TV on and look for a movie to watch, coming across "The Kissing Booth". 

I get lost in the movie and fall in love it. 

Just as the movie ends there's a knock on the door. I get up and stretch before heading to the door. I open up to find Josh leaning against the wall. I smile. "Trying to play it cool are we?" "Caught red handed." He says as he laughs. I laugh along and welcome him in. If he is surprised by my dad's mansion he doesn't show it but he turns to look at me and again there is knowledge burning in his eyes or it could be understanding... 

"Would you like something to drink or eat?" I ask playing perfect hostess for once enjoying the role instead of hating it. "Umm, I'll have something to drink." He says unsure of himself. I smile warmly. "We have Coca-Cola, water, hot chocolate, Milo and cappuccinos or coffee or tea. If that's your preference." "May I have a glass of Coca-Cola?" I nod and head to the kitchen. I take the coke out of the fridge and place it on the countertop and head to the cupboard, stretching on my tippy toes to reach the glasses. As I manage to grab one, Josh's hand reaches the glass. His hand clasps around mine and we move slowly together putting the glass down slowly. He lets go of my hand and smiles at me. "Next time just ask. I could've helped you." "You're the guest and I'm the hostess so it is actually my job to get the glass not yours." I say smiling which earns me an eyeroll. I pour the coke into the glass and hand it to him. I quickly put the coke away and turn to face him. "What would you like to do? We can watch movies or we can play a board game or cards." "Lets watch a movie." He says smiling, his smile warm. 

"What would you like to watch?" "Do you wanna watch a James Bond movie?" "Did you seriously just ask me that?" I ask playfully. He laughs and I lead him to the lounge. We sit down and I search for all the James Bond movies. "I haven't seen Skyfall yet." He says almost embarrassed. "Well then today is your lucky day." I click on the movie and wait for it to play. "Would you like some popcorn?" He nods smiling. "Alright sit tight I'll go pop us some in the microwave." He stretches out comfortably and I giggle leaving the room. I get the microwave popcorn and put it into the microwave, almost impatiently. I hear the beginning of the movie. I watch it from the doorway of the kitchen. Instead of the movie capturing my attention Josh did. 

I just can't get him off of my mind and I don't understand why. The microwave beeped and I grabbed the bag making sure most of the cornels were popped. Once I was sure they all are, I walked to the lounge sitting down and placing the bowl of popcorn in between us. I grabbed a hand full and Josh followed my lead. We watched happily and in silence. Yet the atmosphere had seemed to become charged around us as if waiting for something to happen. 

When the movie finished I turned to look at him. "What time are you heading home?" "I've got about an hour before I'm due home." "Would you like a sandwich or something?" "No, I'm fine thanks." "Okay. Another movie or would you like to do something else?" He looks at me and curiosity fills his eyes. "This place doesn't feel like a home to you, does it?" The sudden question has me feeling off balance and something in me wants to tell him the truth. I sigh. "It didn't and don't get me wrong it still doesn't but it feels warmer now. Like the first week of spring. The cold is just busy warming up but isn't warm enough yet." He nods understanding my weird figure of speech. "So where are your parents and did you tell them I'd be visiting? I'd hate them arriving only to find their good little girl had a boy over without permission." His earlier questions bring up my hurt that I've managed to keep at bay but the way he teases me has me forgetting the pain and the weird heat from earlier today rushing through me. "My dad left the country today for a business meeting and with him rushing to get to the airport, I didn't mention it to him." Something in my voice or actions had Josh quiet, he didn't even ask about my mom. Before I knew what was happening I was in a warm embrace and that seemed to break my strength. I cried into his shoulder and he rubbed my back soothingly. 

I took me sometime to calm down. Josh wiped the last of my tears off. I felt the atmosphere once again take its charged state. Josh looked at me and what I saw in his eyes had my heart feeling giddy. He looked from my eyes to my lips and I swear I could feel his want to kiss me. "Josh.." He places his finger on my lips to shush me but he replaces it with his thumb trailing my lower lip, softly carefully. "Christina have you ever felt love before?" I think it over. The only love I really knew was that of my mother and now the love of my father that was slowly returning. He removes his thumb as if sensing I want to answer. "Only my parents and I guess the stuff I've read about." "So you haven't had a crush on someone before?" "Well, I have had a crush but to answer the question you actually want an answer to. No, I haven't had a boyfriend. You saw how everyone was acting towards me when you first got here." "Well, the only question I left for you then is, would you mind me taking your first kiss?" I look at him flabbergasted and he smiles brilliantly. I get up and attempt to walk away but he grabs my wrist and spins me towards him. He pulled me a bit too hard, not saying this because he hurt me but because I ended up landing on his lap. The fire in me takes control and I'm suddenly the one looking from Josh's hazel brown eyes to his full natural pink lips. "You shouldn't do things like that princess." He says his voice husky and before I can question him his lips are on mine. My heart takes control and I find my arms wrapping themselves around his neck. He shifts me so that my legs are around his waist not breaking the kiss. 

My hands play with the hair that's in his neck which causes him to moan into the kiss. Something snaps within me and I find myself pulling his hair gently but roughly. He grunts pulling me closer his hands finding a way under my top. Wherever his hands touch my skin there's a fire burning. His hands slip to my waist and he rubs his hands up and down slowly causing a sound that I've never made before escape my mouth. He licks my lower lip in permission and I grant him access. Our tongues performing the perfect tango whilst discovering every corner of the mysterious landscape. 

We pull apart too soon for oxygen. Our eyes connect as we both gasp for the precious air that we can't live without. I break the contact by laying my head on his chest. His heartbeat matching my own. As I lay against his chest it hit me. The thought feels like a ton of bricks being rammed into me. 

I was in love. I was deeply, madly, head over heels in love with Josh. 

The thought left me nervous, scared, giddy and relieved all at once. Josh had claimed my heart.