Ring My Bell

Rain. Lots of freaking rain. It would be bad enough if that was all it was but half way there the thunder and lightning begun and it is definitely not suitable weather to be walking in. But that is exactly what she is doing. Their fight still replaying over and over again in her head.

"You kissed her!"

"I am sorry Mary. I swear I stopped it!"

"Stopped it!?" She exclaimed in disbelief "There shouldn't have been a start to begin with!" she was full on yelling now and people were definitely staring.

The fight ended with Francis storming off muttering something about talking to her later when she was being more reasonable. If he had found her after it happened and told her maybe she would have believed it didn't mean anything. But he didn't, she had to find out through the grape vine, he kissed Olivia. Olivia of all people. Olivia had broken up with Francis about 6 months before they started to date, but Mary knew he still held a torch for his former girlfriend.

So now here she was walking down the street in the middle of a thunder storm, it had only been drizzling when she left school and but by now it had escalated rapidly. She was already soaked by the time she found shelter so she decided to keep walking. No destination in particular, which was why she found it odd when she ended up at Francis door step.

She exhaled wondering why she had come here of all places, she didn't want to talk to him but she was cold and wet so she decided that they might as well have this conversation now rather than at school on Monday. No reason to delay the inevitable, she braced herself and walked up to door and knocked three times.

After minutes of no reply or sound coming from inside she turned on her heel to leave when the door swung open. She didn't even look to see who was standing in the doorway before saying "Punishing me by making me wait? That's low, even for you Franc—-"Just as she was finishing her sentence she saw him standing against the door frame with his arms crossed and a curious expression marking is face.

Sebastian. Or as everyone called him, Bash. She has to admit he is gorgeous, between is striking eyes and sexy stubble marring his face he was definitely not hard to look at. She had seen him rooming the school halls in the past, but they had never had an actual conversation. He was 2 grades above her so they shared no classes or friends and Francis never cared to introduce her to his family so rumours and brief glances in the halls were all she knew of him.

She was so distracted by his beauty she didn't think about apologizing for not cheeking who was answering the door before yelling. As her brain and senses finally caught up with her she was about to apologize when he started "I am sorry, had my hands full so it took me a while to respond, my lady."

My lady.

She mentally scoffed, who talks like that? Well, him apparently.

"No. It's not your fault! I should have cheeked first, it has been a long day and my temper is flaring. Francis and I got into a big fight earlier and I just started walking and ended up here. So I figured what the hell! But now I am realising what a bad idea it was and …" She let her ramblings drift off, her tone taking on a tired and defeated tint that was the opposite from her angry snap from earlier.

He just stared at her for a second almost as if contemplating the situation before him when he realized she was soaked to the bone and shivering, pushing his manners forward he said "Why don't you come in and we can talk." He held the door open as a sign of invitation. She looked at him questioning with her eyes and arching her perfectly shaped eyebrow. "Is Francis in?"

Silence.

"No, ummm… He is.. Out." For the first time since opening the door and listening to her rambling he looked honest to god embarrassed but also regretful. There was pity flowing through his eyes and she couldn't figure out why a practically stranger was feeling bad for her. A quiet "Oh." was all she could manage to say. After a moment she said "Well, Uhh. Thanks anyways."

Turning to leave back where she'd come from he caught her arm and turned her, she wonders for a split second why he'd stopped her and was about to make a remark when he says "It's cold out there, you are cold. This is not the kind of weather to be out in, it is dangerous."

She was about to reply with a snarky Yes, but going in to the house of a man i barely know is safer… When a large ray of lightening rippled through the sky a couple miles away, she knew that there was no rational argument that would justify her walking in this weather. "Okay. Just until the storm cools off."

He smiled at her and with a dramatic bow he guided her into the house towards a beautiful guest bathroom. "There are towels on the rack and I'll go get you some dry sweats and a t-shirt to put on!" He calls from the other room whilst ruffling through some draws. Returning shortly after with the clothing, he closes the door behind him and allows her to change in private.

She exits the bathroom not long after with her hair towel dried and her wet clothes in one hand. He takes them from her and puts them in the washer to wash the rain and mud out of them, she murmurs a quiet thanks and stands awkwardly in the hall way.

When he finishes he gestures towards the kitchen and they walk there in silence, she doesn't know what to say. What does one say to your boyfriends brother after he rescues her from a thunderstorm after a horrible fight with said boyfriend, after accidentally lashing out at them and proceeding that by rambling like a teenager. Well she is a teenager, but that isn't the point.

"Hot Chocolate?" He asks.

She nods and smiles at his choice in beverage and tries to think of something to say. What is wrong with me? Since when am I rendered speechless by a boy? Actually, a man. A beautiful man, some might even say go-like. Jesus Mary pull it together. YOU. ARE. DATING. HIS. BROTHER!

He passes her a mug and looks at her with an intensity she is sure could melt butter. Almost as if she is an intricate puzzle he is trying to piece together. Like a rubix cube.

"Do you want to talk about it… And before you say no. You should know I am an excellent listener and a possibly better advice giver." He tries to lighten the mood.

He expects her to dismiss him. To tell him it is not his business but she doesn't. There is something about Bash, something that makes her want to tell him her darkest secrets… She figures the fight is a good place to start.

"Francis kissed someone else. He swears it was a mistake, but I.. I don't know…" She sighs.

"Olivia." He guesses softly almost as if to himself more than her.

She shrugs, brushing it off as if it was nothing even though it most definitely feels like something to her.

"I might have overreacted a little." She looks at her hands that were twiddling her fingers together subconsciously.

His voice pierces through the air "No. It's unfathomable." He looks at her like he can see right through her "What is?" She questions.

"Francis has you, why would he ever look elsewhere." There was not a trace of lie, flirtation or joking about this sentence. It wasn't some pick up line he used to get women to fall all over him, he was a flirt, yes. Everyone in school knew that. But the way he was looking at her now, his eye genuine and compassionate.

She felt her breath hitch, her body moving towards him; it felt like gravity pulling them together. So close she could smell his cologne, just as she was about to move forward the front door opened in the other room. She jumped back slightly the momentary haze that had clouded her judgement was now fading. Francis strolled into the kitchen and caught her gaze, momentarily startled, obviously not expecting her.

"What are you doing here?" What no hello? Quite the gentleman I have here. It wasn't that he was saying it with malice, but there was no warmth of regard for her. It felt like talking to a brick.

"I came by to apologize for earlier. How I acted." She said slowly.

"Oh." He seemed surprised "Well, we all make mistakes, no worries. But that doesn't explain why you are talking to my brother." He moved his gaze towards Bash, who simply shrugged and walked off leaving them to deal with their relationship issues. But standing at the threshold he turned his head and said "It was a pleasure to meet you in person, Mary. I have heard so much about you, and you are even lovelier in person. Do pop by again and I am sure Francis will return you your clothes when they are dry." And with that he left Mary and Francis in the kitchen.

"There was a storm so Sebastian let me dry off inside—"She smelt the alcohol on his breath "Where were you?"

"What does it matter? You are here now. Let's go upstairs, watch a movie forget about all the drama."

"Francis." She was a small girl, but in that moment there was a power in her voice that made him tell her the truth.

"I was with Olivia." He didn't have to say anymore, there was a look in his eye. It told her everything. She thinks back to when Bash told her he was out, the guilty look on his face…He knew, and he was covering for his brother. She didn't blame him though; right now all her anger was on Francis. Instead of starting a fight she simply picked her bag up and left.

Her mind kept echoing one sentence in particular Francis had you, why would he look elsewhere? …