Chapter 46: Bold, no just honest
It happened again.
You know… that stuff that happens when things are going well and then your brain begins to put together a hundred reasons why it shouldn’t be you?
Why– whatever this is – won't last?
Yeah that prickly, disgusting feeling of not being enough.
His lips were still on mine. They were soft, warm and certain like he knew exactly who he was kissing and he knew it was perfect.
But I felt far from perfect.
My chest tightened.
My hands gripped his shirt tighter now. As though If I loosened my grip then my feelings and fears would be confirmed and he might just–
Disappear.
Tessa stop It, you're ruining this already.
I was about to pull away–
The door swung open
“THERESA—”
We broke apart as if we'd been electrocuted.
My heart skipped, jumped, did a marathon around my whole body, threatened to leave through my asshole, found its way back to my chest and collapsed.
Mom stood at the door, eyes drifting from Klaus to me, then back at me again like she was deciding who to throw off the window.
“Oh my God,” I whispered under my breath, already preparing my funeral speech.
Every other thought I had earlier died at that moment. Like mom's presence was a stray bullet to it.
Klaus cleared his throat behind me and stepped forward like my Knight in golden armour.
“Ma’am,” he said calmly.
Of course Nicolas Hayes had to be calm in a life threatening situation.
I always wondered if he subconsciously stayed calm like all the freaking time or if he was always fully conscious and knew how to control and handle situations.
Mom slowly placed one hand on her waist and shot us a–‘well explain what's happening’- look.
Klaus was about to talk when she cut him off.
“I leave you people for five minutes,” she started, her voice dangerously quiet, “and this is what I come back to?”
“No— it’s not— we were just—” I started, my words tripping over themselves.
Oh fuck.
There's no way on earth I was going to convince her that it isn't what it looked like because it is what it looks like.
And I was not planning on starting a ‘I'm an adult’ fight again– I ain't that stupid.
I panicked.
If I do not say something reasonable within the next second, she might just conclude that Klaus isn't good for me and banish him from my lovely abode-my house.
“Ma’am, I—” Klaus started and actually stopped to breathe.
I let him take over before I increase whatever sentence I would be given after this.
Besides, Klaus is good with words and mom likes him.
“I’m sorry,” he said calmly. “I should’ve been more respectful.”
Who is this man?
He sounds so different when he's being all respectful and official. And it was hot.
Mom slightly lifted her left brow and placed her other hand on her waist.
She looked like an angry butterfly.
“Tell me” she said suiting her eyes “what exactly did you that you're sorry for”
Oh no she's trapping him.
Was this one of her sick tests?
Wait. She barged in without reason. Mom never comes into my room without a reason so this means she knew and timed her entrance.
Or I'm overthinking it.
Klaus didn't hesitate before answering.
“I crossed a boundary,” he said simply. “And I understand why that’s not okay.”
She paused and looked at him like she was examining the structure of his perfect face– I don't blame her, have you seen Klaus?
“And yet,” she said slowly, “you still did it.”
He nodded once “yes ma'am”
Why the fuck was he calmly agreeing to everything she said and why isn't he panicking.
I decided to step in and stop acting like an expensive human sized action figure of fear and anxiety.
“Mom, it wasn’t just him—”
“I’m not talking to you right now, Theresa.”
I shut up immediately.
Action figure it is.
“You said you like my daughter and this is how you show it?” she blinked “is this your definition of liking someone”
“I like her a lot ma'am and this wasn't appropriate In the slightest but–”
He paused
“But I don't regret it ma'am”
I could already hear my own funeral music and I could perceive the scent of the inside of my coffin.
No.
I was already six feet under and probably on my way to see my creator.
Because what the actual fuck?
Maya’s voice screamed from the living room—
“OH MY GOD HE DID NOT JUST SAY THAT—”
How the hell did she even hear?
Mom's expression shifted into something really dangerous and I shrunk in my space.
“Bold huh” she said.
He shook his head. “Honest”
Klaus stop it already. You're going to get us both killed.
A moment of awkward And tense tense silence.
She heaved a sign of relief– but I wasn't sure if it was from exhaustion or some other reasons.
“You,” she pointed at me, “the door stays open.”
“Yes, ma’am,” I replied faster than light.
“And you,” she turned to Klaus, “don’t make me regret letting you into my house.”
Klaus nodded slightly. “You won’t.”
It sounded like a promise.
Mom stared at him for a second longer… then shook her head and walked out.
Silence.
I let out a breath I didn’t realize I wEas holding and immediately turned away from him.
“Oh my God,” I muttered. “Oh my God, oh my God—”
He grabbed both my shoulders and leaned a bit.
“Hey, hey, look at me,” he said softly. “Tessa”
I finally looked up and met his eyes.
He's so perfect it hurts.
“You're okay…we are okay…okay?” He tried to calm me down but I gently shrugged his hands off
“You don't understand” I started before I could stop myself.
Did I know what I was doing?
Absolutely not.
Will I continue talking?
Definitely.