Chapter 8: Too Close

(Henry POV)

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"Hey! Come in, I hope you guys don't mind my brother joining us." Grey fist bumped each one of them, while I on the other hand sat stiffly on the couch while watching 'The Big Bang Theory.’

I know it's nerdy, but I just really love watching Sheldon do his business.

"Of course it's cool. Hi there little Henry." Carter waved his hands at me and I returned his greeting with a wave as well.

I saw Alex standing by the door and I was a bit taken aback since his countenance changed a sure total of one-hundred eighty degrees.

He seems different... The dark aura that I sensed from him was all gone like the wind.

He's wearing a white shirt that hugged his body with matching plain black jeans. He looked like someone who's approachable unlike the first time I saw him wherein he was like just seconds from ripping someone's head off.

He turned his head around and caught me staring at him, he gazed at me and he gave me the cheekiest smile that left me wondering if I really did misunderstand him the first time we met.

"Bud, you can go start making the snacks, I'll go to the store and buy some liquor. Only for us." Grey said, stressing the last part, telling me that I wasn't allowed to drink. I wasn't planning to anyway, alcohol doesn't even taste good.

Without wasting time, I got up and ran to the kitchen barefoot and started preparing.

I bent my knees down and reached the lower cabinet where the fry pan was placed.

And lucky me, it was placed on the far end.

"Ouchhh!" I hissed when my head hit the sharp end of the door. I scratched the spot that hurts and I glared at the door thinking of ripping it off.

I really hate this cabinet, why does it have to be so deep inside?!

I continued rubbing my head till I heard sounds of low breathing behind me.

"Are you okay?" A husky voice suddenly spoke, and I slightly shivered by how deep it was.

I turned around and saw Alex with a scrunched up face while staring at me.

"Y-yeah, I'm good. Just a little mishap." I explained to him.

I was about to get up when he offered his hand to me. I looked at it and thought that it would be rude if I didn't take his kind gesture.

I grasped his hand and felt the texture of his skin, it was so rough. Maybe from too much exercise?

"Thank you," I said to him once I was fully steady.

"Wait, can I talk to you, it's just that I think we started on the wrong foot. I want you to know that I didn't intend to make you feel uncomfortable when we first met."

I watched him silently as he said those words trying to explain himself, and I'm quite convinced that perhaps I truly misjudged him.

"No-no, it's not your fault, I'm not really good with people anyway, so me being around people who I barely met makes me a bit edgy." I muttered to assure him that it was okay.

He smiled at me.

"Is that so? Then can we be friends from now on?" He gave me a charming smile and offered his hand, and I didn't know if I'd love to or not. I mean, he does sound sincere. So I guess there's no reason for me to refuse him.

"I'd love that." I said, and his eyes instantly lit up.

Then he looked at me cheekily and stood beside me.

"So partner, what are you about to make?" His voice was gleeful, he stretched down his body to pick up the frying pan that I left on the floor and handed it to me.

"I'm cooking chicken fingers, my brother usually likes to eat it while drinking." I said to him and he nodded in understanding.

I took the chicken out of the freezer as he watched my every move on the sideline. Which resulted in me making a lot of mistakes in the process.

Why can't he just stay in the living room if he won't help me? Hmph!

"So I heard from your brother that you like reading books, yeah?" He asked me while I was in the middle of slicing the chicken breast.

I stopped for a minute and wiped the sweat that accumulated in the sides of my forehead with the bottom part of my shirt.

My tummy got exposed a little but I quickly covered it, and turned around to answer him.

"Uh yeah... Do you like reading too?" I asked him, but he didn't reply, he was just looking at me intently.

For some reason, I feel like the old image of him surfaced once again.

He then lifted himself and slowly walked towards me which made me panic.

Oh God! Is he gonna punch me?! Did I do something that annoyed him?

Dark thoughts flooded my mind, but to my surprise. He only wiped his thumb on the side of my head and said that there was a smudge of dirt on it.

"There we go, now you're clean." He said with a breathy voice and slowly fixed my wrinkled clothes.

I felt his hands slightly touching the skin beneath my shirt which sent waves of shock through my skin.

I couldn't help but stare at his face when he was this close to me. I didn't have the time to appreciate his face before because he looked scary, but now, it was different, I could clearly see all of him without breaking into a nervous wreck.

His pointed brows and piercing golden eyes that seem like it can see through your soul, his chiseled face, and his red thin lips. He was extremely good looking and pleasing to the eyes.

No wonder so many girls are fighting to get his attention.

Our faces were only like inches away and I could clearly smell his minty breath.

Suddenly, he looked me in the eyes too and now we were gazing at each other.

We ogled each other's faces. Our eyes were constantly moving, and I could see him staring at me with an emotion I can't quite place. His eyes slowly glanced down, now staring at my... lips.

"Henry…" he called my name with a breathy voice, his gaze darkening.

"Bud we're back! Are you done there?" I jerked out of my stupor and we both instantly moved away from each other.

I heard him curse under his breath, but my heart was too erratic to pay that any mind.

"You should go, I'll follow when I'm done." I told him while avoiding looking at his face.

I continued what I was doing and turned around, and I heard the door open and close, signalling that he left.

'Gosh, what was that!? Stupid mind thinking stupid things!'

I hit my head multiple times to get my thoughts straight. He is way too above me.

There's no way he was thinking of kissing me.

There's just no way… right?