Chapter 9 Almost
1061 Words
Amber's POV:
"Want to watch a movie?" Sidney asked.
I wasn't expecting that, but I didn't mind. Getting closer to him could definitely help my situation.
"Sure, I'd be happy to," I said.
I pulled the curtains shut, letting the room sink into a dim, cozy darkness, and then turned on the projector.
Sidney slowly shifted himself from his wheelchair onto the loveseat. He was clearly used to doing this on his own.
Of course, I didn't offer to help—he'd made it clear before that he hated being treated like he needed assistance. He wanted to be seen as capable, as normal as anyone else.
By the time he settled in, he was sweating. He glanced back at me, confused. "You planning to stand the whole time?"
"If you don't mind, I'd much rather sit."
Standing through an entire movie wasn't exactly appealing.
Sidney nodded.
With a grin, I took the seat beside him. "So, what do you want to watch?"
"What about you," he said.
Alright, he was leaving the choice up to me. Gentlemanly.
I picked a light romance film—one with a fun poster that didn't seem too serious. Soon, the screen filled with scenes of high school life—bubbly girls, the quiet childhood friend, and of course, the impossibly charming new guy. It was all so sweet and carefree, it was almost hard to imagine a world like that could exist.
It had been a long time since I watched a movie. Ever since my parents passed, life had been a constant struggle. Bills. Work. No room for anything else.
But now, for the first time in forever, I felt a sense of calm. And strangely enough, it was happening right next to Sidney.
*****
"You like romance movies?" Sidney asked suddenly.
"Not exactly. I just like something light. Life's stressful enough as it is—I don't need a movie to feel more exhausting than a day of work."
"Interesting," Sidney mused. "So, if you were the lead, which guy would you pick?"
"I'm not the lead, so I'd pick neither. But I like a guy who never gives up."
I could've sworn I heard him chuckle, but when I turned to look, his face was as composed as ever.
His profile was striking, every feature sharp and defined.
Then I heard it—the unmistakable sound of a kiss from the screen. The kind that's soft, wet, and makes your heart race.
Young love—full of heat and passion.
Without thinking, my eyes drifted to Sidney's lips. They were slightly parted, the color a little flushed. My heart quickened, and a strange heat unfurled in my chest.
It was like there was a sudden pull between us, something magnetic, drawing me closer in ways I couldn't explain.
Just then, Sidney turned his head and caught me staring. His gaze locked onto mine.
The air thickened with tension, the kind that makes your breath catch and your pulse race. The room suddenly felt hotter, like the space between us was the only thing that mattered.
"Sidney..." I murmured, my voice soft, almost too soft, as if I was inviting him in.
He leaned in a little, the space between us shrinking with each heartbeat. I could feel his breath, warm and teasing against my skin. A spark shot through me, one that felt like both fear and longing all wrapped into one. It was my desire.
When our noses brushed, it felt like I'd been struck by lightning. I jumped up so fast it startled even me.
'Oh, God, what was I thinking?'
"I—I need to use the bathroom," I stammered, trying to escape.
"Oh... sure... yeah," Sidney mumbled, quickly turning back to the screen, remote in hand, fast-forwarding through the movie.
He acted calm, but the flush creeping up his ears told a different story. He was just as flustered as I was.
The awkward kiss scene was soon drowned out by the upbeat cheers of a pep rally, but the tension in the room hadn't quite dissipated.
I rushed to the bathroom, splashing cold water on my face. When I looked up at my reflection in the mirror, I saw it—my cheeks, flushed red as if I'd just been caught in the middle of something forbidden.
I patted my face, talking myself down. "Amber, remember why you're here. You're a maid, not some lovesick fool! If Ms. Rossi ever found out about this, you'd be out of a job in no time."
Regret and embarrassment washed over me. I reminded myself again to keep things professional, to stay calm.
After that, neither Sidney nor I mentioned what had happened. The movie continued, but we didn't watch it with the same ease as before.
That moment, though—it stayed with me, burned into my mind. Every time I thought about it, my heart raced all over again.
*****
That night, as I lay in bed, the memory of that near-kiss kept replaying in my mind, making my cheeks flush all over again.
"Amber, are you still awake?" Mabel's voice whispered from outside the door.
Shaking off my thoughts, I got up and opened the door. "What's going on?"
Mabel motioned toward Sidney's room. "Shh, follow me."
'Sidney?' Confused, I followed her, careful to keep my footsteps quiet.
It didn't take long to see what she meant.
From where we stood, we could see Sidney's door wide open. He was blindfolded, wheeling himself out of his room, and then back in. Even though he was gagging after each attempt, he never gave up.
Mabel smiled softly. "Mr. Sidney's been practicing alone while we sleep. Amber, ever since you came, he's changed so much."
'Really? I guess... he has.'
Watching him try over and over, despite his body fighting him at every turn, I felt a strange mix of emotions. At that moment, Sidney didn't seem like someone who was afraid—he seemed like someone brave, someone fighting his way out of the darkness.
'Okay, I admit I've started to see Sidney in a different light.'
And as I thought back to that almost-kiss, I blushed again. 'With someone like him... maybe it wouldn't have been so bad,' I admitted to myself.
The thought shocked me the second it crossed my mind. 'What am I thinking?'
- Writer
