|55| • Everest
Goodness, what did I think I was doing asking for such a thing?
If she hadn't spoken up, I honestly didn't know what was going to happen next.
When my hands pressed against her breast, it was getting harder to control myself.
Even with the kiss, I couldn't distract myself enough.
My body was getting excited, almost too excited.
Feeling the cold water run down from my hair to my chest, I sighed.
I needed this shower. Taking the shampoo, I massaged it into my hair, trying to get the thought of how soft her body was out of my head.
A part of me didn't want to stop, I wanted to see how far we could go, but if I did, I would be dangerously close to the agreement we made, on not having sex.
It was like an unspoken rule, I knew she wasn't ready, and even though the urge grew increasingly each day, I wanted to take it slow, for her.
Rinsing my hair, I turned off the shower.
The excitement which was rising had now subsided.
Chuckling to myself, I came out from the glass cubicle, taking the towel to wrap around my waist and the other to dry my hair.
I could hear voices in the room, was she on a call?
Walking to the door, I opened it, taking a look at her.
Amelia was plopped up on the bed, staring at me wide-eyed, her phone in her hands. Wait, no, that wasn't her phone, she'd left hers in her room. It was my phone. My eyebrows arched in confusion, who was she calling on my phone?
"Baby? What's up?" I asked, glancing back up at her. She had a panicked look on her face.
"Everest? Finally, you answer me!" My shoulders tensed up at the sound of Flo's voice coming from the phone.
She was calling?
Why was she calling me?
Walking up to Amelia, I took the phone from her. "I'll call you back," I said, hearing her say something but my thumb had already tapped the end call. I didn't even know what to ask, I had so many questions.
"S-she kept calling." Amelia rushed out, looking down at her fingers. I frowned at this, did she pick it up because of that or because she wanted to get something from that call?
"And so you answered it?" I had to ask, my voice coming out harsher than intended. I saw Amelia flinch before nodding her head.
Narrowing my eyes, I made my way to the wardrobe.
Was she still suspicious about Flo? I'd told her there was no reason to be.
Florescent was the past. For a reason or two, I felt a bit conflicted.
Amelia didn't say anything as I dressed up, going back to the bathroom to hand my towel. She was still quiet.
When I came back out, I saw her on her feet. "I...I'm sorry I answered it, I was just..."
"Just what? Suspicious?" I asked, keeping eye contact.
Her gaze faltered, ah, so that was it?
"I just thought you two stopped talking.
.." Amelia said quietly, refusing to look at me.
I didn't want us to argue, especially over something so trivial.
Sighing, I took her palm, sitting us down on the bed.
"Amelia, don't you trust me?"
"I do!" She immediately said, her eyebrows drawn together. "Then listen to me, there's no reason to be suspicious." When I told her, she tensed up. Leaning clear to her, I intertwined our hands.
"Sweetheart, I'm with you, okay? I love you, do you get that?" Perhaps I hadn't been assuring her as much as I thought. Taking in her bottom lip, she nodded again. "Baby, use your words."
"I...I get it."
"Good girl." Cupping her chin, I brought her lips to mine, kissing her slightly parted lips. "I'm not mad at you, okay?" I kissed them again. I loved how plump and soft they felt. Amelia smiled, mumbling an 'okay' on my lips.
I did wonder though, why Florescent was calling.
The last time I answered, she was dead drunk, mumbling things into the line, it didn't take long until she became a sobbing mess.
I was worried about her, why did she come back to town?
I thought she'd moved on, happy. Now, she was calling again.
This time, I was going to keep my promise and call her back.
After I and Amelia ate, she went to her room while I stayed on the couch, my mind all over the place, I rested my head, closing my eyes.
If Gabe was here, he'd tell me not to answer Flo's call.
But I knew Florescent, she wouldn't be calling repeatedly if there wasn't a problem.
At least, I knew a version of her. Bringing my phone up to my line of sight, I tapped on her number, lowering it to my ear.
It rang twice.
"Everest! So you're going to tell me why you hung up on me?" Florescent asked the instant she picked up the call, sass coated in her tone. I huffed, closing my eyes. What did she want? Hearing her voice brought back nostalgia, the one I wasn't ready for.
"Hey, Flo," I said, my voice soft.
She sighed, clearing her throat. "Everest, are you okay?" Did I sound off? My eyebrows knitted at her question. Humming, I listened to what she had to say. Florescent kissed her teeth, "Look, I just...I need your help, alright Simon?"
She needed my help.
"With what?" I questioned, pursing my lips.
I should've been the last person for her to come to, so what was so desperate a situation for her to come to me?
This entire ordeal made me feel uncomfortable.
"Simon, come on. Can we meet up? I don't fancy saying this over the phone. " Her request made me chuckle.
"Flo, if you're not going to tell me then I'm not going to up and come to your place. Alright?"
There was a pregnant pause, "Fine. I'm cash trapped. I need to go back to Paris but I don't have the money. That...that bastard left without me, now I'm stuck here, the rent is about to run out, and...please baby. Please help me."
I was trying to process her words. So she'd been in Paris all the while. Opening my eyes, I stared at the ceiling. "Okay. Send your address."
"Really? Thank you, Everest! I knew I could always count on you." Her excitement made me feel uncomfortable. Was I really going to hers right now? After being so intimate with Amelia? It wasn't as though I was going to do anything with Florescent, but still.
"Yeah, but I'm going to be in and out," I told her, my voice stern. She giggled at this.
"Whatever you say, 'Evie'."
I tensed when she called me this, "Don't." My words left my mouth before I could control it, I heard a hum from the line, "Don't what?" She was taunting me. The nickname sounded weird coming from her. "You know what I mean, don't call me that."
"I was only teasing. Anyways, I'm waiting for you, lover boy." With that, the line went dead.
After a while, I got up from the couch, stretching out.
Florescent had already sent me her address, it was at least an hour's drive from here.
Was I really going to her aid? Perhaps a part of me still cared for her, she needed my help, and that was the only reason I was going.
Changing out of my clothes, I pulled up a pair of slacks and a white dress shirt, scooping a bit of gel to tame my hair.
"You're going out?"
I'd almost forgotten I no longer lived alone, glancing at Amelia, I nodded.
"Yeah, I won't be long." I felt the need to tell her this, a part of my wondered why my Amelia was glued to the door, as though she was afraid to come in.
Somehow, I felt as though she'd been eavesdropping and knew I was going to see Flo. The way she stared gave me the idea.
"Do you want me to get you anything?" I asked, moving towards her. Amelia shook her head, chewing on her bottom lip.
"Are...are you going to see her?" My hands paused before it reached her cheeks. I didn't want her thinking astray, but I was sure me simply going there was enough for her to think that way.
Narrowing my eyes, I nodded. "I won't be long." Those words left my lips again. Her eyes hesitantly met mine before looking away, she opened her mouth to say something but pursed it.
There was a pause between us.
As I felt Amelia's cheeks, I realised they were warn, my thumb caressed her soft skin.
I didn't know how else to reassure her, this was something I needed to do.
Florescent needed my help, even though I wanted to put some distance between up, I couldn't leave her stranded if she needed some money to go back.
I just couldn't.
"It's fine. Uh, be safe." A small smile stretched on my lips, nodding, I leaned in to kiss her forehead but before I could, she moved away, quickly scrambling into her room, the door shutting loudly behind her. Goodness, I didn't like this. Amelia was getting the wrong idea.
Running a hand through my hair, I sighed.
I'd have to draw the line between me and Florescent, once and for all.
She did say she wanted to go back to Paris.
So, if I helped her, she'd be gone from this town, and Amelia wouldn't have to feel some type of way.
My legs moved to go to Amelia's room, but I stopped it, turning to leave the apartment.
Just wait a bit, Amelia. This won't take long. I thought, hoping somehow she'd be reassured from her room.