Lucky's (Mis)Fortune: CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE

I had to clean the pool. My least favorite chore to do, yay.

"Come on, Jordan, don't look so chirp," Leo laughs mockingly, leaning on the kitchen counter, smugly drinking a glass of lemonade.

"Thanks for the tip," I mutter as I pick out the needed tools from the storage closet in the kitchen.

The last week had turned into another one of those periods where the house was quiet and I barely saw anyone. Mostly Mr. Saywer, Eliott, and Aiden but everyone else's presence was also scarce. I had dinner and sometimes breakfast in the dining room with them now but they always looked tired and everyone was so quiet we haven't really had a conversation since the last time Aiden drove me to school and then when he picked me up.

From there, they were out nearly everyday at every hour.

It was okay. Not of my business, really. But I just felt it was at the worst timing; right when I felt like opening up to them it's when we had no time at all.

I take the equipment (whose not one single name I knew) and get out through the back door.

The scorching sun was out, making me contemplate for a second if I should wait a couple of more hours until doing the outside work. However, I eventually convince myself that finishing my chores now was for the better and would result in free time later on in the day. I had homework to do, after all.

For a second, I hate the fact that I do not have a cellphone and headphones to put in my ears and listen to music while I worked. It felt boring of course, with it being completely isolated and silent out here.

I shake out of my thoughts when I hear the door slide open, making me look up. In surprise, my heart stops for a second at the sight of Mr. Sawyer.

He smiles at me as he closes the door without looking, his eyes on me and I return the gesture, straightening up.

"Is there something you need?" I ask as he approaches me.

I'm still holding one of the tools, a long stick that resembles a broom. He takes it from my hands before responding. "I want you to come with me and see something."

For a second, I become nervous, wondering if I had done something wrong--had I broken something without noticing? Did I leave the cellar open or a bottle dirty? "Did I do something wrong?" I decide I wouldn't lose anything by asking. I'm relieved when he lets out an amused laugh, putting down what he had taken from me and instead takes my hand. He drags me away, not answering my question.

I stumble as we make our way inside even though he was going at a painfully slow pace but I had forgotten about the step up I had to take where the door is.

Mr. Sawyer laughs, catching me. "Now be careful Jordan, we don't want to see you get hurt."

My heart flips a thousand times and I'm about to faint when his arms moves to gently grip my waist instead of my hand. I feel the warmth through my thick clothes, racing all through my body. I see blurry for my second and my whole face feels hot in the next. I clear my throat, trying to focus but I have to let him guide me wherever it was that he was taking me.

We went up the stairs and the opposite hallway that would guide us into his room. I don't have time to wonder what this room (which I had never been introduced to) held inside.

"Open the door," he says, nudging his head in the direction of the door.

My face turns to obvious confusion as my hand goes to the handle but my eyes remain on his excited self; what could be making him so happy?

I open the door slowly, suspiciously, but once it is completely open, a gasp instantly leaves my mouth and it stays open for a while, my eyes wide as I look around the big room. I look at Mr. Sawyer, wondering, "what is this?" but he just smiles widely, telling me to go further in and take a look around.

I take slow steps inside. This is incredible... The first thing that caught my attention was the easel and canvas in the middle of the room, blank for artwork to be drawn on. All around were different paints, mostly there as decoration but I didn't doubt that they could be taken down to use. There were many types of brushes, all different sizes and shapes. On another wall, there were blank canvas all across for use, all of different sizes. I walk to the drawers that were under the hung paints and brushes. Inside, were pastels, more paint of insanely good quality, the next drawer had sketch pads--tons of them--as well as drawing pencils and eraser.

"W- What is all this," I finally speak, coming out in a stutter, looking at the owner of this house.

"You like it? I heard you like art... and I wanted to make you feel more comfortable, Jordan." He walks closer to me, since he had still been standing by the door, probably watching me.

My eyes widen again, looking at the room again, still not believing it. I look at him, straight in his eyes. "T- This is for me?"

"Yes, of course." He chuckles, overly delighted.

"You sure?" My voice is a pitch higher than it normally is and my eyes tear up. Why would he do this? No one had ever found out about my hobby and now that they do, they do this for me.

Why do they treat me like I'm special?

For once, I don't want to question it. I simply enjoy it because frankly, I love this.

"I wouldn't lie to you." His tone is a little sympathetic but also serious. He was sincere, I saw it in his eyes. I would bet that lying was something he took seriously which made me feel relaxed, it was a characteristic that I appreciated in anyone.

I look around one more time before my eyes go back to him. "Thank you," I tell him, taking a step closer to him.

I felt like hugging him.

Is that weird?

Maybe it was to him but wanting to show my gratitude, the only way I could think of was giving him a hug. I wrap my arms around him only for a small second and attempt a step back but before I can, he pulls me towards him, wrapping his arms around me. He hugs me tight, his chin on top of my head, and I just about melt into him, his scent and warmth made me feel better than ever before--even though I would never say that out loud.

"Thank you," he says as we both take a step back.

"For what?" I wonder, tilting my head.

He shrugs and looks around the room, looking for a distraction.

"Do you want to come with us tonight? Aiden told us you wanted to come with but the last couple of days have been hectic and today is the first chance we get," he explains.

I perk up, intrigued. "I would love to."

Huh, who would've thought I would've been so excited for this.