Chapter Eight

Turns out, I didn't chicken out.

In fact, I made it all the way to the address that Chad gave me. However, I was stuck in my car for the last twenty minutes, contemplating whether or not I should go in there.

If Fabian wanted to be alone, who am I to invade his alone time right? But still, the tiny voice in my head was focused on the fact that I wanted to ensure that he was alright--that he would be okay, and then I'll leave him alone.

Oddly, I knew a part of my persistence was because I missed him. With Colton always hanging out with Anastasia, Shanae always busy with work and my other friends...Who am I kidding? I have no other friends other than my lab partner. Fabian gave me a rush the other day that I just couldn't seem to shake, and I wanted more. I wanted more time with him.

However, apart from my former selfish reasons of wanting to see him, a big part of it is because I'm worried about him. When he left the other day, he seemed upset, and now in addition to what his brother told me, made me even more concerned. We sealed the deal of friendship right? This is what friends do. We check in on each other, even if the other wants to be alone. The point is that I made the effort.

Pulling my big girl pants on, I hopped from my car and made for the door. I didn't know why I chose to park so far away from the actual house. I was sitting behind a tree in my car like some crazy stalker. But then again, we already established that I was.

The house resembled one of a Farmhouse type of decor. In fact, it indeed was a farmhouse. It sat alone in the middle of what seemed like nowhere. We were quite a drive out of the city, that was for sure. But oddly, it didn't feel lonely, scary or even secluded. I didn't know the area, but I could already tell why Fabian liked it.

In front of the house sat a matte cruiser, and I wasn't even surprised that he was a motorcycle person. Grass surrounded the house a little over ankle length, but there was a thin trail leading up to the porch of the house.

"Whose house is this?" I questioned out loud as I made my way onto the porch. A floorboard squeaked under my weight, and I quickly hopped from it as I finally arrived at the door. There seemed to be no doorbell, so I went with the old fashion way of knocking.

I knocked a few times, but there was no answer. I knew he was here, because there was no civilization for miles, and his bike was still there. I knocked one more time, but still received no answer. Sighing, I pondered on waiting on the porch until he emerges, if he emerges, or leaving.

Maybe he heard and didn't want company? Maybe that was the reason. I convinced myself that he simply didn't want company, and with a sigh, I turned to leave.

However, just as I stepped on the squeaky floorboard again, I heard locks being unlatched. This immediately caught my attention as I whipped my head around, and a sleepy looking Fabian pulled the door open as he blinked to adjust to the sunlight.

"Paris?" He groaned, rubbing his eyes in an undoubtedly attractive way.

"Hey" I greeted as I retreated. The more he opened the door, the better look I got at him. My eyes widened when I saw that he was wearing no shirt. I gulped, feeling my hands grow sweaty as I tried to contain eye contact. But to make it worse, he yawned with a stretch, flexing his muscles and tempting me to look.

Just one peek.

'Holy guacamole!', my friend in my brain screamed, and I had to agree. Quickly, I darted my eyes back to his face as I formed my lips into what I hoped looked like anything but a nervous smile.

"What are you doing here?" He finally asked after torturing me with his sexiness. He leant against the doorframe with still a very sleepy look on his face.

"I um..I wanted to see you" I told him truthfully. I mean, why lie?

He blinked a few times, as if just coming back to life. He gazed at me for a while before stepping sideways to let me in. I smiled in thanks before entering the house. Just like outside, the inside gave a warm and homely feeling. It was architecturally designed with comfy looking coaches and a very attractive fireplace. At the corner of the living room was a staircase that led to the second story of the house, and to the middle was a hall that probably led to a kitchen or dining room.

I could see why he had a hard time adapting to the light. All the windows were hid behind thick drapes and not a single bulb was lit.

"Do you mind?" I asked but didn't wait for a reply as I pulled the curtains apart. The sunlight immediately invaded the room, showcasing even more how beautiful it was with the natural light.

Fabian was covering his face when I turned around, and I couldn't help but chuckle as I did the same with the other window. Satisfied with the amount of illumination, I sat beside him on the leather couch. I immediately sank deeply in it, and my moan of delight at the comfort escaped before I could control it.

"Comfy isn't it?"

"Indeed" I agreed as I made myself comfortable. When I turned back to him, the first thing I noticed was yet again his toned, hard chest. "Would you mind maybe putting on a shirt?"

"Is my nudity bothering you?" He glanced down at himself for a quick second as if he didn't know, but I could see the teasing in his eyes. It was good to know that he wasn't annoyed or snappy at my arrival like this.

"Yes it's...distracting" I provided tightly. Luckily for me, he simply chuckled before disappearing up the stairs.

I had to admire how tidy the place was. It didn't seem like anyone lived here, but if he had been here for days as his brother suggested, he surely did a good job at keeping it clean.

He returned in a simple white polo, still wearing his sweats as he reclaimed his seat beside me again.

"I have to admit" I started as I avoided eye contact at all costs. "I thought you'd be upset with me for popping up like this"

"Why would I be?"

I shrugged. "I went to your brother's rink to look for you, because I didn't like how we parted last time. He gave me this address and he told me you might want to be alone. I didn't want to intrude on your alone time"

"You aren't intruding" He chuckled a little. "I like that you sought me out. If I'm being honest, I've wanted to do the same too for days."

I avoided the blush that was creeping up my neck as I asked, "So you've been here since Derick pissed you off?" I didn't miss how his jaw clicked at Derick's name. He really hated that guy. "What happened between you two that led you to isolate yourself all the way out here?"

"Nothing that should bother you" Came his hasty reply. "I just needed to think about a few things."

"I'm sorry" I hung my head when I saw that the topic had upset him. I was always a little too nosey and inquisitive for my own good.

I felt a familiarity when his hand found mine across the couch, and I lifted my head to see him smiling down at me.

"Don't be," he whispered. "Your visit alone did so much"

"Are you sure? I don't want to be rude by prying"

"Come on Skates. I don't think there is anything that you could do to annoy me" I almost rolled my eyes at the ridiculous nickname, but I was relieved that he wasn't upset anymore.

"Oh believe me. I can be quite annoying. Don't speak too soon"

"We'll see" He challenged.

"That we shall" We laughed at our little bet set in time for the future.

Our laughter died down, and between us sat comfortable silence for a while. I found it weird how he would always stare at me as if he was trying to analyze me from the inside out, but I've realized that I was getting used to it.

"So in other terms, are you okay Fabian?" There was nothing but concern in my heart for him. The fact that he could stay away from his family for days, and it being deemed as 'normal' for them, was a little unsettling for me.

"Yes, why?"

"I don't know." I bit my lip as I tried to find the best words to say to him. "I just find that being here alone in the dark for days in a bit unnatural" I winced at how terribly I formed my sentence. Where did I learn my strategy of communication?

"I wasn't here for days. I went to school"

"Still, you come back here to be alone"

"Alone time is good. It helps me think"

"Think about what exactly?" There I went with the prying again. "You don't have to answer that. But sometimes maybe you can talk to someone instead of staying alone like this. It's healthier"

I had expected him to shout at me, to tell me it was none of my business, but he simply nodded with a thoughtful look on his face.

"Okay" Was all he said, and I didn't try to force him to say anything else. In my opinion, I was still trotting a thin line.

"You look pretty by the way" He said, pulling me from my internal thoughts. "I mean, you always look pretty but I like how you did your hair"

I didn't try to contain my blush this time as my hand instinctively rose to touch my hair. I smiled at him wholeheartedly, loving how he always complimented me.

"Thank you" I mumbled. "I appreciate it."

"No thanks needed" He waved off. "You're beautiful and you should always be told that."

"You think I'm beautiful?" I knew I resembled a cherry in that moment.

"Of course. Anyone with eyes can see that"

I giggled as I shuffled a little in my spot. "When have you become so sweet?"

"I'm a lot of things, Skates. Sweet? Nah. Honest? Definitely" He retorted as he ran his hands through his hair with a smirk.

And we're back. Here we go again with the cockiness.

"Whatever, Charmer."

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If you're reading this, you're awesome!