▫️Six

Ginelle's pov

Dalton excitedly took Grey up the stairs leading to my apartment. His steps barely fit one step at a time though he slowly went along with Dal's pace.

I slowly came up behind them getting bits of what they were talking about though I occasionally stared at his black jacket that clung onto his large back.

Dal spoke non-stop, waving his hands around to demonstrate what he was saying as Grey nodded frequently looking back slightly to check if I was following.

I smiled at how fast the two had gotten close as I ruffled my hands through my bag to get the keys. It appeared as if I wasn't even going to my own place.

"Elle," Dal called as he stood at the door impatiently waiting to get in. Grey silently walked to the side as I came forward with the key.

I slung my bag over my shoulder so as to open the door. I always unlocked with both of my hands. One time I'd attempted using one hand and the keys ended up inside the apartment with the door still unlocked.

The sling of my bag went down my shoulder just as the door opened. My reflexes were not quick but Grey's were. He easily caught the bag before it fell.

"Thank you," my cheeks felt hot as I took the bag but I was quick to compose myself as I led them in. Well, just Grey because Dalton had already rushed to my room to get his change of clothes and slippers.

My house was fairly tidy given that I'd just moved from Leila's apartment a few days back. I wasn't a neat person but even in my disorderliness, I knew where everything was.

From the corner of my eye, I watched Grey look around my small apartment. It was fairly large enough for me, a small living room connected to a kitchen then a medium sized bedroom.

I could hear soft padding of feet in the washroom and I hoped Dalton wasn't messing with my accessories. He had an habit of trying out every soap that smelled good.

I looked down at Grey's feet, he had some black combat boots on and they weren't going to be comfortable for long so I dashed to my shoe rack.

"Wear these," I extended a pair of blue sandals to him. At least they weren't orange like the walls of the apartment. I hope he wasn't judging me for my choice of colour.

Grey hesitantly looked down at the sandals then back at me but took them nonetheless. I stared up at him waiting for him to change and seeing I wasn't going anywhere, he dropped down in a squat to take his shoes off.

He attempted putting on my slippers but only his toes went through. My eyes widened and I turned around to look for a better option. That was my largest pair after all.

"I can stay this way," Grey reassured me as he rose up. He pointed at his feet suggesting that he'd walk around with his socks on. The floor was probably cold though.

I began to worry my lip and upon realizing my unsettled form, he took a step towards me and slowly lifted his right hand. He stopped midair as if he was holding back although I eventually felt his hand on my hair.

It was a gentle stroke, one that had me look deeper into his eyes. The grey in them shone calmly rocking me to and from delicately like a child. I almost sighed at how great it felt for him to pat my hair but he dropped his hand so soon.

"I'm okay, tulip." The corners of his mouth turned slightly upwards and I noticed that a dimple appeared on his left cheek. He couldn't get any more handsome. It was so unfair to me.

Distracted by another of his facial features, I almost missed out on what he'd called me. The name had my cheeks turn up and when I looked back at him, his eyes were on my cheeks that in no doubt had a permanent blush.

"Elle, can I get some water?" Dal finally emerged from the bathroom with his usual shorts and a blue sweater on. I diverted my attention from Grey to him.

I usually didn't allow him to get anything from the kitchen since he would end up hurting himself if he broke any glass. The counters were also slightly higher for his level.

"Okay," I suspiciously eyed him as he sniffed his hands then jumped onto the sofa. The boy must have played with my showering gel again.

I briefly looked at Grey to confirm if he needed anything and after a slight nod, I dashed into the kitchen as a smile creeped onto my face.

Tulip

I reached out for the glass water jar and poured out the water into two glasses, an ordinary one for Dal. Unable to control myself, I absent-mindedly traced irregular patterns on the counter top, lost in thought.

No one had ever nick-named me. It was either Ginelle or Elle so I found myself so fazed by the idea especially when it came from Grey. Perhaps I'd misheard it. My ears hadn't been checked yet.

I came back to the living room with the two glasses. I placed Grey's on the table before him. He had finally joined Dal on the coach. I then motioned Dal to sit straighter so he didn't have to spill water as he drank.

Grey took down his in one chug and I tried not stare at his throat that bobbed up and down as he swallowed. Surprisingly I found that attractive. I shook my head at my absurdness and instead of asking if he needed a refill, I dashed towards to my room.

His penetrating gaze had me flustered beyond belief. I quickly changed into some comfy pants and loosened up my hair from the tight ponytail I'd held it all day.

I then opened one of my lower cabinets that had Dal's toys and took out as many as I could carry. We were here to play after all, I seemed to have suddenly forgotten. I wasn't really thinking straight at this time.

Dalton sloppily dropped the glass on the table when he saw me approach. He came forward as if to help me when I knew he was to check whether his favorite truck was there.

"This will be mine," he pulled out his red racing truck from the heap I had cradled closer to my tummy for balance. It was always his best so I'd brought it along.

I knelt down to spread out the car toys on the floor. We always played here before though I wasn't sure if we'd fit right now. Dalton excitedly took his favorites as he encouraged Grey to pick his.

I laughed quietly when I noticed Grey pick out a damaged orange racing truck. One of the wheels had come off when Dalton had applied more pressure at the top some months ago.

He turned my way when he heard me and rose his right brow, "you choose," he prompted me as he held my eyes as if in a challenge.

We distributed everything fairly amongst ourselves and I rushed to get the water jar to refill Grey's glass before we began. He tilted his head down when I pushed it slightly his way.

"I'll go first," Dal took his spot near the edge of the couch where he released his first car. The rules were so easy. If you hit someone's car, you'd be disqualified and the first person to reach the finish line successfully won.

I ended up knocking both Grey's and Dal's trucks severally so I was eventually left with one truck. Grey had hit mine once while Dal still had most of his trucks intact.

"Elle you still don't know how to play," Dal stuck out his tongue towards me as Grey released one of his trucks that surpassed us all. Dal played next getting closer to Grey's.

I tried shooting as far as possible but mine only moved five inches. Dal laughed while Grey watched my white truck in amusement. He played next getting even closer to the finish line.

I ended up losing after hitting on of Dal's winning truck and Grey eventually ended up winning the game. We played a couple of more times where Dal finally won once. I didn't even get close to winning. Perhaps it was only a boy's thing.

Dal eventually got tired of racing trucks and I stretched on the small brown woolen carpet to relieve my back. The stretching had gotten to my bones given that I hardly exercised.

"Tired?" Grey asked as he made himself comfortable beside me. Apparently Dal had rushed to get some crisps. He liked to snack just as much as I did.

"Mmh," I watched as he leaned back to the edge of the couch with his jacket off. His arms were in the open and my eyes racked on the veins that bulged on his large hands.

"...get rest." I didn't hear him clearly but I noticed that he was about to drink from Dalton's glass. It was similar to his but Dal had spat some of his water back into the cup.

I manoeuvred through the space between us and placed the back of my hand against his lips just before he drank the water.

His eyes immediately fleeted to mine as he turned his head. I shifted uncomfortably from my kneeling position that I got even closer to him.

Everything seemed to become faint when I looked into the grey pools of his eyes that I'd come to love. I loved how reassuring they looked as it always reminded me of the day we'd first met.

How dependent I was on him that night and yet he never pulled way. My eyes widened like saucers when his lips parted that I dropped my hand immediately and looked down at my lap.

Grey didn't say anything and as I peeked at him through my lashes, I still found his eyes on me that I ended up squeaking. "Sorry, that was Dal's." I sat back creating some distance between us.

He nodded stiffly as he placed the glass back on the small table. We were quiet for almost a minute and not being used to silence, I sprung up from the floor, "I'll check on Dalton."

Grey already had his hand at the sofa as if to get up after me. He scanned my face then relaxed back when I spoke and pointed towards the shelves Dal disappeared into.

"Dal?" I called out as I peaked through the small shelves that had my snacks on display. I looked through the corners but he was nowhere to be seen.

He wasn't in the kitchen either and I felt myself begin to worry. Next place would have to be my room but then I'd been with Grey the whole time and we hadn't seen him pass by.

I checked again throughout the whole kitchen but still got no trace of him. Where could he have gone in such a short time? He couldn't have left alone, or could he have he?

I sighed deeply stretching my hands in front of me on the kitchen counter as my eyes closed in frustration. I was already reigning in tears.

"Ginelle," Grey must have followed me after waiting for a while and I wiped the corners of my eyes as I turned to him.

"What's wrong?" He quickly came before me upon seeing my almost swollen eyes from all the rubbing I'd done on them.

He worriedly looked at my puffy eyes, the concern he always had surfacing again as he took a step closer. I was nearly a sobbing mess and I really disliked how easily I cried.

"I can't see Dalton," I told him just as I felt the tears I was holding back pool my eyes, temporarily blinding me.

"He must be hiding somewhere," I felt his feathery touch on my cheeks as he wiped away the tears that were now dropping freely.

"Let's look together, mmh?" He softly spoke and I blinked twice so as to see him better. His rough thumb traced my cheeks delicately and I slowly affirmed with a nod.

He turned to look around, bending over the low cabinets to check if Dal was hiding there. I sniffed quietly following him as I hoped that Dal was only playing around. I don't know what I could tell Lora if he went missing.

A few turns round my apartment  and I finally heard a squeal then a giggle, "found you!" Grey squatted next to the curtain by the door and a playful Dalton emerged from the back of it.

"How did you know?" Dal asked joyfully, thinking that we'd been playing all along. I felt myself relax when he spoke to Grey. I'd just been extremely paranoid.

"Saw your feet," Grey replied then leaned forward to whisper something into his ear. Dal then looked at me over his head and nodded obediently.

He came rushing to me and sorrowfully said, "I'm sorry, Elle." I smiled at his words and pulled him into an embrace and as I pulled back he added, "I will not hide again without telling you."

I nodded happily, my tears now gone and my face drier. Dal went back to Grey and whispered something to him. I wonder what they were keeping from me.

"You and Grey can hide so I can look for you." Dalton said as soon as Grey had pulled back and was now standing straight. He looked at me for approval which I easily gave.

"Sure!" It was only fair after worrying me earlier. I beckoned Grey to follow me just as Dal turned his back to us and started counting numbers.

My reading area, at the farthest corner in the living room formed the perfect hiding spot. It was next to a large window that overlooked the city around me.

Dalton hardly came here because it was mostly books displayed so I called Grey over. He wasn't familiar with my house yet and the spot would be enough for us to hide.

I squeezed myself into one side and pulled Grey's arm so he could conceal himself fast enough. Dal had just finished counting.

Apparently I hadn't taken Grey's height into consideration so he ended up hitting the top of his head. Alarmed, I brought my hand up his forehead and began to rub softly so as to soothe him from the pain.

I looked into his eyes for any indication of pain as I tenderly rubbed over the entire spot. He was still, calm even, as his hot breath fanned over my face.

His eyelashes slowly flopped down as a child being lulled to sleep. I was tempted to trace his sharp jawline that framed his face perfectly and also poke his left cheek for the dimple that had made an appearance just once.

Light padding of feet came our way and I halted my movements holding my breath. I stared at the side when the feet stopped and held my breath further. He couldn't find us so easily.

I almost relaxed when Dal went the other way but then Grey snuggled his head into my hand and the pounding of my heart went overdrive disarming me completely.

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How's the book so far? Lemme know if you're reading and you find it interesting.

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