Colourless

Chapter Twenty

Peaking my head into the training room, The Great Gatsby tucked protectively beneath my arm, I grinned and slipped inside — using the doorway to propel my body in a swing. "Don't you look all cool with your pensive gaze and silent brooding," I laughed, causing the medical tape to tug painfully at my cheek.

Malik glanced up from his spot on the ground, throwing me a lopsided smirk and beckoning me over with a nod — currently winding athletic tape around his right hand and knuckles. Obliging, I place the book by my side once I've sat down, before helping the curly-haired brunet secure the tape in place. Feeling Malik's gaze, I arched a brow as his emerald green eyes bored into mine. His calloused hand pushed the dark hair from my eyes and we both laugh when a rough piece of tape accidentally snags a lock. "Sorry," he murmurs, painlessly pulling my near-black hair away from the adhesive and scanning his eyes over my face.

This moment feels more intimate than all the other times we've been this close. He's definitely looking at my paled lips, and I can't help but look at his as they slowly inch closer. He tilts his head to the side.

Was this really happening? Ah, no, wait, yes, oh please yes. It was happening. I'm going to experience something magical. One of the purest forms of bliss.

I shift closer as well and my eyelids lower as I look up at him through my lashes. Malik's hand, still remaining on my jaw, gently pulls my face as the other runs over my resting hand. 'Be bold', I told myself. I then move forward to close the gap and our lips are touching. Its soft and sensual and beautiful.

"Hey guys, I— oh, shoot, nevermind you appear to be... quite busy."

I lurched backwards, in shock, and hear Malik sigh as I place a hand over my heart — trying to catch my breath. "I'm just gonna... come back later." Laria's son, Reagan, dismisses awkwardly, before escaping swiftly from the room as I stared helplessly after him.This situation could not get anymore awkward.

I slowly clamber to my feet, dusting invisible dust from my trousers to wake my jellified legs.

"We should probably—" my words are cut off as Malik gently grabs my waist and pulls me forward; my lips crashing onto Malik's. It was simple at first, but then Malik's hands slipped further onto my waist and he flushed our chests together — the kiss becoming passionate and warm. Like a raging wildfire within.

I lift up the hand that wasn't caught in between Malik and I, and tangle it in the mass of dark curls atop his undercut. I feel as though my senses have been heightened; the smell of Malik's cologne was stronger and more emasculating and my strawberry lip balm smelt odd, yet perfect, as it mixed and eddied with Malik's scent. A practically indescribable heat courses though my body as Malik's thumb stroked along my hip.

Unfortunately we were human so we had to pull away and when we did, Malik had the biggest grin on his face.

"That was—"

"Say horrible and I will drop you to the ground." I pant as I catch my breath

Malik chuckles, "I was going to say... perfect."

***

"So... are you guys together now, or—"

"Of course they're bloody together now. Reagan said they were, like, making out... intensely."

"Hey, that doesn't mean anything. They're just two consenting adults who—"

"Guys, jeez," I cut off with a roll of my eyes and a laugh, "Stop making assumptions... just ask."

Lucille smiles softly, resting a hand over mine, "Are you guys together now?" I shrug, but then flash her an excited grin.

Since our kiss earlier not only could I not focus fully, but it also meant that I could not stop smiling. It was like Magic Mike all over again...

"I'm not sure, but it definitely meant something—" I collapse back onto my mattress— "It's up to Malik too, though, I'm not going to force him into anything if he doesn't want to." Ellie hums, falling beside me and squealing happily.

"I'm so happy," she beams, "It's... normalcy."

Charles abruptly cheers, shooting to his feet, "Come on. Let's celebrate."

***

"What the hell are you doing?!" I whisper yell as Charles silently prances down the dimly lit hall like a gazelle, the fluffy white slippers that he had stolen from Ellie muffling his loud footsteps.

Lucille looks at him with a pierced eyebrow raised, before shaking her head and following after him whilst I scoff incredulously as Ellie muffles her laughs with the collar of her jacket. Silently creeping after the two, Ellie follows silently behind me.

Entering the dark meal hall, Ellie almost topples over as her socks meet the freshly mopped floors. "What if we get caught?" She hisses, our hands clutching one another's as we almost tumble over like toddlers on an ice rink.

"It's just... working on our sneaking skills," I reason quietly, my whisper practically echoing throughout the empty hall. Ellie hums and we continue to clutch onto one another as we stumble through the dark room.

"Slap it's rear," Charles abruptly hisses, "Wait— no, I'm talking about a flash light— it has mechanisms... shut up." He then chastises our childish snickering, when Lucille's pale expression is finally illuminated by a white stream of light.

Parading jovially towards the kitchen, we slip inside with newfound confidence and gasp as we fling open the sliding cold room door. "Woah," I grunt, almost animalistically at the sight of all of the food.

"I take everything back," Ellie exhales, panting all of the air out of her lungs in a single huff, "This was a great idea."