Beautiful Protection

Midnight Talk

Erin did not go out of her room for two days now. She simply texted Xander that she will stay in her room and she will take care of the rest. No one will knock in her room to deliver her food as she can get it on her own. She did not want him in her room just like last time because she was not able to eat her breakfast on time.

The last self-defense training scared her. The close contact was too much for her brain to process and she cannot continue thinking of him. She cannot let Will have another thing to accuse her because this time might be proven true. The chill in her spine didn't go away, the mere memory of how his nose on her neck was triggering it, and maybe the best thing to do is to avoid him.

She told Melinda that she will paint in her room and no one can disturb her. Already aware of the setup, her housekeeper prepared her food that she can reheat when she's hungry.

Erin loves to paint and being stuck in the house has given her more time to paint. She can paint up to two or three-piece while Will was away for a business trip. She never paints in her room, but she decided to it now just to avoid Xander. Two days should have given her enough time to at least finish half of a piece but her brain was a mess to even start a line. She was constantly sighing staring at the blank canvass. Her brain was not up to it, it was busy with something else.

Not to pressure herself more, she just wrote her name on the lower right and decided to take the canvas out of her room. A blank canvass can also be a masterpiece, she decided to leave it that way. Her mind was chaotic and how she wished it could like that canvass, clear of any thoughts.

She positioned it at the center of all the canvasses she has in the room. It was the first time she was unproductive but weirdly she likes it to see there in the center. Staring with complete silence, her stomach growled.

It was a quarter to twelve midnight. She then proceeded to the kitchen to give the growling beast a reward. She was lazy to turn on the light that she started to rummage the refrigerator.

"Erin?"

She was startled, then followed by a casserole dropped on the ground.

"Jesus. Why did you not turn on the light?"

Xander then switched on the light. blinding her on the process. She then opened them slowly to adjust her vision. Erin was now staring at the man she avoided for two days and noticed how her heart was pounding.

It is not good.

Xander walked towards her and she took two steps back out of fear.

What is he doing?

"Should I reheat it?" Xander asked after he picked up the casserole. Erin sighed with relief and irritated with herself.

"I can manage." She said.

"It's alright." Xander walked toward where the microwave oven had been placed.

"I want it cold!" Erin tried her best not to spend more time with him.

Xander then walks towards the counter and get some plates.

"I do not think it's still part of your job," Erin commented as he was overdoing his job that he was even serving her food.

"It is alright. I do not think the beast can wait any longer." He commented and she blushed at that.

She was not even aware that her stomach kept on rambling because she was focusing on something else.

"That is enough." She said when Xander about to add another spoon full.

Xander then placed the plate in front of her.

"Do you want some?" She at least tried to offer but wished that he will decline.

"No, thanks. It is past my diet." His reply and she learn how disciplined he is when it comes to his fitness.

Erin could have asked him to leave but she decided to just eat her food realizing she was that hungry. Xander was quietly observing the kitchen. She already ate half of her food when Xander decided to open up a conversation.

"Melinda told me that you were painting in your room for these past days." He started and she cannot guess where the topic will be heading to.

"How was it?" He continued and Erin realized that Xander wants a real engagement that she cannot give especially now that he was stirring her emotion.

It was so nice that someone asks about her hobby, but not Xander even Will did not have the interest to know about it. Answering him will not do any good.

She continued to eat her food, but his conversation was inviting as Xander continued.

"I paint sometimes..." Her attention was on him now as she looked at him.

"It helps me a lot when I cannot figure things out." It was the opposite of her. She cannot paint when she can't figure things out just like these past few days.

"I like to throw paints everywhere and I always love the result. A beautiful mess is the words that best fit it." He was staring at her when he uttered the last sentence.

"Abstract painting is beautiful." She agreed.

"What is your style?" He asked wanting her to dive into the conversation.

"Painterly Style." Her simple answer.

Erin stood up as she finished her food and washed her dishes in the sink. Xander on the other hand was quiet as if waiting for her activity to finish. He watched her every move. He made her conscious that she found herself had difficulty drinking a glass of water.

Her conversation with him could have ended, but her next statement showed otherwise.

"Xander, do you mind if I show you my art?"