Kelly liked living with Austin. In fact she secretly loved it. He had his quirks such as dancing around the kitchen instead of walking like a normal person. The sight of him singing to a frying pan the next day after she woke up had immediatly lifted her spirits. It was either that or the cherry colored blush that stained his cheeks after he turned to find her watching him. Who knew Austin Tucker blushed. She found him charming. He wasnt nearly as cool as he wanted to be, or as suave as he wanted people to think that he was.
He was a surprisingly good cook. He said it was the only skill his mother gave him. He made breakfast every morning, and she was grateful. They would sit down at the table and eat together. It was a first for both of them.
After seeing the home in all of its glory in the light of day she was more than entire house was made up of earthy tones, deep greens and warm woods. When she complimented the decor, she found out that he had hired a decorator and just asked her to make it homey and inviting. Whatever she had done worked, the place was fabulous.
Her next great discovery had been the library. The library that he had never even set foot in. It wasnt overly large, but it there was a large window next to a sitting area in the back that overlooked the lake. In her opinion, it was by far the most impressive room in the she started waxing poetic about some of the more obscure titles, he gave an indulgent smile and left her to her own devices.
She purused through the titles. There were some interesting ones, and some tried and tested library standbys. The section that peaked her interest the most was the true crime corner. She grabbed In Cold Blood by Truman Capote and settled into the plush white sofa. She didnt realize that nearly the entire day had gone by, until she heard Austin calling her name. He stuck his head in, and told her dinner was ready.
They sat down together for the second time that day and ate. "You dont have to cook for me you know, I can fend for myself."
He put his napkin down and cleared his throat,"My family wasnt big on the sitting down around the table together thing. I like this."
It was Kelly's turn to be indulgent. "Neither was Sheila. It's nice."
He looked up and smiled at her admission. Nothing more was said but it became an unspoken rule they would share meals together.
After dinner the next night, Austin joined her in the library.
"Find anything good?"
"Depends on your definition."
"I trust you opinion."
"Truman Capote, In Cold Blood."
"Thriller?"
"True story. It's about a family that was murdered in Kansas in 1959."
He stared at her and then laughed, "I take it back about trusting your opinion. That's absolutly horrifying. I have comic books and you choose familial ?"
She rolled her eyes at his comment before answering. "There is life after gymnatics you know."
"And in this life you will turn to violent crime?" He joked.
"Yes and I plan to start with you."
"Lies. I'm growing on you."
"Like a fungus."
"Well you do love mushrooms." He laughed. "Seriously tell me about this life after gymnastics. What's the plan."
She took a deep breath, "I want to be a Atticus Finch."
"A lawyer?''
"Not just a lawyer. I want to move mountains, slay dragons, save people."
"Careful Kelly your good side is showing." He ducked as she threw a pillow from the couch at him. Picking it up from where it landed, he tossed it back on the couch and sat down next to her.
"So what's so great about this book it sounds horrible."
She opened it to a random page, "Listen. 'You are a man of extreme passion, a hungry man not quite sure where his appetite lies, a deeply frustrated man striving to project his individuality against a backdrop of rigid conformity. You exist in a half-world suspended between two superstructures, one self-expression and the other self-destruction. You are strong, but there is a flaw in your strength, and unless you learn to control it the flaw will prove stronger than your strength and defeat you. The flaw? Explosive emotional reaction out of all proportion to the occasion. Why? Why this unreasonable anger at the sight of others who are happy or content, this growing contempt for people and the desire to hurt them? All right, you think they're fools, you despise them because their morals, their happiness is the source of your frustration and resentment. But these are dreadful enemies you carry within yourself-in time destructive as bullets. Mercifully, a bullet kills its victim. This other bacteria, permitted to age, does not kill a man but leaves in its wake the hulk of a creature torn and twisted; there is still fire within his being but it is kept alive by casting upon it f*ggots of scorn and hate. He may successfully accumulate, but he does not accumulate success, for he is his own enemy and is kept from truly enjoying his achievements.' This book is about life and sometimes our actions are horrifying but this book makes us question the root causes of those actions; the why?"
"Kelly Parker, the philosopher. You my dear, are full of secrets and surprises. The good kind."
She looked over at him, and he was giving her a small half smile. She felt a deep blush grace her cheeks. That smile made his face even more attractive in the low light. She averted her eyes and cleared her throat. "Yes well, dont forget they are secret for a reason. Cant have you destroying my reputation."
He let out a quiet laugh. "You have a beautiful voice."
She could feel the heavy force of his gaze still on her.
"Could you read some more, I just want to listen."
"Does Austin Tucker need a bedtime story?" She joked trying to lighten the mood.
"Never had one of those either." He leaned up off the back of the couch, turned, and placed his head in her lap. "Indulge me."
She opened the book to the first page and started to read. Halfway through the first chapter she glanced upfrom the page and looked down. He had fallen asleep. She took a moment to take in the interplay of light and shadows across the hard planes of his face, childlike in sleep. He was beautiful.
It had only been two days; but she was already in way to deep.
Hope you liked it there is much more to come from these two.
The quote comes from Capote's In Cold Blood. Which is a really good book.