Catch 22 – Chapter 2: Flour Power
"So why are you allowed to make something?" you moan, as Nikki begins stirring various ingredients into a saucepan.
"Because Leo trusts me," smiles Nikki, poking her tongue out at you, adding milk to her questionable concoction.
"So, what exactly are you making?" you ask, leaning across the table. You scoop a handful of flour out of its packet, and hide your hand behind your back. Slowly, you begin to creep up behind Nikki, who has her back to you. Resisting the urge to smell her hair, you rest your head over her shoulder as you scoff at the mixture simmering in the pan.
"May I help you?" asks Nikki, glaring at you, "Or are you just here to critique my handiwork? Now go away," she huffs, pushing at your chest lightly with both hands. You fail to ignore the feeling of her hands against your sweater-clad chest; you try in vain to ignore the want for her hands to stay there indefinitely.
"Well, I'd hardly call that handiwork. It looks like packet custard," you mock gently. Underneath your teasing, you're still slightly mad that you weren't asked to help in the kitchen. Not that you actually want to help, but it would have been courtesy to ask, at least. You had a whole collection of food puns ready, as well.
"It's not custard, Harry, it's a béchamel sauce," states Nikki smugly. It actually does smell pretty good. So, deciding to wipe that arrogant smirk off her face, you choose this exact moment to dowse Nikki with the flour that is still in your hand.
"HARRY!" she yells, the look on her face absolutely priceless, as she begins coughing out clouds of floury dust. "You git! This is a new dress!" she cries.
"Oh, don't be so melodramatic, it'll come out. I'll get the duster and you can clean yourself off," you sigh, turning your back on her momentarily. Suddenly, you feel a soft pelt against the back of your head. Turning around, you find yourself surrounded in a cloud of dust, with Nikki grinning wildly in front of you.
"Or maybe I just wanted to set you up for that," she smirks, tucking a stray strand of hair behind her ear with floury hands, scattering flecks of flour into her hair.
"Oh, you did not just do that," you warn her, making a dash for the bag of flour. She squeals and runs in the opposite direction, running away from you. Inevitably, a very infantile game of chase around the kitchen follows, the room filled with shrieks as you attempt to shower her in flour.
Nikki, finding herself with nothing to defend herself with, decides to make a sudden move for the bag of flour. Instantly realising her mistake, you find the look on her face comical as she finds herself entangled, as you reach out and grab her, securing your arms around her waist.
Unable to stop yourself from laughing, you both burst out laughing at that state of you. Covered in flour in a messy kitchen, you'd think hell had broken loose in a nursery school. Gradually, your laughter dies down, leaving you just staring into each other's' eyes.
"What on earth is going on in here?" exclaims Leo, shaking his head. You notice him briefly raise his eyebrows at the two of you up against each other, but this fades when you pull apart abruptly. "How old are you?" he questions, unable to stop himself from smiling.
"Younger than you," you retort, causing Nikki to giggle softly.
"Right, who started it?" sighs Leo exasperatedly, his tone sounding similar to that of a disgruntled parent.
"She did."
"He did," you reply simultaneously.
"Actually, I don't care who started it, just clear it up please, children. Or you'll have to face the wrath of Janet," states Leo, knowing that will fire you into action. As lovely as Janet is, and as much as he loves her, she can be pretty fierce at times.
"Well, I need to clear myself up before lunch. You can do it. Oh, and keep an eye on the sauce, will you?" smiles Nikki, patting you on the cheek with a flour coated hand, before skirting around you in the direction of the bathroom.
"That's not fair! Leo, will you tell her?" you groan, at the prospect of cleaning up, resembling a petulant child. Leo just smiles at you knowingly, before leaving the room at the sound of a doorbell.
"Yes, Isabel, it's lovely to meet you too!" exclaims Janet, giving her a warm hug. On hearing an unfamiliar voice coming from downstairs, you frown slightly. You figure that it must be Isabel, Harry's new girlfriend. You hate the way that sounds. She's his girlfriend. You splash your face quickly with cold water, before shaking any thoughts about Harry from your head.
However, any chance of ignoring your feelings for Harry is shattered when you open the bathroom door, slamming straight into him. Glaring at him, you groan internally at the fact you are pressed up against him for the second time in as many minutes. You notice that he is still very floury.
"Nicola, we must stop meeting like this," he grins broadly.
"Maybe we should," you sigh softly, before making your way downstairs, leaving a very puzzled Harry standing at the top of the stairs.
You know that you should stop thinking about Harry like this. You've been with Ben for a while now. And just as Harry invited Isabel to lunch, you invited him. You should be happy. But you can't help comparing Ben to Harry. It's become an awful habit. You subconsciously jeopardise every relationship.
You know that one day you'll have to stop it. Because you can't hang on to the hope that Harry loves you. You know that he's happy. With her. Isabel.
And that's what hurts the most. He's happy. Without you.
Okay, this was totally meant to be Harry's POV throughout, but somehow Nikki has a lot to say for herself.
Thanks to everyone who reviewed the last chapter: Lizziginne, dinabar, whitenessie, tigpop, pinkswallowsun, Inca Mystica, greyslostwho, Izzy and Dieuwiekiwi – massive hugs to you all
Not sure how much time I will have to write this at the moment…3 GCSEs down, 15 to go!
Please review…you know you want to…and it makes me write faster!
Love Em xxxx