Figment of Dreams
Red (2)

Both of us were enthralled by the books we were reading. Octave snoring below me. Both of us had a glass of red wine and were quietly turning pages. My legs casually resting against his, his fingers tenderly rubbing up and down on the same spot, head on a very soft pillow.

‘You want some more wine?’ he softly asked while grabbing my ankle and reaching for the bottle. I nodded at him through sleepy eyes. ‘Yes, please.’

‘Have you been sleeping?’ Oak knew.

‘Yeah, I have.’

‘Liar.’ He handed me my glass and put his reading glasses on the table. Oh, he wanted to talk now.

‘Oak, just drop it.’

’Not a chance princess. What’s bothering you, shoot. Or I Paramirage that ass.’

‘That’s assault, I’m sure.’

‘Sure is. Sue me.’

He was such a direct bastard sometimes.

I rolled my eyes at him.

‘It has something to do with Ash because he hasn’t been himself all week. I know that much.’

‘How so?’

‘Well, we’ve gone fishing today. He never wants to go fishing and he looked like he hasn’t slept all week.’

That kind of did me good. Because I hadn’t either. Drinking Oak’s entire red wine collection was the only thing that had remotely knocked me out these last couple of days.

‘And he usually comes to Dean to knock off some steam. Yet, he and I went sparring yesterday. Something’s up. You being here all week is also strange.’

‘Well, thanks.’ I grunted.

’Strange but nice.’ He admitted and I felt my cheeks redden.

‘I can’t talk about it.’ I said with a soft voice. I already felt the tears brimming and I wasn’t doing that here. Not with Oak. He was not going to do well with my tears, I could already tell.

‘What did he do, Lux?’ he immediately knew it was Ash. ‘Why does he feel guilty?’

I rolled my eyes at the mind reader. He grabbed my ankles and pulled me towards him forcefully. Nearly making me spill the red wine all over his expensive couch.

‘You are such a brute sometimes!’ And here I was thinking this man was made to be perfect. The last few weeks have made me realize he is wilder than his twin brother. And that’s saying something.

‘And you know me better than that, don’t you?’

I nodded. Because it was true. I had made a really deep connection to him that was unexplainable. My love for Ash went deep really fast, but this one made me love him from a different slower pace. Especially since we came from a place filled with hatred and resentment towards each other.

‘Ash….’ I sighed. Gulped the entire glass back and placed it on the table. ’We, you know…-’

‘Kissed?’ Oak sighed. When he saw me raising a brow he raised his as well. ’Not kissed?’

I rolled my eyes. ‘That ship has sailed long ago my friend.’ He was a little surprised by that and it made it blatantly obvious Oak was living in a fairy tale when it came to me and his brother.

‘So you and him….’ I saw the dots connected behind those deep blue gazers.

I nodded.

‘I see…’ His fingers grabbed my upper thigh a lot harder now. It stayed quiet for a few seconds.

‘And then he hasn’t really given me the time of day.’

‘When was this? At the cabins last weekend?’

I nodded.

‘Fuck!’ He slammed his hands in front of his eyes and let his head fall back with a deep sigh.

‘It’s just really awkward now.’ I admitted. Voice breaking a bit. ‘I don’t know why he’s ignoring me now anyway, it’s not like-.’ I could not form a coherent thought. ‘I don’t know why really…’

Oak stayed quiet.

‘Say something please.’ I groaned, feeling subconscious now. I couldn’t deal with him too.

He let his hands drop and grabbed my face instead. ‘He shouldn’t have done that Lux. He should have controlled himself better. I’m sorry.’

I nodded in my hands. Trying my very best to not cry.

‘He was my best friend.’ I added with a small voice.

‘You were too. I know he cares otherwise he wouldn’t be walking around hurt like this.’

‘I know but-’ the door got knocked on really hard and we both flinched.

‘Who’s that?’ Oak grunted and rose. I sat up and patted Octave between his ears to calm myself a little and gather my thoughts.

‘Brother open up!’ Oh shit. He must have heard his ears ringing and came running.