He opens the door, and my breath catches in my throat. Elliot smirks.
565Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡycxQkL0sjv
“ told you’d be amazed.” he says standing behind me.
565Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtM6ljFYBH2
The sight before me is one of the most beautiful things I’ve ever seen. The attic is shaped like a circle and every inch of the wall is filled with shelves. There are signs above certain areas that say things like, ‘good romances’ or ‘really predictable thrillers’ or my favourite, ‘This book was so bad. You should read it.’ My eyes wander around the room and I feel like I’m five again seeing Disneyland for the first time.
565Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡO0Qcpbks7e
In the middle of the room sit four bean bag chairs surrounding a small rectangular coffee table with an electric kettle and an assortment of teas along with some packets of hot chocolate. One of the book cases along the wall, is filled with an array of different mugs. One of the shelves contains exactly twenty-six mugs, each one imprinted with a letter of the alphabet in some artistic way. I walk up to the book case to get a better look. I see one with Grumpy Cat on it that says, ‘I love that sound you make when you shut up’ and I burst into laughter. Elliot follows my gaze and smiles.
565Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAaVsFijsRN
“ My mom gave me that one for my fifteenth birthday. I think she was trying to tell me something…” He smiles at the thought.
565Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFj2a5Xbr9w
“ Does your dad live with you?” I ask, suddenly recalling not seeing his father in any of the photos placed artistically around the house.
565Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSkXSzirOt2
“ Ummm… No. I don’t really want to talk about it.” He looks away, cheeks blushing.
565Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9FjKPkYQQR
“ Oh, I’m sorry, I didn’t know your parents were…” I trail off, silently cursing myself at getting caught in such an awkward situation.
565Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrht6QrcYGz
“ No, it’s not like that. It’s just not something I like to talk about… It’s sort of… awkward.”
565Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcMLe4TmSOw
Now I’m confused. Why would this situation be awkward?
565Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaOCbfFyYK7
“ oh great,” he says, sounding exasperated, “ now you’re gonna conjure up a weird-ass story about how I was sent to earth from some unknown planet by aliens, because they didn’t want me or something.”
565Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6vQ3bgGGQ5
I laugh again, and am suddenly grateful that Elliot found me yesterday on the lawn. I honestly didn’t think I’d be laughing so much again any time soon.
565Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrwDhBC8zmX
“ I didn’t think that at first but now that you mention it, your ears do look a little pointier that most peoples…” He tries to act offended, but I could spot the laughter in his eyes from a mile away.
565Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDoKVd1OnEv
“ Okay, I’ll make you a deal Silvera. If you gather up the courage to tell me a secret by the end of the day, I’ll tell you about my dad. It can’t be a lame secret though, it has to be something good.”
565Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiSPiHwLjOf
I think about it, and figure it’s not too bad of a deal so, I agree. At that moment, Elliot’s mother calls us down stairs for breakfast.
565Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLc54pL6Lz6
“That’s a beautiful room you have up there.” I say placing the forks on the table along side the plates that Elliot sets.
565Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ29z3B1fARd
“ Oh, thank you. That’s my favourite room in the house. We use it for book club meetings every wednesday night.”
565Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2McyHp4Yld
A glint catches in Elliot’s eyes as he watches his mother talk. I’m reminded of Henry, who used to take on that same expression when dad used to read to us before bed. We’d all pile into Henry’s room, me mom and Adrian, and we’d listen while dad read until his voice went ragged, and Henry was fast asleep.
565Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡg7JxRJpe9q
“ I started to collect books back in high school.” Layla says, a dreamy look glazing atop her eyes.
565Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzzIF34BaqX
“ I’ve always loved to read, but seeing all of the books sitting prettily atop my small book case in my bedroom was always my favourite part. I’d finish whichever book I was reading then place it on my book shelf and just look at it for a few moments. Admiring it’s beauty. Thats why I chose this house for Elliot and me. I could see the potential of that room from the second I set eyes on it.”
565Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNgI1csXW9C
I look at her and suddenly realize that I’m smiling, but more importantly, I can’t stop. Like I try to close my mouth but it won’t listen to me. It seems to have grown a mind of it’s own with in a few moments. Eventually I just give up and let it sit there. Proudly looking down on the world from atop my face.
565Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOWLIu2iYrd
“ This whole house just has such a happy vibe to it. Even from the outside.” I say.
565Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEbRHuIFOeD
“ Oh, the outside is something I did when I opened up the business. I run a daycare here in the house.”
565Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOqgeZCipwq
And that’s when the smile finally makes it exit, pushed off of my face by an expression of sheer shock.
565Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOi70LyKIkb
“ Wow. Not that it’s unlikely, or anything but… The house is just so clean. All we have in my house is my eight year old brother, who’s only home for about five waking hours a day and our house is kind of a disaster…”
565Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡU0pDMJqiWq
Layla laughs. A happy sound that seems to scare every bit of negativity from your bones. It’s like a chorus of angels singing a Taylor Swift song.
565Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡP8O7xNbohG
“ That’s actually Elliot’s doing.” She says.
565Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOAZwG6wHtn
“ OCD since birth baby.” he says, speaking for the first time since the attic.
565Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPVF7ZEuZbY
“ Come to my house more often then, it could use some OCD cleaning.”
565Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJiUsFnF1hW
We all laugh, before finally setting breakfast on the table and digging in.
565Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡckQCDONDmd
