Steal my Heart.

66

I came back from school with Alastair in tow behind me. I entered through the gate to find Howard watering the plants. He has always been such a sweetheart. I stand unsurely in front of him as he comes towards us and kisses my forehead. Such a brotherly gesture. I calm out instantly. We sit near the hedge in the garden, three of us, me in between them, like some sort of a shield.

Howard clears his throat. "Alastair, I've decided to forgive you."
Alastair snaps his head to look at him and growls,"I don't remember asking for your forgiveness."

Howard very calmly rolled his eyes. "What I mean to say is that I've let go."
"Finally." Alastair mutters.

I glare at him. I muster up my sweetest smile and say,"So I'm glad you two have got this over and done with. Now please patch up and say sorry."

They both look at me like I've suggested that we jump down from the Eiffel Tower.

"Please." I say pouting.
Howard sighs. "He goes first."
"Why the hell will I apologize? He has been hating on me since four damn years." Alastair snaps back.
"Seriously, can you two man up for a while? It seems like you two are acting like girls." I hiss.

They both look at me shocked. I get up and walk off inside and sit on the couch. From inside there I can see those two saying something to each other. They both laugh after a while. I can feel a smile twitching my lips.

Alastair's Point Of View.
I see Grace as she huffs away swaying her hips. Now she has to be angry too. Why is everyone always so pissed off with me? And I don't even what all I am doing in this situation. She just calls me to patch up, we fight and then we leave. Why is she so hell bent on making everyhting alright? Why does she have to act as the cousellor all the time?

"Sorry." A hoarse voice comes from my side.
I crane my neck to look at Howard. He's looking straight ahead. This must have been a huge blow to his ego. But he did apologize, not that I needed it, but oh well.

"I'm sorry too." I say.
"I agree with her. We actually are acting like girls." He mutters.
I laugh. "It's wierd how she's always right." He grins too. "Miss goody two shoes."

"Ahem." We turn around to see Gracie standing there with her hands on her hips. I wink at her.

"Had I known that you two would turn against me..." She says dramatically and sits down between us once again. Vanessa, who's clicking pictures of the flowerbed comes to us and points the camera. Gracie puts her arms around both of our shoulders and we smile. Memories for life.

Gracie's Point Of View.
6th December comes in as quickly and it's time for my brother to leave. Last days spent together were too good. We spent most of the time running around the house like little kids, blasting music and dancing to it, jumping around or cooking (more like dirtying the kitchen). Basically, these were moments I'd remember forever.

I tightened my jacket around me.
Winter had slowly started to settle in. I went to the living room to see that he was packing up the last of his belongings. He grinned lazily at me. I went up to him and hugged him tight. He buried his face on my hair.

"Thank you." I whisper in his ear.
"For?" He murmurs back.
"Everything." I say.
"Gracie?"
"Yeah?"
"Do you use Dove shampoo?" He asks.
I punch him on his arm. Ever the joker. He laughs.
"You know a lot about shampoos and all huh?"
"Now that's a secret."

I pick up one of his handbags and we move outside. Alastair was there, chatting up with Howard's driver. He can talk to anyone and everyone. They both give a man hug to each other and joke about something very stupid.

Howard greets my mom and Vanessa and then he sits in the car. For the last time, he looks out and waves to us. I stop the tears from spilling out and smile back at him. Such an emotional fool I am. Alastair, as if he sees through my smile, wraps a protective arm around me. I rest my head on his shoulder as the car whizzes away. Who said that a person can't be a home?

•••

I look out of the window at the snow blanketing the bushes and trees. There are lights plopped up everywere from the walls to the plants, which glow like fireflies. Winter is easily my favourite season. What's more is that Christmas is just round the corner. Today is Christmas Eve, the cookies have been baked, socks have been hung up, decorations have been done. I wrap my scarf tightly around my neck and wear a snug jacket. Alastair's jacket. It was the one he left over here while he came a few days back. It smelled of cloves, sweat, sweet stale perfume and of him. If I could the bottle the scent up and keep it forever, I would. I quickly go outside and catch a bus. I can't drive around the snow but buses still operate. I get down near his apartment and go up to his flat. I take my duplicate key out and enter the apartment. It is heated up and feels good. I see him setting up a christmas tree half his size by the fireplace. I go behind him and keep my hands on his eyes.

"Umm, Tessa? No sorry, Katie? Nah, Anna?" He says, guessing to himself.
I slap him on his head. "How many girls are you expecting?"
He laughs. "Jealous Gracie."
I just roll my eyes at him. "Have you bought all the tinkles and decorations to put up on the tree?"

"Yeah they're there on the table. Have you got cookies for me? The ones made by your mom." He says.
"Yeah they're in the kitchen. Let's start."

We start putting up the decorations on the tree. Most of the time it falls off and we make a lot of fun out of it.

Relationship advice, if you fight like a married couple, laugh like best friends and flirt like lovers, you two are meant to be.

As the tree gets decked up and we sit down at the dinner table,  we are completely exhausted. We have some red wine and dinner.

He puts up a song on the player and hold out his hand to me. His hands on my waist, my hands on his shoulders, and we sway. He presses his forehead to mine. I meet my eyes to his. They are twinkling. He softly and very slowly, presses his lips to mine. I reciprocate. I remember when I first kissed him, I was so very insecure. If I'd be good enough, if he'll be satisfied. But now as he chewed upon my lip and warm blood ran through my veins, I was so sure that nothing could be better than this. 7 months and he could still make me fall to my knees everytime he looked at me.