We left for the hospital right away. We left Harry a note, as I knew he would be back any minute.
Harry,
Gone to hospital, need stitches.
Will be back soon, let Tim in.
Delaney
"Seriously Chris, I don't think I need stitches. It's just a bit of glass. I do it at the restaurant all the time!" I said, then bit my lip. Chris gave me a weird look, then smiled.
"Really that bad huh?" He grinned. I laughed and blushed, before guiltily nodding my head.
We walked down the street, as Chris said his car was parked down there somewhere. He stopped at a bright blue convertible, and pressed the keys as the doors clicked open.
"This is your CAR?" I said, freaking out.
"Yeah!" He replied, his face lighting up.
"Oh my god!" I flapped. I jumped up and down on the spot and then I realized I was making a scene, so shut my eyes and pretended to act cool.
"Oh... yeah... sweet ride." I said smoothly.
He laughed, a real deep laugh, then said, "Well are you gonna get in? It's not just to look at you know."
He opened the door and I casually got in. Wait until Alisha heard about this.
"There you go, it's all over." Said the doctor, as I opened my eyes.
I looked at my hand- four stitches. I was still holding Chris's hand, which I had nearly squashed when I grabbed hold of it (well, it was better than screaming).
"Well, it's a good job your boyfriend brought you here!" Said the doctor, nodding to Chris."
"Oh, no we're not... together... no..." We both said, before standing up and leaving the awkward atmosphere.
When we went out through the main doors, my phone buzzed in my pocket.
"S'up?" I said casually when I tapped 'answer'.
"Please, Delaney, don't use inappropriate words when speaking to your mother."
"Oh, hi mum." I said unenthusiastically, rolling my eyes to Chris, who smiled. How smooth was this- the first time I could really impress Chris, and I smash a vase, freak out over a car, and get a phone call from my mother. God. Help. Me.
"So, Delaney, I was just wondering if I could pop around to see you in the morning for brunch."
"Well, actually mum, I-"
"Please do not tell me you are busy, I haven't seen you since you moved in with this Anna girl."
"It's Alisha mum." I groaned.
"So, I will arrive at precisely 10 o'clock." she said, before hanging up.
I pushed my mobile back into my pocket and angrily moved my hair out of my face.
"Your dad dropped off your stuff." Harry said to Chris coldly. I gave Harry a dirty look, and he just shrugged his shoulders in innocence.
"And where did you put it all?" I said, giving the biggest sarcastic smile I think I have ever made.
"In his room." He replied, narrowing his eyes and pointing to the door.
"I'll go unpack." Chris said awkwardly, walking over to where Harry was pointing.
"I'll come and help you if you want!" I smiled, batting my eyelashes.
"OK, that would be great." He smiled back.
I turned around and shot Harry the devil looks. "What the hell is your problem Harry?" I snapped, my voice lowered.
"I don't know what you are talking about." Harry said, one hand on his chest.
"Why are you being so cold? If he says something to his dad, I will get fired. Do you want that?" I growled.
"...No..." He said hesitantly. "This guy seems likes trouble."
"You don't even know him! None of us do!" I defended. "Just go, Harry."
"What?!"
"Get out. I can't believe that just because this guy is staying here FOR MY JOB, you are jealous. Get over yourself."
He stomped out, his face like thunder and slammed the door behind him. He was being so selfish, just because he was intimidated having another guy around- he was willing to put my job on the line!
*******************************************
Chris heated up the chicken for us both, which Harry had left on the side. I don't feel bad for making him stomp out of here, he had it coming to him, but I feel bad that he had cooked dinner for us and didn't get any.
"My mum's coming tomorrow- can I give you a tour in the afternoon?" I asked.
"Sure- do you want me to go out or something when your mum's here?" Chris said.
"No!" I said quickly, cutting through the air with my arms. "Alisha normally helps me to keep cool- my mother does my heading! You have to help too!"
"Well, I'm sure we could slip a bit of vodka in your coffee or something." He laughed. I laughed too.
"Talking of drinking," I said, clicking my fingers and reaching into the cabinet behind me. I grabbed a bottle of Sangria, and conked it on the table. "Let's drink!"
"Oh great!" Chris grinned, rubbing his hands together. He unscrewed the bottle and tipped it into the wine glasses I put on the table. He held up his glass.
"To new things." He toasted. I clinked my glass with his and we drunk.
I woke up a 6 o'clock the next morning, and started to clean the apartment before the house inspector arrived- I'm not even joking. If she sees one speck of dust I will get a half an hour lecture. If I vacuumed, I would wake Alisha and Chris up, so I dusted all the surfaces, and plumped up the cushions, before using the glass cleaner to wipe down the mirrors. I cleared up the wine glasses and empty bottles, and emptied the dishwasher. That was then I dropped a plate on the floor.
I heard movement from Chris's room, then I heard the door open.
I bent down and picked up the chipped plate and shoved it back into the cupboard.
"Delaney..." He groaned. "What are you doing? It's 6:15."
"Sorry... I was cleaning for when my mother arrives." I whispered.
"Let me help." He said.
"No, you're the guest here." I said.
"Again, you're letting me live here. I'll do anything." He grinned.
"This was the deal. I let you live with me, or I get fired." I laughed.
"If anything, you've saved my life. If I didn't live here I would be living with my step-mum."
"Do you live with your mum?"
"Erm... no... she passed away a couple of years ago..." He mumbled, helping me finish the dishwasher.
I froze. "Oh... Jeez... Chris I'm so sorry. I didn't mean to-"
"It's fine, Laney." He smiled faintly. Laney- I like that. "Louisiana Carney was a great person!"
"Louisiana?" I repeated. "Is that who Tim- I mean Mr. Carney names the restaurant after?"
"... Um... yeah." He replied, nodding his head.
Just then, the shower started running- Alisha was up.
"OK, we can vacuum now." He said determinedly. "Where is the vacuum?"
"In that cupboard." I pointed.
"I'll vacuum, you finish dusting." He smiled. I nodded my head- that seemed ok - that way
I wouldn't knock anything off with the vacuum.
"Chris?" I said.
"Yeah?"
"Thanks."
__________________________________________________________________________________
"Hello darling!" Mother said, kissing me on each side of my cheek.
"Hey mum." I said.
"Hello Mrs. Jones." Said Alisha, taking off my mum's coat
"Oh, hello Andrea."
"It's Alisha, mum." I said through gritted teeth.
Mum turned to Chris, who smiled politely.
"And who is this fine young man?" She said in a criticizing way.
"Hi, I'm Christopher M. Carney." He said, in a posh accent. Me and Alisha had our heads down, laughing.
"Yeah." I said through fits of giggling. "Chris is my Boss's son."
"He's staying with us for a while, while his father is out of town."
"Splendid." Said mum, before walking around the room. She spotted a picture of me and Harry on the wall, which she straightened up.
"If this your partner?" She asked.
"Um... no mum. That's Harry- I've known him since I was five. He's been to every single birthday party I've ever had. You know, he's been to our house about 50 million times!"
"Oh. I'm slightly disappointed, I have to say, Delaney." Mum huffed, her nose so far up her backside you couldn't see her face.
"And why would that be?" I sighed.
"You've never had a boyfriend that has lasted more than two weeks. When I saw this picture, I hoped you were in a real relationship with him."
"Remember Oliver? I went out with him for a year..." I defended.
Ignoring me, she carried on. "Well, you're so clumsy and careless, who would want a relationship with you anyway?"
I grabbed a fork from the table and gripped it tightly by my side. I really wanted to shove it through her brain, but I wouldn't.
"Actually, Mrs. Jones, I would." Chris broke in. Me and Alisha turned our heads to him, mouths open.
"That's why I am in a relationship with her."
He shot me a look, and I nodded in return. I walked over to Chris and he put his arm around me.
"Yeah, mum, we're happy together!" I joined in. "We've been together for two months!"
"Oh really...?" Mother said, looking very offended. "Well, you've certainly surprised me!"
We sat at the table in silence, my mother glaring at Chris, who was looking very uncomfortable and shuffling in his seat. He took a large gulp of his water. Alisha just sat there tapping her foot.
"So... Christopher. Tell me this. Have you and my daughter had intercourse yet?" Said mother. I dropped my glass.
Chris spat his drink out in shock, before mumbling "Umm..." He looked to me for support.
"No, mother, we are taking things slow." I said quickly.
"Very good to know." Mother nodded.
Mother left sharply after our brunch, kissing me goodbye, nodding to Chris and ignoring 'Andrea'.
"Well, I'm going shopping." Alisha announced, as all three of us sat in shocking silence on the sofa. "I need to get some apples."
"I'm going to my room." I said shakily.
I ran to my room, tears springing in my eyes. My mother was such a b**ch and had officially embarrassed me for life. Chris was sure to think I was an idiot now.
And to make my day even better, I had to do a late shift at Louisiana's. I curled up on my bed and silently cried. I heard a knock at the bedroom door about 5 minutes later, and I pushed back my tears, took a deep breath and opened my door.
"Hey." Said Chris, resting on the door frame like he was when he first arrived.
"Hey. I'm sorry about... my mother." I said, and the tears came springing back down my face.
"Hey, hey!" He whispered softly. "Laney, don't cry, don't let her get to you."
He pulled back a strand of my hair and wiped my tears with his thumb. "I've only known you not even two days, and it feels like I've known you forever. Your mum's right. You are clumsy and careless, but that's not a bad thing! You've smashed two things in the space of 24 hours, and it's adorable."
"Thanks." I sniffled. "But I don't think it's adorable."
I whimpered, and so he pulled me into a hug, and it felt so right, so safe.
Then, he kissed me on my cheek.
"You're beautiful." He said, before kissing me again, on my forehead." You're funny." He kissed me again, on my other cheek. Then silence. He edged in and slowly kissed me again, this time on my lips.
Next thing I knew, we were full on kissing, while I was pulling him into my bedroom. He pushed me up against the wall and kissed me on my neck, my arms, then back onto my lips. I had my arms around his neck, while his hands were in my hair. The air was heavy, while we were fast breathing. He stroked his hand across my arms and twiddled his fingers in mine. A moan escaped me as he moved his hands up the back of my shirt and I felt his skin against mine.
"WHAT'S GOING ON?" Shouted a voice. We froze, and turned to look towards the door.
Harry was stood there, a shocked, angry, look on his face.
