Chapter 3: A New Emotion

Ally's POV

It's been about a week since Ezekiel started living with me. We finally got a routine going between us. Ezekiel will cook in the mornings before I go to school, and I cook dinner when I get home. Lunch is weird because I have school while he just stays home. I have the cafeteria lunch sometimes, but now he's starting to pack me a lunch, and gives it to me as I'm heading out of the door. It makes my heart flutter when he does this for me. I told him he didn't have to, but he just shook his head and smiled. I dropped the issue after that.

Patrick also kept bothering me all this week. I did what I told Ezekiel I would do, and just ignored him. This only made him more aggressive with his advances. I could tell Ezekiel was having a hard time restraining himself from mauling the guy, but he did a good job in doing so. As a treat, I would give him two apple pies. He always brightened up when I gave him two instead of one. I think he's getting used to me spoiling him a bit more, too. I guess that it helps that we live together now for that fact.

Speaking of Patrick, he still followed me to work, just like he said he would. He would wait a few minutes after the bell would ring to start heading in the direction of the restaurant I worked. After a week had passed, I'd had enough. Job or no job, I had to get away from this creep. I told the manger that I was quitting because I was being followed by him, and asked her not to tell anyone if they should ask. She understood my concern, and promised to never tell a soul. I managed to find a job in a local food shop close to my apartment. Patrick asked me the next day where was I when I missed work. I just told him this: "You aren't my mom. I don't need to tell you where I've been. Go away. I don't want you anywhere near me, you stalker." He looked absolutely dumbfounded and appalled when I told him that. He has backed off quite a bit after that, but I don't think he's completely through with trying to win me over.

"Ally, wake up. You'll get sick if you sleep on the couch. Plus you told me that you had homework due next week." I snapped from my pre-sleep state when I heard Ezekiel's voice. "*yawn* Sorry, Ezekiel, I've just been so tired these past few days from work. I have to lift some heavy boxes in the storeroom, and it drains the energy from me." He looked worried. I think I said something in a way that made him concerned for my health again. "Ally, go to bed. You said you were tired. We already had dinner, so just go and get ready for bed. If you'd like, I could get started on your homework now, and you can finish it tomorrow."

'Ezekiel, you really do care about me. So much so that you'd do these things for me.' Honestly, I don't think my heart can take all this kindness that Ezekiel's showing me. It's practically beating a mile per minute. I held out my arms to him. "Can you carry me to bed? I don't trust myself to walk and not bump into things right now." He looked nervous for a few seconds before nodding his head. He gently picked me up bridal style while I wrapped my arms around neck.

'Oh, my God! He's carrying me like a bride or a princess. It's too bad that we're not going out with one another because this would be such a romantic thing for him to do.' Wait a minute. Did I just think it's too bad that we're not going out? But I never have these thoughts for guys! Ever! Well, he has been getting by a lot of my usual guy barriers. Does this mean I'm falling for him? Oh God, this is so embarrassing!

Ezekiel's POV

Ally, is that your heart or mine that's beating out of control? You're request is absolutely the most embarrassing I've ever done. As I walked over to the bed, I noticed that Ally had already fallen asleep. She must have really been tired to fall asleep in my arms. The thought brought a blush to my cheeks. Fell asleep in my arms? Why does that seem so much more than what it is? I can't figure this out. These feelings I have for her are so confusing. Will I ever be able to figure them out and tell Ally about them? Even if I do, could I really find the guts to tell her? I sighed to myself. It's best to put these thoughts aside for the moment, and take care of Ally right now. I lay her down on the bed and pulled the covers over her. Her sleeping face is so beautiful. I will never tire of seeing it.

I left the room to get started on her homework. I might not look like it, but I know some stuff about Ally's current field of study. It also helps that I've been living for a long time. After a few hours had passed, I finished about half of the homework. I just hope that it isn't wrong and Ally won't have to take more time to fix my mistakes. I packed up her things, brushed my teeth, and got in bed next to her. I think she noticed my presence in her sleep because she rolled over and gave me a hug.

"Don't go. Stay...'Zekiel," she mumbled in her sleep. "I'm not going anywhere, Ally. I'll stay by your side." She must have heard that because a soft smile spread across her face. I guess she's still worried if I'm going to leave her house and return to the willow. I won't Ally. I'll stay right here in this place with you. I'll stay in any place that you're in for the rest of time.

Patrick's POV

The week is up, and Ally hasn't shown any signs whatsoever of cracking. She's really good to withstand me for this long. I wonder if she already has a boyfriend. I would make sense if that was the case. I asked around campus if anyone knew who she was dating. They all said no, Ally has always been single as far as they knew. When I asked her friends, they said the same thing, all the while shooting me hopeful glances. They even told me that she never showed any interest in guys, especially recently. Could she...be...a…lesbian? No...that seemed ridiculous...

No matter, it's weird. She's single, but she doesn't have an interest in dating or guys in general. It explains some things, but if that was the case, I would've figured that out already. Maybe she has a crush on some guy, so that's why she's ignoring me. When I asked her friends this, they laughed at me. "No way. Ally has never seen any guy as even potential dating material. She just comes to school, does her work, then heads straight for home as far as we know."

Ugh, where the hell does she go?! And how the f**k can she resist me?! No woman can ever do that unless they have a serious crush on some other guy. But it wouldn't make sense though. Her friends told me has never had any crushes on guys since high school. She must really be immune to my charm. That's the only reason I can come up with for now. I guess I should give up; it's clear that she doesn't want anything to do with me. I'll tell her before class tomorrow. Maybe we can still be friends after this. It could be considered a small victory.

Ally's POV

I woke up with Ezekiel's arm around my waist. I felt a blush rise to my cheeks. 'Oh God, how did we end up like this?!' I thought in a state of mild panic. As I was trying to find a way out of this predicament, Ezekiel stirred. "Mmm, Ally are you OK? Your muscles are tense," he asked in a tired voice. "Uh...you might...wanna look...down a bit," I stuttered out. When he did, I saw a large blush take away his natural paleness. "I'm sorry, I didn't mean for this to happen!" he said as he fell out of the bed, releasing my waist in the process. "It's...OK. I'm sure you didn't mean anything by it. It's fine, just forget about it." As I said these words, I felt pain stab my heart. Do I really want that to be the reason? That Ezekiel made a mistake? That he didn't do it out of love...wait...love...

Love. That's what I feel for him. I love him, and I want him to feel the same. I turned my head away. I can't face him now. How am I supposed to tell him? Will he reject me, or just accept it out of desperation to keep me with him? Neither of those options are good. The only options left are for him reject my feelings or accept them.

Ezekiel's POV

As Ally turned her head away from me, I couldn't help but feel worried that I did something wrong. My chest also felt hurt for some reason. I hope that Ally won't desert me; I don't want that. I want to stay with her; I need to stay with her. "Ally, are you mad? Did I do something wrong? Please, Ally, tell me what's wrong." I sounded desperate, even to myself, but I didn't care. My main concern was with Ally, not my own problems. They can be solved later. Her head snapped back toward me, as if she came out of a trance and noticed I was still here. "It's nothing. You've done nothing wrong. I...never mind. I'll make the bed, you go get breakfast ready." She gave me a small smile, but it seemed a bit forced.

'Ally, please just tell me what's wrong. You look...sad. You should never feel that way, not while I'm here. Oh Ally.' The thought surfaced to mind. What can I do to help her right now? Suddenly, an idea popped up in my mind. 'I can cook a really nice breakfast! That should cheer her up, surely!' I went of the room to begin cooking. Thankfully, Ally has been using her spare time to teach me how to do basic house things, like cooking and cleaning. I can finally show her the product of those lessons and cheer her up at the same time. I'm so excited!

Ally's POV

As I put the sheets back on the bed that slide off when Ezekiel fell, I smelt delicious food coming from the living room. Wondering what Ezekiel was doing, I quickly finished making the bed and went to him. I entered the room, shocked to see all my favorite breakfast foods on the table. For a moment, I stood still in disbelief. I couldn't believe that he did all of this for me. I guess he saw that I was feeling down from the answers I was giving myself about his feelings for me. I felt my eyes start to water.

'Ezekiel, you might not know my feelings for you, and I doubt you know your own that well, but...this is...' The thought trailed off in my head.

"Thank you, thank you so much Ezekiel. You're the BEST! I LOVE this! How can I make it up to you?!" His face was beaming with joy. "N-Nothing Ally. You don't need to do anything. I just want you happy and smiling. Please smile Ally. You're so much prettier when you do." I blushed when he said that I was pretty. 'Does he know what that sentence can mean? Maybe he... does have feelings for me. Hopefully, I can gather courage and confess to him, someday.'

Ezekiel pulled out a chair for me to sit down on, and I took it. My mouth watered as the delicious smells wafted to my nose. "Gosh, Ezekiel, you're becoming a really good chef. I might have to bump you up to 'head chef'. You're getting better than me!" He just smiled and motioned for me to start eating. I gladly started digging in, and within seconds, I was practically inhaling all the food in front of me. Ezekiel just sat there watching me eat with a joyful smile on his face. This is how I want things to be between us: Ezekiel watching over me while I worry about him and teach him things he never knew before. Everyday is new, exciting, and an adventure when I have him.