Shirtless Thoughts A La Mode

After the quiet car ride in which embarrassment was thick in the air, Clover and Chris arrived at Chris' house. As soon as they walked through the door, Chris' mother attacked Clover with what she believed was comfort.

"Oh, dear! It must be simply awful to have lost your father so recently. I hope Christopher here was pleasant to you. If not, you just tell me and I'll sort him out. Are you hungry, dear? Dinner will be ready soon. Do you like Lemon Pepper Chicken? We're having rice as well, and some fresh rolls, with some apple pie for dessert. Is that all right with you? I can always make you some soup or something, if you'd rather. Or maybe you'd prefer-"

"Mother! Will you stop smothering her! You're just going to upset her!" Chris interrupted, steering Clover towards a couch in the living room.

"I'm all right, thank you for allowing me to have dinner with you, Mrs. Chant. Lemon Pepper Chicken will be fine; in fact it smells wonderful. Would you excuse me for a moment though? Chris, where's your bathroom?" Clover stood and waited for Chris to show her where she needed to go.

"Right this way, just follow me." He said, while glaring at his mother. Once they were out Chris sent apologies streaming towards Clover. "I am so sorry about that. My mum just doesn't know when to quit y'know. One of those people that seem to think that they can fix anything if they just comfort someone enough. I am sorry, y'know. Are you all right? Here, the bathrooms just around there."

Clover turned towards Chris and watched him as he apologized. "Chris. Slow down. It's fine. I'm fine. Everything will be ok. Honestly. Now if you'll excuse me, I'll be out in a minute." Chris just stared as Clover entered the bathroom and shut the door. As soon as the door was shut however, he ran to his room hoping he would have enough time to change before Clover came out again.

Inside the bathroom, Clover was staring at her reflection. From her dark as pitch hair that was tied back in a messy pony tail, to her starry navy eyes, to her cheeks red from blushing, and finally landing on the lips that were almost kissed. She shook her head in an effort to get rid of the image that had found its way back in her mind and had caused a new wave of red to adorn her cheeks. She turned on the tap, splashed some water on her face, and washed her hands. After doing this Clover felt like she could face the world again and reached for the doorknob.

Meanwhile, Chris was in a mad rush to find clothes that looked nice. And smelled ok. He had thrown off his shirt and was busy digging in a pile of clothes near his dresser. He found a pair of decent pants, baggy black cords, and put them on. He then resumed his search for a shirt. After deciding that there were no good shirts on his floor, he went over to his closet and grabbed a dark grayish-silver button down from there. He grabbed a black undershirt from his dresser and put both shirts on, adding some deodorant and cologne he found on his floor from when his alarm clock knocked them down. He dragged a comb across his head and checked his image in the mirror. He was so involved in getting ready, that he never even noticed the door connecting his room to his bathroom click gently shut.

Clover eased the door closed and leaned against it. She had just seen Chris running around his room without a shirt on, getting ready for dinner… for her. Her blood had risen into her cheeks again and she wasn't sure if she'd ever be able to leave his bathroom. His bathroom. She looked at the sink where a lone toothbrush sat. It was dark blue and white, just a normal toothbrush, but it was his. She looked at the pile of towels in the corner near the laundry chute. He must wake up late, if he can't even send his towels down the laundry chute. That or he is really lazy. Chris, without his shirt. She smacked her forehead and decided that shirtless Chris images or not, she had to go back out there. She took a deep breath and opened the door opposite the one she had just shut. Standing outside waiting was Chris, looking very nice despite the fact he was wearing a shirt.

"Are you ready now, Clover?" He asked.

"Yeah, I suppose so. You look nice." She replied in a rather awkward manner. He gave his thanks and led her back downstairs.

When they entered the dining room, not only was Chris' mother at the table, but his father was there as well. Chris was the spitting image of his father. If his father had been several years younger and Chris himself, a few years older, they could've passed for twins.

"Hello, Mr. Chant, I'm Clover. Thank you for allowing me to join you for dinner. I'm very pleased to meet you."

"Hello, Clover. Call me James, if you will. For such a beautiful young lady, the pleasure is all mine, I assure you." James Chant joked. Clover blushed again. It seemed not only the youngest Chant had the genes to charm a lady. "Now, if you two will be seated, we can get to the eating."

And so Clover and Chris sat down and piled their plates with food. From the lemon pepper chicken, to the wild rice, to the sweet corn, they ate all they could. After missing several vital meals, they had certainly worked up an appetite. Clover was finished far before Chris had even begun. Second helpings became third, and third became fourth. Clover had just begun to wonder where he was keeping all of it when he announced he was ready for dessert. His parents stared at him with wide eyes, amazed he could eat more.

"Christopher, by the way you were eating, I'd expect you haven't eaten properly for at least a month!"

"Well, mum, as you always say, 'a growing boy needs lots of food,'" He replied with a grin. Arien smiled back as she rose to get the pie that would be served for dessert. She came back several moments later with a still warm pie (from being kept in the oven to prevent it from cooling too much) and a carton of vanilla ice cream. She served a slice to everyone and they ate it in a companionable silence.

Terribly sorry about the wait, folks… I have no reason, except that I am a lazy slacker with a lost cause muse. I hope that I'll be able to give you more soon… that ending there is pretty crappy… Check back within the next month for an update. Ta.

-Ciara Moondagger (Who wins SLACKER of the YEAR award)