It's Ita-ta here. I know this is considerably shorter but I'm exhausted from studying and staying up until three and getting up at ten. Please review and enjoy
After the clothing they had gone through several bookstores, Laine insisting upon doing so, as she was in search for a book. They had finally found it when an elderly man showed it to them, a really old and battered book. Laine had held it closely to her the whole time.
They were now back at Josef's apartment.
"I should have known," Beth grinned as she took in the place.
Josef made a grunt of amusement as Laine skipped off into the spare bedroom that he had and started making herself at home. In their meeting earlier it was decided that she would stay with Josef, as she already had an attachment to him.
Laine came out moments later, a smile still plastered on her face.
It was evening outside and the city was in the lull between day and night where it was considerably quieter. "Well, I better get going, I have to type up a story I've been working on," Beth said, still standing by the door. Josef had made himself comfortable in his armchair.
"No!" Josef turned to see Laine cross the expansive living room quickly, hugging onto Beth, her head only reaching her hip. "You have to stay," She murmured pleadingly.
Beth knelt down and hugged her, looking over Laine's shoulder at Josef.
He rolled his eyes and let out a sigh. A headache was coming on, his head was already starting to pound. Slowly his head declined in a nod of acceptance.
"Alright, I will." Beth whispered into the girl's ear.
Laine pulled back, a joyful expression lighting up her face. "Yay!" She grinned. "My first sleep over!" She smiled and ran back over to Josef and jumped up onto the chair to hug him. "Thank-you Brother," She said softly in his ear. She jumped off again and smiled up at him.
"You're welcome," He groaned. "I'm going to bed, you two do whatever. Don't open the fridge." He mumbled as he stood, starting to shuffle toward his bedroom door.
"Wait!" He turned to look at Laine expectantly.
"What?" She gave him one of those innocent smiles.
"Can we watch a movie together? Please?" He groaned and came back to sit on the couch. Across from him sat his flat screen tv.
"Fine," He motioned with his hand that some DVD's were in the bottom cupboard.
Miraculously Beth had helped and found Finding Nemo near the bottom of the pile. Laine had grabbed a blanket and a pillow. She spread out the blanket and she had settled on Beth's lap, leaning on Josef's shoulder.
Half an hour later, Laine had fallen asleep, right before Dory and Marlin start travelling with the sea turtles.(A/N: I haven't seen the movie in forever so I don't know if that was a half hour in or whatever but cut me some slack, 'kay?) Josef was still awake and Beth looked as if she would nod off any minute. Carefully, Josef lifted Laine into his lap and then hauled himself and her up, carrying her to her room. She hugged him while he walked. He pulled the sheets down clumsily with one hand and put her down prying her fingers from his shirt.
"Goodnight, Laine," He whispered and after a few moments of hesitation, brushed his lips over her forehead.
He then skulked back into the living room after shutting off her light. He found Beth curled up on his couch, golden hair splayed like a halo around her head. He moved her head cautiously so that it rested comfortably on the pillow and she wouldn't have a cramp when she woke. Grabbing the remote, he turned down the volume and shut everything off. Then he turned off the lights and retired to his room.
Too tired to care, he threw off his shirt and undershirt and pulled off his pants leaving him in silk boxers. He snuggled under the covers and let his heavy lids droop shut.
- - - - -
Slowly blue eyes opened and a blonde head lifted up. Her vision was blurry but she could see Josef across the room in the kitchen. Beth sat up and rubbed her eyes, clearing her blurred vision.
"Morning sunshine," her head snapped to him as she saw what he was wearing. Or lack thereof. She looked away but she knew he must have seen the colour that had immediately risen to her cheeks. She didn't need to look again for what he was making, she could smell it; coffee.
"Morning," He smirked inwardly at how her voice was an octave higher than normal. He had forgotten that she was even there in his just-woken-up-and-hadn't-had-blood-yet state. Therefore he was still just in his boxer. He poured a mug of coffee for her, turning and carrying it over to her.
"Here," He murmured, holding it out in front of her, his arm stretched over the back of the couch. He was trying to help her by handing it to her from behind but he didn't miss the shiver that ran down her spine.
She turned, delicate feminine hands taking the mug from him, blue eyes noticing the lean muscles in his arm. She sipped on it, eyes still on his arm, fascinated how it is flexed when he pulled it back. "Thanks," She was glad that her voice was back to normal. Inhaling deeply, she felt her senses sharpen and could acutely feel his body heat.
"You're welcome," He answered. "I'm going to have a shower," he announced, heading to the washroom.
"I don't need in there, thanks," She said, not turning to look at him.
"Uh huh," He said, sarcasm evident. He disappeared inside and soon Beth heard the water running.
She coloured at his sarcasm and the slow drawl with implications. She sipped on her coffee more, in an effort to calm her frazzled nerves. She had just slept over at a vampire's house. Josef's house. She only slept over at one guy's house. Blue eyes darkened in sadness. Josh.She sighed and sipped coffee more.
A half hour later, she had straightened her clothes, gone down to get a bagel from the Tim Horton's across the street. On the outside, the apartment looked like an old English apartment, but she knew better on the inside. She had come back into the apartment, to see Josef just getting out of the shower. He had a pair of black jeans on, his hands on his head, rubbing at his wet hair.
She strode over to him, attempting to squeeze past him without contact. He leaned against the doorway, watched her in amusement as she didn't look at him but didn't miss the flinch when he leaned forward, causing her hand to come in contact with his freezing cold abdomen. "Sorry," He grunted, his voice low and rough. He took pleasure in seeing the tremor that ran though her.
Easily, he side-stepped and barred her way. She looked up at him in irritation.
"Scusi," She said in Spanish, frowning up at him.
He declined his head to look at her, emphasizing that he was much taller than her. "Don't speak Spanish," He shook his head, a smirk gracing his features at how she reddened. She seemed to have just noticed their proximity.
"You do too! Otherwise you wouldn't know what that meant!" She argued.
"Anyone could figure it out, Beth," His voice was still low and rough, his hand placed against the door frame. He let her name roll off his tongue languidly, as if sounding it out for the first time. His eyes didn't miss the shiver. "Cold?" He asked, letting real concern leak into his voice.
Azure eyes flashed in irritation. "You know well why I'm shivering," She ground out, pressing her hand against his chest in an effort to push him out of the way. It resulted in goose bumps spreading over the area she touched and colour to rise to her cheeks. She looked like a tomato. He didn't budge.
"I do?" He feigned surprise, raising an eyebrow, telling her to elaborate. She remained silent so he leaned forward, causing her hand to slip up, sliding over the contours of his chest.
"You're impossible!" She growled, looking down and then quickly looking off to the side. Because looking down would result in looking at his bare six-pack. She quickly removed her hand and in a split second he was easily on the other side of her, heading toward the fridge. She immediately disappeared into the washroom.
He smiled as he pulled open the fridge, grabbing a glass of blood and downing it in one go. Heading back into his room, he grabbed a white shirt, tugging it over his head. He went back into his living room, picking up the blanket and folding it.
His head snapped to the side at the sound of the door opening. "Where the hell were you?" He asked incredulously.
Laine was just stepping into the apartment, a grin on her face. "The playground." She answered cheerfully. "I was hungry for some strawberry ice cream." She said, the dark implications immediately clicking his head.
"You did that out in the open?" He asked.
"Hide and seek, always gets them." She answered, licking her lips.
"Ah," He answered, sitting on the couch. He noted that it smelled faintly of jasmine now.
"What are we doing today?" She asked excitedly.
"Well I'm working today, five meetings," He answered.
"What am I to do?" She asked, a frown clouding her innocent features.
"You can hang out with me today," Beth smiled as she strode over to her, Laine hugging her immediately.
"At Buzzwire?" Laine's eyes went wide and curious, hope in her voice.
"Sure," She answered.
"Yay, an adventure at Buzzwire!" Laine grinned.
Beth was just glad that she wouldn't have to see Josef for the rest of the day. She had had enough Josef-induced trauma for one month.