6 YEARS AGO
(LA LORELLE BAR) FRANCE
Clicking of glasses , loud music and endless chatters , people dancing , flickering lights and that strong scent of cocktail and alcohol making it clear that this was definently a bar . Kathryn and some other people were seated at the far end of the bar which was shrouded with people which almost plunged them into darkness , colourful lights flickering almost blinding people dancing on the floor , Kathryn kept looking at the side as if looking for someone, " hey Kathryn....are you still waiting for Denver , it's quite obvious that he is not coming ", said Jake one of Kathryn's friend as he sipped his glass of whiskey, Kathryn sucked in a sharp breath before turning to glare at him , her stare embedded with a hint of annoyance causing Jake to quickly look away, " he texted that he was on his way , he always comes to get me , we just have to wait a little longer ....", " ha.....we do this almost everyday , you don't easily get drunk and your acting is terrible , I wonder how he doesn't notice your facade", said Bastain, " tsk..., can you stop bugging me , this is the last day you know , I'm....I'm just giving him a little push...., just do as I sa.....", " he's here, he's here....", Jake burted out,Kathryn in a surge of panic quickly laid her head on the table pretending like she had passed out from drinking ".
Denver came over to her table shortly after spotting it , his hair was packed in a messy bun , some loose strands falling at the side of his face , drapped in a loose grey t-shirt and jeans with an open up black hoodie , Jake and Bastain had seen Denver lots of times but they couldn't just get used to how beautiful he was , every inch of him was perfection , he had been their model once for a photography project , when his picture had been uploaded online ,the modelling and entertainment industries had reached out to him and he had declined all of it. Someone with the height, body and looks , someone that beautiful was studying culinary arts, it was sad and disappointing, he looked at Kathryn before he sighed helplessly then he looked over at Jake and Bastain, " tsk....you know how she is ,....she won't listen to us , we insisted on taking her home but she kept saying.....", "she wants to wait for me....", said Denver as he completed the sentence, it was something that had been said almost everyday , something that at this point didn't need rehearsals , Bastain looked away as he chugged down his glass trying to avoid eye contact with Denver .
Denver leaned in as he tried to wake Kathryn up but instead she groaned as she turned her head away , she slightly opened her eyes glaring at both Jake and Bastain , Jake coughed , " hey ...hey Denver, why do you always come to Kathryn when she's drunk....", Denver looked confused as Bastain asked that question , " what do you mean?..", , " haha.....like it's quite obvious , you like Kathryn right?", Jake and Bastain were both cringing so bad internally, they couldn't believe she had talked them into this , Bastain leaned in closer , his eyes looked somewhat tired , " he means , don't you see Kathryn as a woman?", his expression lazy as he looked at Kathryn sidedly, who bit her lips and clenched her fist , the music was louder , the crowd growing more, " Kathryn....", Denver paused before looking down at Kathryn , " she of course is a woman and...she's just a friend, I pick her up when she's drunk cause I'm simply just her friend and I worry sometimes, that is all,I have no romantic interest in her ", silence , a deathly silence , Jake and Bastain stared at the clueless idiot before them , Bastain eyes scrolled down to Kathryn who looked pale and.....her tears fell unto the table ,leaving soft traces of sorrow , her heart was completely shattered.
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PRESENTLY
Kathryn stared at te ceiling of her room, she should have taken the hint then, what was she expecting , she sighed as she rolled over on her bed , then she placed her arm over her head, thunder rumbling and you could hear the rain softly pattering against the window, she was such a fool.
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Denver was fidgeting with his fingers as he waited for the cocoa to boil over , he was dressed in a black baggy sweater and joggers , he was nervous and .....bewildered, the hallway, Rhea, confession , everything had been too much , he couldn't believe she had told him that she liked him too, his heart was thumping so hard against his chest , how could he make do of this situation especially with the fact that...., the door of his bedroom slightly opened breaking his thoughts as Rhea peeked out from the small gap as if she was trying to hide away or she was just too shy, after that unexpected and grand confession , anyone in her shoes will want to disappear.
Denver was almost amused as she slowly came out from his room , she was dressed in one of his shirts and shorts, the shirt made her look too delicate , almost fragile like she could break at any moment , her hair was still wet and someone of it clung to the nape of her neck while the others fell to her back...she was so beautiful that Denver couldn't look away, his eyes scrolled to the strands of her hair on her neck, he wanted to brush it off, Rhea looked down , she felt that heat rush to her cheeks as she could feel his eyes on her , she had asked to stay at his house because staying at her home by herself will trigger all those thoughts and memories but being close to him right now made her forget everything , he had always been like that , " do.....don't look at me like that...., it's uncomfortable ", Denver smiled warmly as he took a step close to her ,then he leaned in closer , squinting his eyes as if trying to tell something apart ,Rhea could feel warmth spread all across her body , she quickly looked away embarrassed at her own feelings , " whyy?.....you are just so pretty that I have to check if you are real sometimes", his voice was low , smooth and gentle but at the same time there was something exotic about it , it was the type of voice that would make you feel all jelly inside and do anything that is asked of you.
Denver smirked before walking away to get the hair dryer leaving Rhea all flustered, she fisted the hem of the shirt, his shirt held his scent and she was tempted to sniff it but at that moment she heard Denver approaching and she was thankful she hadn't, " you should take a seat.....let me dry your hair", " uhh....", she yelped almost loudly before she quickly covering her mouth die to how loud it had come out to be, " I....I'm sorry", she muttered and Denver couldn't help but chuckle, " c'mon now...., your hair is quite full , it will be tiring if you held it for too long ....", he said as he moved and pulled out a chair for her , Rhea looked at the chair then at Denver , he sure had a point.
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As the hot air blew through her hair and the gentle combing , it felt so relaxing that Rhea leaned her back a little, Denver couldn't help but smile , it was clear that she was enjoying it , " do you want some cocoa before going to bed .....", he asked softly , " yes", she said simply and.... enthusiastically, this fueled some kind of energy into Denver as if he could explode.
After Denver was done drying Rheas hair he served a cup of hot cocoa to Rhea with marshmallows, she smiled warmly before muttering a " thank you", and there it was, that akward silence , they didn't look at each other , two people , both clueless about love and dating , it was amusing.
It was like that till they were both done drinking their cocoa , Denver took the cups to the sink , it seemed like he was even more cautious , afraid of taking the wrong step and Rhea noticed it, the clicking of glasses echoed silently through the quiet house , Rhea stood up as she quietly walked towards Denver , soft lights illuminating the kitchen , not too dim and not too bright thereby casting their shadows through, it was time for them to both change , she didn't want him to always walk on eggshells around her and she didn't want to keep pushing him away, " Denver.....", she called his name softly, she wasn't sure why she had called him but this overwhelming feeling in her chest felt like it could explode if not let out , "hmm...", Denver turned to look at her, " is there.....", and before they both knew it , Rhea stepped on her tiptoes , leaned in and kissed him on the lips.
Denver was surprised at what was happening right now , both their hearts were beating so fast , Rhea departed almost shoked at her actions, she staggered backward, she had let her impulsive thoughts win again, " I'm so....", before she could move an inch , Denver had pulled her close and trapped her against the table , his hands caging each side so that she won't run away again , " Denver?", that gentle gaze of his had completely dissipated, his eyes were shadowed with that of longing and desperation, the final thread hanging on dear life , he remembered what Daniel had said about obsession , could he be on that lane , he was crazy for her and if this was called obsession then at this point ...it was, she kept crossing the line and she expects him to always be composed....she was cruel , he scoffed as he bent his head low , " you are so cruel Rhea...you just do whatever you want ...I'm...", before he could even finish that sentence , she kissed him again and this time it was at his ear lobe then she looked at him with eyes as clear as day that meant she was serious , her hand clenched his arm , " you always do what you want , always said sorry when you did nothing wrong and always walk on eggshells around me as if not to offend me....for once Denver....", she cupped his face gently, Denver eyes dazed feeling the warmth of her palm on his face , his hands were fisted and his knuckles were turning white as if he was trying to preserve the last bit of self control he had left, " just do what you want...",she said as her thumb gently carresed his face .and the last thread was snapped.