Episode 5 - Friends?

Ava's POV

“What do you do Arthur?” I asked him and she started to think of something but quickly replied “ I am a bodyguard, the guy tried to kill the person I guard so we were searching for him,” Okay, that explains a lot. 

“What about you?” He asked, 

“Well professionally I work as a manager in a start-up but I love music so you would find me here all the time on weekends.”

Why did I say that? huh, that looks like I want this conversation to continue, well I want to but I would not let him think that. 

Stupid girl.

“Would you mind telling me about this place well the receptionist was not here and I don’t feel like asking John because I am a newbie?”

“You mean you are a noob?” I chuckled after putting more effort into the word noob and he started laughing again “So you are into video games too?”

“A Girl likes to play,” I said giving him a small wink and nodding to follow me. 

He was shocked again but followed. I told him about the place and the courses here along with the charges, and I told him about how we work and plan out our schedule, about the theme that we have for every Sunday and that we record videos on that day so the costume should fit in if the person is in the video and he just listened very carefully like his life was depended on it, staring at me and I felt this strong feeling for him that very moment but again I shoo it away and started rehearsing.

“Ava, can you please do the warm-up session for me? I have something important to take care of, it’ll just take 10 minutes please?” John asked me with that cute puppy face.

“Sure,” I said and stepped to the front where John stands and directs people.

“Guys we’ll start the warm-up exercises now so try and repeat my steps” I played Move to Miami by Enrique and put Banana by Conkarah next on queue as they both are really cool ones to work out on, I started with simple steps so everyone can do it and then increased complex ones that would stretch their muscles. 

By the end of the session, I could see John at the entrance of the room happily clapping for me to cheer me up and it felt good.

“Ok guys we’ll show you the steps that we learned yesterday again so that you all can revise it up,” John said this out loud and asked me to show them all the steps with him and I did.

“Una mattina mi son alzato,O bella ciao, bella ciao, bella ciao, ciao, ciao
Una mattina mi son alzato, E ho trovato l'invasor”

(One morning I awakened
Oh, Goodbye beautiful, Goodbye beautiful, Goodbye beautiful! Bye! Bye!
One morning I awakened, And I found the invader)

I was now fully indulged in the song like John was the person I Love and relating the story like that because that makes my expression perfect but by the corner of my eyes, I can see Arthur with a weird expression like he’s angry and jealous. Why would he be jealous?

“E seppellire lassù in montagna
O bella ciao, bella ciao, bella ciao, ciao, ciao
E seppellire lassù in montagna
Sotto l'ombra di un bel fior”

(Bury me up in the mountain
Oh, Goodbye beautiful, Goodbye beautiful, Goodbye beautiful! Bye! Bye!
Bury me up in the mountain, Under the shade of a beautiful flower)

Maybe it’s all in my mind but his hands are in fists and his lips are in a thin line. Like he is ready to kill and because I was not attentive enough I was unable to grab John’s hand and fell on the floor with a loud sound.

“Shit” John mutter and I felt someone cupping my cheeks. 

I turned to look Arthur, furious Arthur, and everyone started laughing at me. For a split second, I felt bad and embarrassed but then I started laughing, not a normal one but loudly realizing how stupidly I fall and seeing me that way even John and Arthur started to cool down.

“Are you okay?” Arthur asked me but I couldn’t reply as I was still laughing. Then slowly I stopped and tried to stand but I felt some pain on my ankle and I knew I fucked up!

“Your ankle, let’s get you to hospital…” John said but I assured him that I am fine…

“Don’t worry I will be fine by tomorrow, and we will have a great recording too but I will head home for now...” I told John and started walking but still, my ankle was hurting and I tried to walk straight but couldn’t. Arthur was still holding my arm and it felt nice that he cares.

“I will probably head home, you can continue..” I told him but he nodded in negative.

“Yeah I will take you there myself don’t worry”

“But I have my car and I can drive” I was confused. Why does he care so much?

“I will have one of my friends drive yours, you can come with me,” He said more like a command I protested but I got ignored in return, so I went to another way where I had parked my car but he just came in front of me giving me a hard expression saying, 

“I can easily pick you up and take you to my car you know?” He said and I was scared a bit now.

“And I can easily knock you out you know, I hope you remember the condition that criminal was on that day,” I said and I bet I will do that if he tries something with me.

“I remember that and I can assure you that I am not kidnapping you or trying to harm you or flirt with you. Consider this a gesture from a friend nothing more.” He said and I was shocked again. 

How can he just be so blunt about everything and how he knows what’s in my mind? 

This is crazy.

“I never said that we are friends.” His face drowned like he was disappointed. He started to turn and go back.

“But I never said we can never be,” I said and gave him a wink . A smirk appeared on his lips.

“Would you mind driving my car? Or it's bad for your reputation?” Now it’s my turn!

He looked at me like I was an alien but then nodded and asked me for my keys and I gave it to him. He carefully took me to the passenger seat and opened the door for me I hopped in and he closed it, he sat on the driver’s seat but with much difficulty as the seat has to be adjusted.

“Gosh, how short are you man, do you even have space for your leg when you drive?” I chuckled on that. He started the car and asked me where I stay, I told him about the location and he knew about that are so he skipped maps. 

The Range Rover followed us and the drive was quiet until he started the conversation.

“Are you sure you don’t want your leg checked?”

“Positive,” I said with a smile.

“Well I don’t think you would be able to make it tomorrow”

“You have no idea, mister, I will just say REPARO and it will be fine” I started laughing and he joined me in.

“Okay, potter head let’s see how that works” and I giggled on that.

We soon were near my home and he parked my car where I instructed him to and he then came out grabbing my bag and opening my door for me. 

“Aren’t you a gentleman” I was being sarcastic... 

“Oh you have no idea about that, Let’s get you home Old Sport”, 

“Oh please, you don’t stand a chance against Gatsby, he is way too cute,” I said fluttering my eyelids like I was obsessed with him and he chuckled. 

“Well, we can agree to disagree”.

I took out my keys and started opening the door and he was still holding me, 

“Would you like anything?” He chuckled and said, 

“Let’s cut that formality for some other time, you need to rest.” 

He took me to my bedroom and started opening my shoes. 

“What the Fuck do you think you are doing?” But he never stopped and after that, he pulled out my socks and went out of my bedroom and I was shocked to see him moving around like it was his house.

He came back with a pain killer and a hot water bag and asked me to have it. 

“Thanks,” I said. 

He tucked me in the comforter and I could see the tension rising between us, he was staring at my eyes, then my lips, and I couldn’t gather the strength to look away from his eyes. He is indeed handsome.

“Okay I will take your leave now, take care,” He said and all I could manage to say was “See you tomorrow?” 

It was more of a question and he nodded and left.

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