Cold House (3. Pleasure)

She was in the living room reading what seemed to be a new love's book and eating some popcorn. He sat down next to her.

- Do you want to play some chess? He asked interrupting her, she looked at him for a minute and asked.

- Will you help me to remember you that I am the winner? And he laughed.

- But I always win! He said playfully.

- I am not playing. You don't know your place. She said annoyed.

- I will let you win... He said provocatively.

- I don't need to "let me win" I am a winner. She said and they both laughed.

- Never mind, if you don't want to play it's okay. What are you reading? He said reading the title. "Behind Closed Doors"... Why do you and my mom like love stories so much? He asked curiously.

- Because, apparently, we both suck at love. If we can't get it on our own, at least let us imagine it. She said making a pout and he smiled and tried to touch her hand as giving her emotional support, which surprised her and she removed her hand immediately and he felt uncomfortable.

- Don't you trust me? He asked hurt.

- Don't ask obvious questions. Of course I do not. She answered sharply.

- I may go one day and not come back due to your constants mistreatments. He said angrily.

- You're always leaving. I am nearly used to it. She answered placing her eyes on her book again.

- You know I always come back regardless of how long I take to do it, and this is why you feel so safe. He said stealing quickly some of her popcorn and she looked at him with her open mouth.

- How dare you! She said smiling indignantly. And he laughed while leaving the couch ready to run in case of her throwing anything at him.

- You began! He said smiling and she smiled back.

- Go and play on your phone, don't bother me anymore. She said moving her hand in the air indicating him to leave.

- I like to be with you sometimes. He said lying down on the couch next to her again.

- "Sometimes". She emphasized.

- Do you know? You're a very possessive friend, you need to stop it. He said placing his eyes on his phone.

- Do whatever you want. She said turning around, placing her left side on the couch, not allowing him to see her face anymore.

- Come on, don't get mad. I was just playing. He asked looking at her but she said nothing and he sighed. The game was over, she came back to her book and he had to come back to his phone. At least she seemed to be in a better mood today, yesterday she seemed so down and broken after he got to fix the air conditioner and even when the house was warm enough, she was still wearing huge and long sweaters like if she remained cold inside after all... He wondered what could he do to make her feel better... He wondered if that guy would ever truly come back for her... He wondered if she was still waiting for him even though she said he won't come back... but as the questions started breaking up his peace of mind, he decided to focus on his game and stop tormenting himself. Suddenly she turned around, now placing her right side on the couch but kept her eyes on the books.

- Thanks for staying. She said and he smiled. She acted so almightily all the time, but her heart was still so soft... and she couldn't hide it.

- My pleasure. He answered and kept on playing now happily on his phone.

[First part: http://handsofaheart.blogspot.com/2016/10/cold-house.html ]
[Second part: http://handsofaheart.blogspot.com/2016/12/cold-house-12.html ]
[Third part: https://handsofaheart.blogspot.com/2016/12/cold-house-13-together-separated.html ]
[Forth part: https://handsofaheart.blogspot.com/2017/11/cold-house-2-sweet.html ]

Cold House (2. Sweet)

He knocked the door, she opened.

- Come in. She said while going back to the living room and sitting down on the long couch to continue watching her movie.

- You're always cold, aren't you? He said sadly while sitting down on the small couch next to her.

- Don't start. She said without looking at him.

- Did you miss me? He asked looking straight at her.

- Don't ask such stuff. She said getting the remote control and putting up the volume.

- Two years. I've been by your side for two years... and that f*cking air conditioner is still messed up. He said angrily.

- Fix it. She said and looked at him.

- What did you say? He asked extremely surprised.

- Fix the air conditioner of this house... winter is way too cold and I am way too done. She said giving up.

- Are you serious? He said smiling openly and she looked at another place again with a small smile.

- Yeah. She said and wondered if that was a wise decision.

- Oh, I will fix everything in this house! Do I have carte blanche? He said excitedly and suddenly standing up.

- You do. She said and he was getting closer to her when she continued. Carte blanche around the house, don't you even dare to get close to me. And both laughed.

- Of course. Well, there's always a beginning. He said proudly.

- And an ending. She said laughing. So you better behave. I really don't want to have problems with you, I can't afford it. And he laughed.

- Do you want to help me to fix it? He asked, he just wanted to spend some more time with her in fact.

- I am busy. She said pointing out the television in front of them with the remote control.

- I missed you. He said in a pitiful tone and making a pout. She turned off the television and stood up, he just looked at her.

- I am not planning on doing anything. I won't help. I will just sit down close by while you fix it. I want a complete report on what you've been doing the last couple of months. She said emotionless.

- You never change. He said playfully.

- Neither do you, so let's go. She said and they walked to the second floor where there was the central air conditioner. They walked up the stairs and got there, he got some tools but before touching anything he wanted to make himself sure about it was okay for her.

- Are you sure about this? He asked looking at her worriedly.

- Don't ask and fix it. She said coldly.

- But you told me he... He couldn't finish because she threw something on him and almost hit his head, he opened his eyes widely.

- I won't fail next time. She said looking at him expressionless.

- You're so crazy. He said disturbed and started working.

- I am. She said and one tear fell down her cheek, but she cleaned it immediately.

- Not sure about him being happy to see some changes around here if he ever comes back. He said trying to turn down the tension and trying to cheer her up. He knew her better and he knew how hard this was for her.

- He's not coming back, there's nothing to worry about. She said with an empty voice while hiding her face in her legs.

- Why are you asking me to fix this now? Is there someone coming over? He asked a bit concerned and she laughed thinking he may be a bit jealous over nothing.

- Just fix it. What a curious guy you can be. You wanted a warmed place, fix that. I'll get some chocolates, do you want some? She asked and he nodded.
She went down the stairs, picked up some chocolates and came back up. He didn't seem to be the right person to fix anything but she enjoyed to see him trying so she didn't pursue him about letting it be until she may bring someone that can actually fix it.

- This is a bit strange... I mean... I don't know... It's a bit weird, but I will fix it. He said looking at it very carefully. She put a small chocolate close to his mouth and he looked at her speechless.

- Open. She said and he opened his mouth. - Sweet, no? She said and smiled and he couldn't tell what was sweeter for him, if the chocolate, her actions, or her smile... He decided to believe it was her smile, he would never get tired of being able to taste a bit of the sweetness she spread around when she seems to be in a good mood.
He missed her... he really missed her and due to her actions, it seemed to him she did too, even when he knew better she was never going to say so, at least not to him. In any case, he wanted to believe so... And he also wanted to believe he will be the one fixing that place, and bringing back the warmness to her house, he wanted to melt down her cold heart and bring back her true-self. She couldn't be that lifeless, distant and icy, of course not, after all that time around he knew better how the sound of her laugh break the strongest rocks and the gentleness of her soul can give peace even to a fatal wounded soldier and this is why he was still there... This is why he accepted to stay even if she offered her friendship only, this is why he didn't just let her go, because even if she seemed to be deeply hurt over a past love, she was still a shining diamond in his eyes; and even as a "simple friend", she still had the power to make him shake.

[First part: http://handsofaheart.blogspot.com/2016/10/cold-house.html ]

[Second part: http://handsofaheart.blogspot.com/2016/12/cold-house-12.html ]

[Third part: https://handsofaheart.blogspot.com/2016/12/cold-house-13-together-separated.html ]