Close Up
eighteen years old
He was ruined.
One touch had completely ruined him.
They were on a picnic with Calista and, after much prodding, all three of them had laid back to watch the shape of the clouds. Sofia had positioned herself back on the blanket so that her head rested somewhere near Cedric's shin while Calista had opted to flop backwards into the grass. Calista was prattling on about the shapes she saw in the clouds with Sofia occasionally encouraging her with her own observations.
But then Sofia had drawn one of her hands to her face to brush away her hair, disturbed by the windy day. She brought that hand to rest beside her head. It landed on the blanket and the backs of her fingers pressed up against the side of Cedric's calf.
Cedric stopped breathing. Sofia's hand didn't move.
She had to know. She had to know that the lunch had been magicked away, back into the picnic basket that was helping to hold the blanket down in the opposite corner so there was nothing inanimate that she could be touching. She had to know that Calista was on her other side. She had to know that there was no one and nothing else she could be touching but him.
A fire roared to life in his bloodstream, starting from the site of that one touch and igniting long-ignored passion and curiosity within him. Was she opening the door to possibility? Was he a complete lecher for even considering it? Cedric felt his ears redden and was grateful for the blustery day to blame it on.
And then her fingers twitched, almost experimentally, as the back of one finger made a minuscule, circular motion. Like she was letting him know she was there. And she knew and had done it on purpose.
Cedric stared up at the clouds for distraction. He tried to see at least one of the 18 different dragons Calista had pointed out. And he smiled. And then frowned. And then smiled again.
Merlin. He was ruined…
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A/N This was complete teeth-pulling to write and I think it shows. I'm having the hardest time channeling my creativity recently and, rough as this is, I needed to get it out in hopes of greasing the wheels of my other stories. Here's to trying!