Life for Isabelle Green is perfect. Except for whatever it is that lurks in the dark when the lights go out.
~~~
Note: This is NOT a paranormal story. No jump-scares, no purple veiny hands and no skeletal figures. Just a lil thrill and romance~
Oops! This image does not follow our content guidelines. To continue publishing, please remove it or upload a different image.
"How did you find out about Penny and Rose?" I ask Zico who sits beside me on the bench at the bus stop as we wait for the bus to arrive.
"I almost didn't until I caught Rose being a little too helpful," he answers cryptically.
"What?"
He grins mischievously. When I glare, he shrugs and starts to explain. "I meant that while I did suspect there was something unnatural with the way Rose behaved, especially when flirting, I couldn't quite guess what."
He is interrupted by the sharp glare of the headlights of a bus. Picking up his duffle bag, he gets to his feet, his hand clutching mine. The bus is relatively empty at this hour and most of the passengers either look drowsy or are already fast asleep.
Once we are settled in our seats, our tickets paid for, Zico continues. "And then I watched Penny get possessive over Rose, though it took me a while to place that too. Until I accidentally caught their public display of affection, something very unlikely from Rose. Which is when I realised that all along, she had been trying to force the impression of her strong attraction to men when in reality, it was the exact opposite."
"But why pretend?" I ask, shivering a little as a cold wind blows by. Zico instantly reaches across me to shut the window.
"Think about it," he says, taking off his coat. Before I can protest, he wraps it around me, not even bothering to put my hands in the sleeves. Turning, he removes the armrest between our seats so it is pushed back. Pulling me towards him, he slings an arm around my shoulder, his warmth enveloping me, and continues. "Would Mr Green or your mother approve of it?"
"They wouldn't allow it," I answer immediately, burying myself in his chest.
"Not to mention the fact that Penny is a maid in their very mansion."
I nod. "They would never-"
I stop, looking down at my hands. They would never let them be together, is how I would complete the sentence. But what about us? Is there an us? Did the kiss we share really mean anything or was it merely on the spur of the moment? Does Zico even remember? What if he only did it to distract me because I was upset? At his age and with his looks, I doubt he has any lack of females throwing themselves at him. Then did the one magical moment I thought we shared mean nothing to him after all?
I realise I have gone quiet when I feel Zico tighten his arm around me.
"What's wrong, sweetheart?"
I shake my head. "It's nothing."
"Isn't it always?" he mutters, snuggling closer. Despite being aware of how dangerous the path my thoughts have taken is, I find myself blushing.
"Why so touchy-feely?" I tease, acutely aware of his hard body pressing against mine.
