Walking to get groceries was a different experience for me, for one thing, I always list my items that are good for me for the month, now, I need to get twice the amount. Another is I always carry a small shopping basket, now, I have to get a shopping cart. And lastly I was always alone, carrying my bags, now, someone's carrying them for me. Not to mention we went to get fabric for my school project.
But somehow, all this felt familiar. It has. I guessed.
Sebastian insisted he carry the bags. I sighed at how much the food for the month I got would take a toll on my expenses not to mention I had to buy fabric for a coat I have to make for a project at school. I opened my wallet and counted the remaining money I had, hoping I may have a large bill in between the wad, but alas, there wasn't. I sighed again but motivated myself.
I looked up at Sebastian who was walking just behind me near my left. He was carrying four heavy bags, two on each hand, I took one from his right hand, careful not to carry it with my wounded hand. He seemed to retaliate but I wanted to at least help him. It's not like I wanted him to be my butler in the first place.
"Let's eat out." I told him.
"I possibly can't have you spend more for this month, Sierra." He said.
I never knew he'd take me getting food for him too as a big deal. Despite the fact that even if he said he didn't need to eat with me.
"Alright then," I said, and we headed home.
The moment we got home I had him set the groceries at the table. He immediately helped me put all the stuff we bought at their places. It was weird. Especially, when I opened the door to my apartment and the neighbours had puzzled looks in their faces. I had smiled at them and told them he was a friend. I wouldn't want them to think otherwise. With the groceries taken care of I went to my room and changed into my normal, comfortable clothes. Heading to the kitchen, I almost forgetting that Sebastian was there. He was just standing there with his usual smile and stare.
"Stop staring at me, it's creeping me out. You can just be normal, sit or something, I have books at the bookshelf if you want to read something." Why am I even letting someone I just met a day ago stay with me. Yesterday was a roller coaster ride and I wasn't one for roller coasters. Looking back not too far, he did save me, I'm not sure what his motives are though.
"You don't need to be my butler every moment." I told him. "You relax, I think I can manage making lunch."
It took an hour to prepare everything, which wasn't too bad. I set everything at the apartment's small dinner table and invited Sebastian to eat with me. He didn't seem too fond of eating but he ate. I finished my lunch and Sebastian, without a second thought cleared the table neatly. I don't even know where he gets his dedication from.
Sitting down the couch I stared at the female dress form I had standing at the corner near my sewing machine. There was my lily dress, a short white petticoat dress with nylon lilies and black pearl beads decorating the bodice which I have yet to finish beading.
"It's exquisite." Sebastian said as he walked towards me.
"It's not done yet." I replied.
"Yes," he agreed. "Regardless, it is beautiful."
"Thank you..." I paused for a moment, "I'm just happy I can at least make pretty things. Considering I'm not."
I stood up from the couch and walked over to my drafting desk, got a measuring tape and looked at Sebastian.
"Well then," I started, "I have like a week until the midterm showcase, I have to finish a coat for the show within four days for evaluation."
He then walked over to me and I stated measuring.
Measuring and drafting took me hours. Sebastian, helping me was great. The afternoon flew past quickly. I think I may have fallen asleep at my drafting table at some point because I woke up with the smell of food. I was in my room, Sebastian probably carried me to bed. I looked at the bedside table to check the time on my clock and it was seven thirty already. There was a tray of cookies and hot tea poured just recently. I was thinking it may not be bad that I have a butler. There was a knock on my door.
"Are you awake, young mistress?"
"Y-yeah..." I said weekly, "yeah..."
I was going to get a cookie when I felt dizzy and lost my balance. I fell on the floor. I could hear the door opening and Sebastian walking in asking me what was wrong while he laid me back in my bed. The rest was a blur. I woke up again, this time it was morning with cold compress on my forehead. Sebastian at my side a worried look in his face.
"What's wrong?" I coughed a little, "I have a cold do I?"
"Yes."
"Don't stress too much about it."
He didn't answer. I got rather worried with him.
"I'm fine." I assured him. I sat up and patted his head. "You look really worried... don't be."
"Very well then." He said in return.
"Can I have breakfast here?"
"Absolutely, young mistress."
I sighed, "Sierra... It's Sierra, Sebby."
"Sebby?" he repeated in question.
"NIckname, it's cute."
He smiled and nodded. Then went out to get me something to eat. I sat there wondering what to do next. I stood up weakly and head over to my bag, taking out my phone I texted a classmate since I am probably going to be in bed for a few of days. My legs were wobbly and it hurt to move. I grunted and heaved back into my bed setting the phone on my bedside table.
Sebastian walked in with a bowl of soup and the peaches I got from the grocery which were nicely cut.
I can't remember the last time I had someone to take care of me when I was sick.
I took the bowl and ate.
"What was Ciel like?" I asked him.
"He was a brat." He said calmly.
I choked on my soup. He laughed at my reaction.
Recovered a bit, "Should you really be talking about your late master that way? I mean as his butler."
"Should you be talking to your butler as an equal?"
"Why not?" I sighed, "Was Ciel different?"
He paused. "Yes, he was."
"That's good, because I am not Ciel Phantomhive, and I doubt I'll ever be even with his soul latched on me. Besides I never wanted a butler in the first place."
"Then what do you want?"
I stared at Sebastian for a while before answering his question.
"As if you can provide me with what I want."
"If my master orders it I will surely comply."
"Really now?" I don't really get why he was so insisting on being my butler and do things for me without anything in return, it irks me out.
The look on Sebastian's face was pretty serious, I won't lose anything by telling him what I wanted right? But, I don't think I'll have the need to. It's better if I kept it to myself, besides I doubt he'll understand.
He was still looking at me, he probably knows what I was thinking.
"I think it's best if I don't ask anything from you right now," I started, "but right now, I would like you to stay by my side."
"Understood." He replied instantly. He seemed happy with it too.
Abruptly I sat up and moved the blankets off me, it was getting hot under the sheets, besides it was already toasty where I live. Developing fever during a cold is was getting to me. I took the pillow behind me and plopped back down to rest.
Sebastian, staying true to his word was beside the bed.
"You can sit down or get a book or something, you don't have to stay there long too," I told him, "You can go around the house too... I just want someone to call when I wake up..."
"I will stay by your side Miss Sierra."
I gave a faint smile as Sebastian sat at my bedside.
I didn't know why but my hand reached out to his and I held his hand. That was the last I could remember until I woke up and saw him still there, I had cold compress on my forehead.
"Miss Sierra?" Sebastian called.
"Yea?"
"Who is this person, I believe his name was Lance?"
Without thinking I slapped Sebastian. Rage filling my eyes, he just sat there looking at me as if he did not feel anything.
Realizing what I had done my expression changed, "I-I'm sorry, I didn't mean to- I- please don't say that name ever again. Please..."
"I understand. How are you feeling?"
"I'm fine... I think, It's still a bit hot though."
Sebastian stood up and opened the windows, the air from outside rushing into the room. He then took my compress and went out of the room, probably to change it to a fresh one.
-THIRD PERSON POV-
Sebastian walked out of the room, he went down the stairs and into the kitchen, hearing someone from the other apartment go out he rushed to casually walk out too. There he was seen by the apartment neighbor next door.
"Oh, hey, are you new here?" the woman said, around her 30s, maybe older by a little.
"Yes, my name is Sebastian Michaellis, I'm taking care of Sierra."
"A relative of hers?"
"No, no, I'm a friend."
The woman gave an unconvinced look. "A friend? She rarely has friends over, is she alright?"
"Yes, yes, she just has a little cold. Nothing too much to worry about."
"She's managed to take care of herself a lot before."
"Ma'am, what do you mean when she rarely has friends over?"
"You see, she's a solitary young girl. Well, I've only ever seen her with a man a year older than her. Are you sure you're just a friend?"
"Yes ma'am, I'm sure."
"Well, don't tell her I told you, but I doubt she'd tell you herself. Sierra had a boyfriend once, been with him for three years. The two were in love I tell you, but then something happened, I swear I heard something about the guy not wanting to commit to marriage when they get old enough for it. They fought and the man broke it off. Sierra stopped schooling for a whole semester for it. Her relatives seemed to not bother about it. But Sierra, she never went out of the house. Three months later she found out that her boyfriend went off with another woman, found out he was cheating on her with the same woman too. Tore her apart really. I used to bring her food to make sure she was eating well. Then she decided to try and move on, after that, she never let anyone inside her house, friends drop by but never too long. And I doubt they are friends, classmates probably for a project. She's a good girl. Just messed up by people. Please do take good care of her. She doesn't really let anyone in unless she felt comfortable with them."
"I see, by any chance, is the man's name, Lance?"
"I think so. I'm just happy that cheating pig is out of there. Sierra deserves better. I'm the landlady here by the way, if there is anything you need help with about the facilities in the apartments you can ask me."
"Thank you ma'am." Sebastian got the information he wanted about Sierra, but he had a feeling there was something more to this. Hearing Lance's name in Sierra's sleep, there was something that was wrong with it. The way Sierra had said it. It bothered and intrigued Sebastian. She had said it as is she was scared.
Walking back into the house he made a fresh compress for Sierra's head and walked up the stair and back into the bedroom. Sierra was fast asleep. He put the compress on her forehead, Sierra was sweating, it was a good sign that her fever's getting lower.
Sebastian then decided to get her into fresh clothes. Getting the clothes from her closet and started undressing her. Careful not to wake her up. Sebastian saw light scars on her back, they looked like scratches.
-THIRD PERSON POV END-
I woke up seeing Sebastian touching my back. I shrieked.
"WHAT IN THE WORLD ARE YOU DOING?" I pushed him away and scuffled to the farthest corner of the bed. "PERVERT!"
He just laughed.
"Did you undress Ciel too in his sleep? I know you're his butler and all but, you sick, sick bastard, he was a small kid!"
"I was to change your clothing, Miss Sierra, you were sweating too much."
"You could just wake me up!" I screamed at him. I did calm down after a while. "Did you see?"
"Yes, Miss Sierra. I am concerned. I heard from the landlady a while ago about what happened. I personally think, you should not concern yourself with a man who's lower than filth. Do you still love the man?" Sebastian expressed his opinion to me quite sternly.
"It isn't that I still like him. I can only feel hatred towards him to be honest." I really was, "Especially with what he did."
"Did he...?" Sebastian had the tone.
I looked away crying, I pulled the blankets over me, I didn't care if it was hot under the sheets. I didn't want anyone to see me that way.
"Miss Sierra..."
"He took it... He just forced me."
"You need not say anymore, Sierra." He gently took the blanket from over me. I looked up at him, his red eyes glowing and faded after a few seconds. His expression was either excited or bloodlust, maybe a mix of both. It was scary.
He then carried me near him, "Please stay here while I get a hand towel and warm water." He then went ahead and came back no longer than a few seconds. He sat beside me on the bed and moistened the towel with the warm water and began bathing me. Then he dressed me up nicely.
It felt awkward but I felt better after not being in fresh since yesterday.
"Would you like to go for a walk today, Miss Sierra?"
I nodded and he carefully helped me up from the bed, the weather outside was nice.
"A little walk is good even when you are sick, and you should go out to walks more often."
I just nodded. He held my hand and led me to the door, going for a walk with him was soothing. He made sure I didn't fall onto the pavement when my legs felt weak.
The day ended with him walking me to a park. He sat me down at a bench before making sure it was clean for me to sit on. He then sat beside me. I scooted closer to him and rested my head on his arm.
"Sebastian?"
"Yes, Miss Sierra?"
"Thank you for taking care of me..."
"It is my pleasure."
After a nice walk we headed home, Sebastian had me rest and took care of supper for me, he even got me to bed.
-THIRD PERSON POV-
Sebastian waited until Sierra was asleep. He took his jacket and headed out.
Reaching a condominium building he sneaked into a unit through the open 19th floor window. He stayed there for a few minutes before jumping out of the same window.
"Sebbas-chan ~" a familiar voice ringed at Sebastian's ears, there after he landed was a red haired death god.
"You're on your usual rounds? Why here? Grell?" Sebastian asked.
"Well, I heard from the higher ups that you were here now so I asked them to relocate my rounds. I never thought I'd be reaping someone who's been done in by you, my Sebbas-chan~"
"I have to take my leave now."
Grell's speech became like that of a child wanting attention. "You've found Ciel Phantomhive's soul have you? How is it working for you?"
"I have nothing to discuss to you, now I will take my leave."
Sebastian did leave, Grell let him go and moved on to his target, a handsome man beside a sleeping woman.
" How did this handsome young man get involved with my Sebbas-chan? Let's see his Cinematic Record shall we?"
The man's cinematic record showed the most recent highlight of his life. It was Sierra threatened with a knife, cuts on her back as she was forced into having sex with the same man.
Grell had a displeased look in his face, "Unlucky little insect. You'll have to die. But that's quite interesting. The girl looks so much like the little brat."
Grell made his way out and finished his rounds. A woman screaming in the background after finding out Lance was dead.
Sebastian on the other hand arrived at Sierra's home. Sierra was still asleep.
The next morning Lance's death was in the news. Sebastian made sure that Sierra did not know of course.
-THIRD PERSON POV END-
TO BE CONTINUED