Kawaii-Cherri: Yeah, Abigail has some cahoonies in this. It's not getting better. Well, depends on your perspective. I like this one. Makes me giggle.

Chapter fifteen: Your breath upon my skin.

Hayley smiled as she flicked through the art pad. 'These are the concepts, finalized?' She asked as she spun idly side to side in the desk chair while Elspeth got ready to go out. It had taken them both a while to recover from their girls' night and their heads were still ringing. Elspeth was personally hoping that the hair of the dog would cure the thundering in her temple. Farm chores had been especially painful, even with Hayley's help. Hayley had raided Elspeth's closet for the evening and somehow managed to pull something together that matched her style.

Elspeth was fussing with her hair; it wasn't going the way she wanted and she was getting frustrated. 'For fucks sake!' She scowled as she threw down her hairband. 'Ugh! Why tonight of all nights?' She snapped at the world in general. 'Abigail is probably already there and flirting with him, looking all beautiful and perfect, with her stupid, purple hair and alternativ-'

'Okay, okay, that's enough,' Hayley said as she got up. She walked over to Elspeth and steered her towards the desk chair. 'Sit.' She commanded. Elspeth sighed heavily and sat heavily in the chair and was spun around to face the desk so Hayley could redo her hair. 'Now, tell me about the concepts,' she said simply, looking over Elspeth's hair. They had showered that morning so Elspeth's curls were a little fluffy and frizzy. 'Where's your hair products?'

Once directed to the correct drawer, Elspeth left Hayley to sort out the distressed hay bale that was her current appearance. She looked at her drawings and began to flick through them, 'I drew several different fish in the end, some are brighter than others and are actually more suited for an ocean or beach shoot than my lake. There's this one, focusing on a water lily rather than an actual aquatic creature,' she said as she revealed a picture of a mermaid, decorated in greens and pink flowers. 'I thought this one would really suit you, it would go well with your blonde,' she mused, feeling Hayley's fingers rake through her hair. Hayley had applied some oil to her hands to tame Elspeth's curls.

They chatted about the concepts for a bit, discussing different materials and what would be best looking on camera. 'Is there any sort of natural glitter? Something that occurs coincidentally? I don't really want to use man-made if we're going for a natural look. We want it to look like the mermaid could actually be real,' Hayley said, happy now that Elspeth had calmed down and stopped fretting about the way she looked.

Elspeth bit her lip, 'don't you think that mermaids could be real?' She said, casually. 'I mean, we have a wizard and monster like creatures in the mines and things. Are mermaids really such a stretch?'

Hayley tilted her head as she fluffed Elspeth's hair, separating the ringlets. 'Hmm, well… I suppose not. Anything is possible if you put it like that. But if you start going on about how you believe in unicorns and leprechauns, I'm taking you to Dr Harvey,' she said seriously, making Elspeth laugh. 'There you go, honey. I think you look great,' she said as she backed up. Elspeth stood up and exhaled heavily as she brushed herself down.

'So, I definitely look alright?' Elspeth asked, her anxiety showing. Hayley gave her a look but smiled sweetly, her friend was wearing a long sleeve, bare shoulder top with jeans and boots. Her hair, now sorted, curled around her collarbone and down her back. The clothing clung to her curves and the boots added an inch of height while lifting her silhouette.

'You look fantastic. I don't know why you're worried, though. Seb practically drools over you no matter what you're wearing,' Hayley said with a smirk. Elspeth's face went bright red and Hayley giggles as she holds up her phone, 'I know I'm right, I have the photographic evidence,' she added, sticking out her tongue.

Elspeth grabbed her backpack and rolled her eyes, 'and you're totally not nervous about seeing your boyfriend for the first time since you hooked up,' she teases back at her. Hayley went pink in the face and grabbed her own bag. 'Time to go?' Elspeth said, enjoying Hayley's reaction to her teasing.

'Time to go!' Hayley replied as she grabbed Elspeth's arm and dragged her towards the door. Elspeth had decided to leave Buddy at home tonight as her mind was elsewhere and she knew that she wouldn't be concentrating on her pet if he was around. The girls made their way to the Stardrop Saloon, the weather was a little brisk and Hayley looked at Elspeth with a little concern. 'Are you gonna be warm enough later tonight? It's already a little chilly,' she said as they walked arm in arm.

Her friend grins back at her and pulls her backpack higher up onto her shoulder. 'Oh yeah, I've got a particular hoodie in here. Something to remind a certain someone not to get so high up on her horse,' Elspeth said with a grin.

'You can be quite a bitch when you want to be, huh?' Hayley said, impressed and proud of Elspeth. When Elspeth first came to the town, Hayley thought that she was a little naïve but sweet, it turned out there was another side to Elspeth completely, and Hayley was enjoying her pettiness. Elspeth grinned with embarrassment and they reach the Saloon. To Elspeth's horror, Sebastian was already outside, smoking. Hayley waved at Sebastian who smiled and waved back. 'I'll leave you here,' Hayley whispered to Elspeth, 'have fun,' she teases. Elspeth tightened her grip on Hayley's arm but Hayley slipped free and winked at her as she opened the door to the Saloon and disappeared.

Sebastian smiled at Elspeth. 'Hey, Elsie. Feeling okay?' He asked, softly. She looked a little tense and stood a couple feet away from him. It was unlike her.

She cleared her throat, 'oh… yeah, I'm fine,' she said, mentally trying to slap some sense into herself. Nothing has changed. I already knew that he liked me, it was just a surprise to hear it out loud. So… nothing has changed at all. Act normal. Come on, just… be normal, she thought within a couple of seconds. Come on, just go hug him, Elspeth mentally scolded as she realised that she had just been standing there.

Walking over to him, she placed her bag on the ground and waited for him to initiate the hug with an open arm. Elspeth wrapped her arms around his back and rested her head on his chest, not being tall enough to reach his shoulder. Sebastian exhaled the smoke away from her as he hugged her tightly with one arm, 'I missed you,' he admitted quietly. 'The last couple of days have been a bit weird,' he added. Elspeth giggled and enjoyed the fact that she could hear his heart beating, faster than what would be normal but she wasn't going to point it out, just privately enjoy it.

Elspeth looked up at him and tried to retain her composure. Fuuuck, he's so attractive, she thought. His head was turned away from her so that he didn't cover her in smoke. Tonight, he was wearing a black turtle neck, his hair brushed away from his face; apart from his fringe which stubbornly fell forward. The piercings that glittered down his ear, along with the eye-catching ring in his lip, why wear things that draw attention to the areas that I want to bite and nibble? Elspeth thought in frustration. 'I've missed you, too,' Elspeth said honestly. 'I'm so sorry about last night,' she added as she went to move away from his embrace but Sebastian wouldn't let her go. He flicked the cigarette on the ground, standing on it with his boot. Keeping her close to his chest, he pulled on his other glove and tucked in his sleeve so that his skin was completely covered.

'Don't worry about it,' he said, honestly. Elspeth giggled and looked up at him, enjoying when he pulled her closer, now having wrapped both arms around her. 'I'm not finished with our hug yet,' he teases as he reaches up with a gloved hand and brushes her hair from her face. He smiles, looking down at her, this curse will be the death of me, he thought to himself as the urge to kiss her was strong. He literally had to put his hand over her mouth and she giggles.

'What's the matter?' She asks through his fingers, sounding muffled, amusement in her eyes.

'You know what the matter is, temptress,' he said, pained. Sebastian could feel her lips move beneath his hand and he knew that her chocolate brown lipstick would be transferring onto his glove. Elspeth giggles again. Sebastian looked down at her, an eyebrow raised, 'Elsie, I can't… I want to but-'

Elspeth moved back, not giving him a choice but to let her go. 'Hey, Bazz. It's fine,' she said simply. He could tell that she was lying and that hurt. She shook her head and smiled brightly, reaching up and resting her hand on his arm. 'Hey,' she said making it so that he looked at her. 'Bazz. It. Is. Fine,' she said pointedly. 'It's not ideal, obviously,' she added, truthfully. 'But, the thing is… it's you. This is who you are-'

He grabbed her gently by the shoulders and leaned down, 'I don't want to be like this, Elsie. I don't. I'm trying-' he said in panic, scared that she was going to say something that ended whatever it was between them.

She shakes her head and holds up a finger. Elspeth would have pressed it against his mouth but knew that he wouldn't be comfortable with that, and holding her finger close enough to his face was enough to silence him. 'I know, Bazzie. I know,' she said, softly. 'That's why I don't mind how long this takes to be whatever it will be. Don't beat yourself up, I'm not going anywhere,' she assured as she lowered her hand.

He looked at the floor and his grip on her shoulders tightened, 'Elsie… I don't deserve your patience…' I could literally kill you… by accident, he thought, guiltily.

Elspeth snorted and grabbed his wrist and directed his own hand to pat himself on the head roughly, as if she was hitting him, playfully. 'That's not for you to decide, idiot,' she said simply. 'Anyway. My head is pounding,' she whined, 'I need hair of the dog, like, right now. So, either wallow in self-pity, or join me at the bar,' she said as she moved away and picked up her bag. 'Are you coming?' She asked as she looked back at him. Sebastian chuckled lightly and brushed his hair back into place giving her a bright smile.

'I'm right beside you,' he said, making her heart skip.

-x-

Sam pulled the trigger to the pinball machine and swore as the ball shot up and bounced off a few bells, it hadn't gotten to the supershot lane that he wanted. 'Ugh!' He complained as he played. Sebastian was leaning against the machine, sipping a cider and watching his friend play, with an amused smile. Hayley, Elspeth and Alex were grouped together, taking photos and chatting happily, leaving Abigail on the sofa. 'Fuck's sake!' Sam swore as the ball dropped. He sighed and rolled his eyes before he looked at Sebastian. 'You want a turn?' He asked.

'Na, I'm enjoying watching you suck at this,' he said with a laugh.

'Asshole,' Sam chuckled and put another coin into the machine. He began to play before slyly looking over at his friend. 'So… Abi…' he said quietly, knowing that the music and the sound of the arcade machine would cover his conversation.

Sebastian tilted his head and took another sip. 'What about her?' He asked, wondering what Sam knew. She had certainly been acting differently this evening, attempting to initiate physical contact with him and draw him into private conversations. Her clothes were a little on the revealing side which simply made Sebastian more cautious around her and defeating the purpose that she wore them in the first place. Not to mention, her attention felt weird and awkward. 'You mean the fact that she's sitting on her own? Refusing to talk to Elspeth and Hayley?'

'And me,' Sam said, bluntly. 'I asked her to play pool but she ignored me completely. Do you know what's going on with her?'

He sighed in response, 'it's nothing. I think she's a little threatened by Elsie,' he admitted as he looked over at Elspeth. She caught his eye and smiled brightly at him, causing one of his own to appear. Sebastian realised that Sam had caught him grinning at her and he cleared his throat and took another sip of his drink. 'Abigail told me that she had feelings for me and said that I should be paying attention to her as we had grown up together, and that we're "already paired". Some shit along those lines,' Sebastian admitted. He hadn't told Elspeth the full extent of the conversation with Abigail but it was weird, even by his standards.

Sam gave Sebastian a look of confusion and it was mixed with a grimace. 'What? Really?' He said, pausing his game for a moment. 'Ugh,' he added with a shudder.

'Yeah, she's having some sort of identity crisis, I think,' Sebastian said. 'So yeah, until she starts talking to me like normal, I'm pretty much avoiding her-'

Elspeth had wandered over and smiled brightly at them both, 'sorry. Didn't mean to interrupt,' she said, softly. 'Hayley and Alex have started to…' she left her sentence open and the guys looked over at where Elspeth was originally sitting. Hayley and Alex were engaged in some heavy petting and it made sense that Elspeth had excused herself. She shrugged her shoulders, 'so, anyone want a drink?' Elspeth asked. 'Abigail,' she called over, getting a glare in reply. 'Want a drink?' She asked.

Abigail scowled at her and Elspeth shrugged and turned to face Sebastian, placing a hand on his arm, as she asked him if he wanted another drink. Abigail's expression turned sour as Sebastian reached out and gently rested his hand on Elspeth's hip while they talked. 'Bitch,' Abigail muttered to herself and crossed her arms. She almost exploded in fury when Elspeth and Sebastian walked towards the bar and Elspeth looked back at her and winked.

Sebastian looked at Elspeth when they got to the bar, 'you totally did that on purpose,' he said as he wasn't completely blind to the interaction between the two women. 'Was it necessary?' He asked, feeling a little smug about Elspeth's reaction to Abigail's interest. Was it toxic? Totally. Did he care? Not at all.

'Allow me the little pleasures in life,' Elspeth said with an intoxicating smile, her expression drew him closer and she stood on her stool to reach near his ear. 'I'm being patient while I'm waiting on the greater pleasures I've been promised,' she teases in a whisper, being careful not to touch him. Sebastian swore that the shudder that crossed down his spine and made his toes curl was visceral as well as visible.

He cleared his throat as he moved back, aware that he was staring into her eyes while his mouth went dry. Determined to make her feel as frustrated as he was feeling, he reached up with his gloved fingers and gently cupped her face, his thumb brushing against her lips. He leaned closer and dropped his voice so that only she could hear. 'I cannot wait to ruin that beautiful lipstick of yours,' he said, enjoying the way her cheeks flushed a dark pink in response. He didn't let her go and wore a half smile, enjoying how she looked at him through her eyelashes, her pupils large. 'I wonder how other red marks will appear on your freckled skin,' he murmured, lost in the moment. Thankfully, they were at the end of the bar and so not in full view of the rest of the patrons.

Elspeth bit her lip, noticing that his eyes were drawn to her mouth and she wore a coy smile. 'When that time comes, I'll make sure to ask you to bite me-' she said, breathlessly. The noise that came from Sebastian was almost animalistic and he pulled back quickly. Elspeth grinned as she grabbed his hand and nipped the side of his index finger. '-Hard,' she finished before letting him go.

Sebastian inhaled sharply and his eye twitched. 'I need a smoke. I'll be back.'

FLIRT!

Be well. Stay safe.