Watching the Petals Fall {Moving Day}

[thewhitelines]

Tags: Closed to Art and Blaize (an attempt to get to know you better)
[W] Most likely.
[M] We'll see.

Payton unloaded her rather small amount of boxes from the back of her Aunt Selene's car. Edmund scurried happily in and out of the door to his new home. Payton was finally getting out of that hell hole, called her Aunt Selene's house. Dylan's departure left a void, an empty hole, in Payton's heart, and the high pitched squeals that came from Selene's voice didn't help to mend such a rupture.

Payton had made many changes over the last few days. Not only did she move, but she cut her hair and "un-died" it back to it's original blond color. She wasn't too sure about the length. Payton quit her job at the library, too. She though it was about time to do something productive. She was searching for a job as a reporter. She had found a few papers, but nothing for sure.

The light shimmered as it broke through the open windows and cascaded down onto the hard wood floor. She hadn't really had time to get to know here roommates (a pleasure she hoped would arrive soon). However, it was common knowledge that Blaize Jacobs occupied that very same house, with three other girls. Blaize Jacobs . . . what more was there to say.

Payton pushed open the door to her new room and basked in the glory. Free at last. She jumped onto her bed, clutching on to the the soft pillows like a slug to wet rock. Today was definitely a new beginning. Edmund hopped onto her bed and nudged his way between Payton and the pillows.

Payton could here the birds chirping outside, as if playing her glorious melody and authenticating her presence. Payton lay still, allowing the bed to devour her body and her mind to devourer her soul. This was home. She hopped up, forgetting Edmund was there. He scurried off the bed and out of the room. Payton followed.

In the kitchen the light from the windows created that effect that is often seen in movies. You could see the dust particles drifting through the air, illuminated by shards of light. Payton opened the fridge. She skimmed its contents: milk, eggs, bread, apples . . . It was still morning, if you subtracted a mere three hours of course. Her roommates would appreciate the thought, at least. Cracking eggs and dicing apples Payton got to work on her "Appreciation Lunchfast", Apple-Cinnamon Swirl French Toast (her ancient Grandma Pat's recipe).

[blaize]

Today was moving day. Again. not for Blaize, but for someone else to move into number six. He had been there for little over 3 years when he and Jezebel were the first people to move into the newly refurbished house, and since then they’d seen people come and go like #6 was a fashion trend. Most recently there was Harriet, who left for reasons Blaize didn’t understand, and Zain, who Blaize had told to leave or he’d murder him. Literally. So that had left Blaize and Jeze with Lacy, who had been in 6 for about a year now, and Artemis who’s been around for about five months. The house had six bedrooms, which meant that it could get kind of crowded, especially when it came to the two bathrooms they shared. Otherwise, Blaize loved living there, and was more than used to the traffic of tenants.

This new one he had already met, by fluke. He had been visiting the landlord in Marseille to hand in a bill for repairs to the boiler, and walked in on a ‘meeting’. He was introduced to Payton where he was told she was their new house mate. A two minute introduction was all he had time for before rushing back to work, phoning home on the way to tell whoever would listen that the new tenant seemed nice, and even better, female.

That was a few days ago, and they were told to expect her today. So, Blaize arranged to get that afternoon off work, having Aidan cover for him for a few hours, and would go back to Marseille later. He did go in just to open up (as no one else was trusted with that, and the manager would have his head if she had to do it herself), and had just pulled into the driveway. Jeze’s car was gone so he assumed she was still at work, and he knew Lacy was busy at the nursing home. As for Artemis, he had no idea.

The house was relatively quiet when he pushed open the front door. The front hall was as bright and sunny as ever, and as usually Blaize felt like his presence darkened it, whether it was the black shirt and trousers he had to wear for work, or the pending knowledge that if he wished he could cast the whole room into a darkness worthy of midnight. He ran his fingers through his hair as he headed towards the kitchen, drawing a suspenseful breath when he could hear activity on the other side of the white glossed door. He couldn’t tell if it was excitement or nerves, but something had him pausing at the door handle before pushing it open.

Predictably, the first (and only) person he found in the heart of the home was the vaguely familiar blonde girl from the landlord’s office earlier in the week. He smiled a hello at her before glancing through the always-open door that led to the empty living room. So no one else was there, then. Casually, he leaned against the worktop, the opposite one that she was using, resting his hands on the edge of the black granite.

“Hey, Payton,” he said, another smile lighting his eyes as he turned back to her. “I guess you haven’t met the others… I was hoping I’d be here before you arrive. You get all your stuff moved in ok?”

[thewhitelines]

Moving in to # 6 was sure to be an improvement. Payton was sure she had changed just enough and not too much. Too much change, simultaneously, was always too much change. Just enough is what she was aiming for. The sweet smell of apples and cinnamon wafted through the air and seemed to settle through the house like a dense fog full of enjoyment. A large plate of French toast sat next to Payton on the warm granite. Edmund had fallen asleep in "The Doll House" and hadn't made an appearance since Payton started cooking,

Payton could hear the jingle of keys as someone walked into the house. She stared through the open door of the living room. There was a pause and the jingle continued. Excitement devoured her as she waited for her roommate (she assumed it was one of her roommates) to enter the living room. She smiled. It took a while for that somebody to appear from behind the wall. It was a man, she assumed, because of his size. It wasn't a robber or anything like that; they had a key of course. She flipped a piece of French toast and strained her eyes to make out the figure. The man came closer.

Before Payton could get a grip on who it was the soothing voice of a man consumed her ears. Upon examining the face she realized that it was Blaize . . . Blaize Jacobs. He was as handsome as the world knew him to be. He hadn't changed a bit in the few days since she had seen him. His jade green eyes seemed to come forth, like spinning knives, and pierce her heart. His black shirt did quite a job of defining his muscular body. A dark glow, if possible in existence, seemed to follow him around, clinging to his back and setting Blaize apart from the rest of the world. Payton was sure that if she didn't keep her cool she'd fall right through the floors, an embarrassment she'd rather spare herself.

She smiled and nodded in response to his warm smile. It was nice to know she was welcome and not just a person to pass in the hall and occasional weasel money from. She flipped a quickly browning slice of French toast and lightly pressed it to the skillet. The crackling sound seemed a way to postpone her response. First impressions were what established a relationship and this needed to be good. She was hoping to live her for quite a while. Though she had gone on an epic quest for change, some consistency was necessary.

"Yeah, I managed to get all my things in okay," she said biting her lip and looking up at Blaize, "Hungry?"