Thank you so much to everyone that reviewed and followed this story! I know that Cyrus seems like a bit of a douche right now but I don't intend on him being a character that is there just to hate. I would also like to dedicate this chapter to my best friend and her dog, Gus. He is a very sick doggie right now and my friend is going through a rough time. All my love to you, Gus, you're the best.
Sorry for the personal rant, it just had to be done. Anyway, here's the next chapter.
Chapter 2: Space Invader
"Mom, Dad, do you think I could have a word with you both in private, please?" I ask with a stiff smile.
I can feel her eyes on my face. I don't want to make her feel awkward but I also really don't want to share my room with her.
"Of course we can Cosima. Cyrus why don't you show Delphine around the house and we can clean up in here?"
"Sounds good," Cyrus agrees. He takes Delphine by the hand and leads her out of the room. As he closes the door he looks at me pleadingly, clearly asking me to fight his case.
"So what's the problem Cosima?" Dad asks coolly.
"Em, I dunno, maybe that you want me to share my room, my space with a complete stranger?" I complain indignantly.
"Cosima, where else are we supposed to put her?" Mom asks exasperated.
"In with Cyrus, her boyfriend?!" I suggest incredulously.
"Cosima that's not going to happen," Dad states firmly.
"Why not? They probably stayed together in his dorm room all the time in Paris!" I exclaim.
"Cosima," Mom begins warningly, "your Father and I are under no illusions about what happened when Cyrus was abroad but he is home now and he needs to realise that he is not living alone anymore and needs to respect our decisions."
"Ok, chill, fair enough," I admit. "How about you make up a bed in one of your offices?"
"An office is no place to host a guest, Cosima."
I press my palms to my forehead in frustration. I really don't see anyway out of this now.
"I guess we better show her to her room then," I concede.
"Thank you for not making this more difficult, Cosima," Dad says gratefully as he pats me on the shoulder.
"Go on up and help Delphine put her things in your room. We'll be up in a minute," Mom orders.
"Don't think I don't see what you're doing," I grumble.
"What am I doing, dear?" Mom asks coyly.
"Sending me up first to break the news to Cyrus," I say shaking my head.
Dad laughs and then coughs into his fist when he sees the withering glare I'm sending him.
"That's pretty sneaky, Olivia dear," he admonishes, "and also downright brilliant."
I roll my eyes and make my way out of the dining room. I notice that all of the suitcases are gone and realise that Cyrus and Delphine must have brought them upstairs.
I climb the stairs and cross the landing to enter my room. I smirk when I see that Cyrus hasn't put Delphine's bags in my room. He's really being bull headed about all of this. I suppose he's just testing the boundaries to see what he can and can't get away with. It's ridiculous though, if he wants Mom and Dad to think he has matured on his trip away then he actually has to act mature, not regress about five years.
I wander back down the hall towards Cyrus' room. I don't want to walk in on anything but the door is open so I reckon I'm pretty safe. I poke my head in and see Cyrus sitting on his bed while Delphine is ambling around, checking out the posters on his walls. I clear my throat to get their attention and Cyrus sits up and turns towards me. I lean casually on the frame and watch as Delphine continues surveying the room.
"How did it go?" Cyrus asks.
"It's a no go bro," I say shaking my head. Delphine turns, finally having heard me.
Cyrus grimaces and sighs.
"I guess I should let it go?" Cyrus asks looking for my opinion.
"I think that would be best," I admit. "I totally get that you are used to having all the freedom you want and that coming back home must be a big adjustment but you really gotta pick your battles better than that, dude."
Cyrus chuckles and nods his head.
"You're right, as per usual. I don't know what made me think that they would be ok with it."
"I guess we better move my bags then?" Delphine questions not giving her opinion on the matter.
"I guess we should, sorry about all this babe," Cyrus apologises.
"It's Cosima you should be apologising to, not me," Delphine rejects shaking her head, "she is the one who's room I will be invading."
"Yeah, that's true, sorry Cos," he says pulling me into a one armed hug.
"It's ok," I say not completely honestly, "I'm sure you'll find a way to make it up to me."
"You'll find a way to torture me about it more like," he jokes.
"Well obvs," I retort.
"Let's get you settled then," Cyrus says to Delphine.
I head back to my room ahead of them, letting them gather up the bags. I sigh as I realise that my room is going to need some reorganising in order to make this a comfortable living arrangement. I start putting away the stacks of books on my floor. I always have plenty of room on my bookshelves but they always seem to end up back on the floor.
Delphine and Cyrus stagger into the room with her cases.
"Where should I leave these?" Delphine asks glancing around the room.
"I guess, leave them on the bed for now until we know where your bed is going," I tell her over my shoulder as I try to maintain my balance on my tippi-toes as I continue to put books away.
"Cyrus!" Dad calls from downstairs.
"I better go down there and see what he wants," Cyrus says, "I'll leave you two to it then." Cyrus leaves the room which leaves Delphine standing awkwardly beside my bed.
"Is there anything I can do to help?"
"Yeah, could you just hand me any books you see on the floor?"
"Of course."
I continue sorting away my books as Delphine gathers more up from the floor. After a minute I feel her at my elbow. I take the books from her arms one by one and slot them into place on the shelves.
"Thanks," I murmur.
"You read a lot," Delphine states in an attempt to make conversation.
"I suppose I do," I admit, "though I haven't read all of these. I just keep buying every book that catches my eye even though I'll never get around to reading them all."
"I am a bit like that myself," Delphine laughs.
I take the last book from Delphine's hands. It's my hardback copy of Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows. I don't really have a special way of organising my books but my collection of Harry Potter books are kept together on the top shelf, out of respect. I reach up as far as I can to put it on the shelf, I know I can reach it but it's a stretch and sometimes I do use a chair on the occasions where I do admit to myself that I am just too small for these things. As I get the corner of the book over the lip of the shelf my fingers slip down the spine and I flinch knowing what's about to come next; a nice heavy book to the face. I peak my eyes open when I don't feel it connect with my face.
"I've got it," Delphine practically whispers. I open my eyes fully and see that she has a firm grip on the book, keeping it from falling down. "Is this where you want it?" Delphine asks pushing the book forward slightly.
"Yeah, that's perfect," I say still not having retracted my hand from the shelf. Delphine pushes the book into place and moves her hand back down, accidently touching the back of my hand with her lithe fingers. I shudder and jerk my hand back down to my side.
"Is there anything else I can help you with?"
Her words shake me back into action and I look around the room.
"I usually keep my desk over there by the window because it gets good light," I point out gesturing at the desk, "but I guess since it's summer I won't be needing it so much so if you could help me move it into the corner that would be great."
We move across the room and each grab an end of the desk. We shuffle it away from the window and into the far corner out of the way. My double bed takes up a lot of space in the room but I relent that not much can be done about it. It isn't the easiest to move and I don't think there is any position in the room I could put it in that would create a better space for Delphine's bed to occupy.
"I guess if we also move the futon and put it in front of the desk then that would give you most of that side of the room. It clears up that wall and you aren't directly in front of the window."
"Ok," Delphine agrees.
Together we drag it over in front of the desk. It isn't the ideal place for it since it isn't directly under a light but I can just set a lamp up on the desk or something that can shine over the back of it.
"So we can put your bed along that wall and I can clear out some space from the wardrobe beside it for your stuff. Then when you've unpacked there is plenty of space for your empty cases to fit under my bed."
"That is very kind of you, Cosima. I was half expecting to be living out of my suitcases really."
"That's alright for like a week," I say waving away that idea with my hands. "It just gets annoying if you have to do it for longer than that."
"I really like your room by the way. The earthy tones make it feel comfortable or something, I can't quite describe it, I know there is a better word," Delphine struggles to explain.
"I think I get what you mean, this place is like my sanctuary. I need it to reflect me or I won't feel right in it."
"I've always wanted one of these," Delphine sighs, sitting down on the window seat.
"It was an absolute deal breaker for me when we were choosing our rooms," I tell her excitedly. "I know that Cyrus' room is a bit bigger but I just couldn't pass it up."
"You two have very different tastes," Delphine observes.
"Well we may seem similar at times but we are very different people," I point out.
"Yes, you are," Delphine agrees.
"Well," I say clearing my throat, "I'm gonna get Cyrus to get your bed down from the attic. Then I'll clear out some space in the wardrobe and give you some space to unpack and everything."
"Cosima, it's your room, don't feel like you ever have to leave to give me space," Delphine pleads.
"Ok," I nod, "but just for tonight I'm gonna give you some time to get settled."
"Thank you," Delphine says gratefully with a lopsided grin.
…
I've been in the living room for the last hour and a half giving Delphine some room like I promised I would. It took me longer than I thought it would to clear out some space in my wardrobe. It seems I have been hoarding a lot of crap over the years without realising it. The whole time I spent clearing it Delphine just sat patiently in the window seat gazing out the window.
My room is at the front of the house and is kind of on a hill so my window has a great view down onto the street. I couldn't help but wonder how different the view from my room was to the view that Delphine has from her window at home. What does she usually see? Does she like this view better?
Cyrus had come in when I was about half way through and sat down with Delphine. He had put his arm around her and she had nestled back into his chest. The sunset had cast a warm glow in on them and I couldn't help but be a little irritated about it. That was my window seat and Cyrus was having a romantic moment in it. I hadn't even had a romantic moment in it yet. Sure I've gone on a couple dates with a few people but not with anyone serious enough that I brought them home and showed them my room or let them snuggle with me in my window seat. I knew that I was being a little over dramatic but I couldn't quite pinpoint why which bothered me even further.
I kept trying to think of something to say to get Cyrus to leave but I couldn't think of anything. Eventually I finished clearing enough space and then managed to make a hasty getaway to the living room and I've been here ever since, trying to get into a book. I was unsuccessful though; all I could think about was how everything that I thought this summer was going to be was wrong and that I needed to think of how I was going to spend it now that Cyrus had Delphine.
I throw my book down on the table and sigh. I figure that I've given Delphine enough time to sort out her things and that I can head back up to my room to go to bed.
I groan in frustration when I see that my door is shut and that I can't just walk in. I knock on my door and wait for an answer.
Delphine opens the door and looks at me with a confused expression.
"Why did you knock?" Delphine asks. "It's your room."
"You could have been changing or something," I explain.
"Oh right," Delphine says in understanding, "well I'm going to use the bathroom every time I need to change so please don't feel like you need to knock on your own door."
"Alright," I say with a shrug of my shoulders.
"Speaking of which, I'm going to get ready for bed," Delphine says grabbing up her wash bag and pyjamas and carrying them out of the room.
I analyse my room with the addition of Delphine's things. She has only left a small number of things outside of the wardrobe. I examine a few pieces of jewellery that she has left on my dresser. I like her taste, the pieces are simple yet elegant and I can easily picture her wearing them. I wander back over to my bed and pull out my pyjamas from under my pillow. I reckon I have time before she comes back so I quickly change into them. I don't throw my clothes on the floor like I usually do. Instead, I fold them up and put them back in my dresser. I feel a little weird standing in my room waiting for a near stranger. I even begin to question my choice of pyjamas. Should I be wearing more than just a tank top and pyjama shorts?
I don't really have time to do anything about it though as I hear the door to the bathroom open. I settle for hastily throwing a hoody on over my tank top. I manage to fit in a quick glance at my legs before she comes back in and I sigh with relief that I had only just shaved yesterday.
Delphine smiles at me briefly as she walks in and goes over to her makeshift bed. Cyrus had managed to set up a pretty decent camp bed for her. He even went as far as putting the sheets and duvet cover on and everything which is something I've hardly ever even seen him do for himself.
I quickly wash up in the bathroom to get ready for bed.
When I return Delphine is sitting up in her bed running a brush through her hair. I can't help but watch as she does it while I walk over and get into my own bed. Her hair had been tied back since she got off the plane but now that it was down I could admire each blonde curl.
I had just settled down into my bed when there is a knock on the door.
"Come in," I mumble into my pillow just loud enough to be heard.
"Just wanted to say goodnight," Cyrus says as he opens the door. He doesn't walk in though he just stays at the threshold.
"Aw goodnight to you too, bro," I tease knowing full well that he isn't here to say goodnight to me.
He rolls his eyes and gestures for Delphine to go over to him.
She gets up and goes over to him. She hugs him in the doorway and pecks him on the lips. I avert my eyes quickly and turn over. I really do not need to watch them kissing.
I hear the door close and look back over my shoulder. Clearly they didn't feel like kissing in front of me either. I didn't know if I felt better or worse about them leaving. It meant that they were at least out of my sight but it also meant that they were kissing so much that they didn't think it would be decent to do it in my presence. I shudder at the thought and try to shake the image of my brother kissing his girlfriend out of my mind. I feel a knot form in my stomach and I tell myself that it's just from not being used to seeing him be like this. There is no other reason for me to feel weird, right?
After a few long minutes I hear the door open and close again. I watch from my bed as Delphine crosses the room and gets back into her bed. I notice that her cheeks are a deep red as she leans out of her bed to pick up her hair brush to fix her distinctively mussed up hair.
I don't know if I should say goodnight to her or if that would make it really obvious that I was waiting for her to come back in. I can't stand all of this awkwardness especially in my room where I'm supposed to be able to be whatever version of myself that I want. Just say something, anything even because this silence is smothering!
"Soooo, you said that Cyrus told you a lot about me," I state.
Delphine stills her movements for a moment before continuing to brush her hair.
"Yes," she responds, "he is very fond of you. He didn't have a single bad thing to say."
I chuckle loudly. Of course he would wait to say nice things about me when I'm not there.
"So what do you know then? Just so that I don't go repeating things," I explain.
"Well, for starters he said that you're smart," Delphine says catching my attention. "He says that he thinks you're smarter than him but not to tell you that."
I sit up in my bed so that I can see Delphine as she speaks. I gape at her in surprise.
"He did not admit that," I say in shock.
"He really did," Delphine says truthfully.
"So what else did he say?" I ask with a sly grin.
"He told me that you have one year left in high school and that you love science, biology in particular," Delphine elaborates.
"Ah, so he was trying to make me look like a bigger nerd than him," I realise.
"I don't think that's what he was trying to do," Delphine says denying my theory.
"Hmmm," I murmur disbelievingly, "what else?"
Delphine puts down her brush and shifts to sitting Indian style in her bed, resting her elbows on her knees.
"He said that you like video games but that you're not a massive gamer." She says each thing like it's a question, like she is trying to see if what Cyrus told her was the truth.
"That is also true," I admit.
"He also said that he doesn't think you are currently seeing anyone but that you have dated in the past," Delphine reveals hesitantly.
"What else has he told you about who I've dated," I ask intrigued.
Delphine purses her lips clearly unsure as to whether she should continue but she seems reluctant to avoid such a direct question.
"He said that you dated a few guys a couple of years ago but only very briefly," she says slowly, glancing up at me to see my reaction but I remain stoic, "and since then you have only dated girls. None of them seem to have been serious either but you seemed happier with them than with the guys which makes him think that you're gay rather than bisexual even though you have never actually said to him that you were either."
I lean back against my pillows and analyse her carefully. Actually, I'm surprised at her honesty. I figured that those would be his assumptions. I've never exactly hidden the fact that I was dating girls, I had just never felt the need to confirm it to anyone, and it was none of their business how I identified anyway.
"You seem to have remembered a lot of what Cyrus told you about me," I point out.
"Well you're an interesting person," she informs me. "He had me at dreadlocks."
"You do seem to be a bit obsessed with them," I joke.
"It's just such a bold fashion choice and when he said you could pull them off, I was definitely intrigued."
"Do you agree?" I ask coyly.
"Do I agree with what?" she responds in confusion.
"Do you think that I can pull them off?"
"I don't think anyone could wear them better," she says genuinely.
I blush slightly and hope that the dim lighting in the room hides it from her gaze.
"Well thank you, it's good to know that I'm not just embarrassing myself," I say shyly.
"I think I'm going to go to sleep now, I'm exhausted," Delphine says with a yawn. "Thank you so much for everything, Cosima."
"What do you have to thank me for?" I ask.
"You have just been so accommodating and honestly I was a little scared to meet you," Delphine admits.
"Scared? Why?!" I ask in shock.
"I was just a little intimidated is all. Cyrus wouldn't stop going on about how amazing you were and I just really wanted to make a good first impression which didn't really happen with me having to move into your room and everything."
I don't want to reveal to her that I'm not entirely thrilled with her presence but I am finding that I get along with the girl even though she effectively ruined my summer plans.
I choose not to say anything at first and lie down snuggling into my pillows. I can hear Delphine do the same thing in her bed.
"Just give it time," I eventually tell her, "after a while I'm sure we'll be great friends."
I roll my eyes at my own cheesiness. It was a cop out and I knew it. I already found myself liking this girl even when every inch of me was sending out warning signals that I should keep my distance.
I calm myself down by rationalising that I probably won't have to spend a lot of time with her. Cyrus would be taking her out most days and I have my own friends and my own life. I just have to get through this summer and then she'll be gone. All I have to do is get through these small conversations at night time and maybe some in the mornings too. I can handle that, right?
"Goodnight, Cosima," she whispers into the darkness.
My heart flutters lightly when she says my name and I furrow my brow in confusion.
"Goodnight, Delphine," I whisper back.
Ok, maybe it won't be as easy as I thought.
….
Thank you so much for reading! I hope you enjoyed. Let me know your thoughts, they're great motivation for me to just keep writing and writing and writing.
Aisling x