Winter House - Chapter 9

So I really, really, really appreciate the comments that you guys give. I just thought I'd let you know that I never post my chapter the day after, at least for now. I always post 2-3 days after because you know, I have a second life outside writing too. Haha, I hope that doesn't bug you too much. But now that it's winter break, I hope to get a lot done, and hopefully, I can write more! See, I've only got about four more pre-written chapters, then I will definitely have to slow things down. But maybe you guys can change that!
******************************************************

That morning, Daniel woke up in quite a cheerful mood. No hangover, but he could not remember the details of last night. Since he was still dressed in his jeans and jacket, he changed into pajamas and brushed his teeth. Casually hopping down to the second floor, and then the first, he saw Jack eating a bowl of cereal. Jack looked up and then down to the bowl again.

"You shouldn't be eating that."

Jack stood up. "Great. So first you forbid me to pay for my own best friend and now you forbid me to eat cereal. Isn't that something?"

"No! It's just, Ivory has a thing against cereal. Didn't she make breakfast?" he asked. Daniel scanned around the big room and yet there was no breakfast, and no Ivory.

"Wake up oblivious! She has a freaking cold and is still in her room," he took another spoonful of cereal and crunched it in his mouth.

"Great," Daniel ran up the stairs again and burst into her room.

Ivory sniffed. "You could at least knock."

He jumped on her bed and pressed his palm on her forehead. "Oh my God. You have a really bad fever."

"Uh, I think I know that by now, thanks," she sneezed again and threw a tissue in the ever-growing pile.

Daniel felt horrible for her, and even more horrible that he had gotten so drunk last night. He wasn't about to tell her that yet though. "Do you want some soup? Or porridge? I can make you some, like right now."

"No, that's alright. I'll just eat whatever Eve and Jack are eating."

He bit his lip. "Uh, they're eating cereal."

"Oh! Well then soup would be great, thank you. Oh, and some extra for you guys too. I can't stand the plainness of cereal."

Daniel smiled. "I know. Okay, I'll be back with some chicken noodle soup." Walking on the stairs for what would be the third time that morning, he avoided eye contact with Jack and went to make some food. After a handful of spices, a toss of pasta and a little stir, Daniel had created a big hearty pot of chicken noodle soup. He got out two soup dishes and presented them very nicely. He carried them out of the kitchen and placed one of the table at which Jack was sitting at.

"Sorry about your arm, and you know; Ivory really has a thing against cereal," he smiled and brought the other dish to her room.

"Astichoo!" Ivory chucked another tissue in the bin again and graciously slurped down the soup Daniel had made.

He laughed. "You make it seem like you haven't eaten in ages."

"Oh I'm sorry! I guess this isn't how a proper lady is supposed to eat, right?" she mocked.

Daniel smiled and shook his head. "No, but I like the way you eat."

"Uh thanks, I'm going to try to convince myself that was a compliment," Ivory smirked at him and continued to eat.

"You should've listened to Eve," Daniel said. He took the empty bowl from her and placed it on her night stand. "Here, apple cinnamon tea."

"Apple cinnamon?"

"Oh, I thought you would like this kind."

"No, that's fine. I'll just have some tea later," she smiled to cheer him up. "So why should I have listened to Eve?"

"Yesterday; you didn't have a jacket. All you had, was that blue sweater" he said.

"Indigo," Ivory corrected and she pointed to the sweater hanging in the closet.

"Right, indigo."

She giggled. "Be honest with me here."

"Sure, anything."

Ivory leaned forward and asked, almost whispering, "How do I look right now?"

Ivory's brunette hair that was normally straight had massive curls that needed to be seriously tamed. Her red pajamas were wrinkled and somewhat fuzzy from all the washes it had gone through. Those two things didn't matter too much. What was really bad was her skin wasn't its normal glow of light pink, it was pale and her face was green around the cheeks. Ivory's eye lids could barely keep themselves up which also resulted in the dark circles under her eyes. "Honestly?"

She nodded.

"You look like a piece of crap," he looked at her shocked expression for a while and could not restrain himself from laughing. He then suddenly felt a tap on his shoulder and stopped.
"Was that meant to be a punch?"

She didn't look at him, or say a word.

Daniel moved closer to her and tried to move her chin up. "Because it was a very girly punch you know."

Ivory gasped and pushed him off the bed. "You're an ass. I'm changing, get out."

He rolled his eyes and got up. Ivory stepped on the ground but suddenly tripped on her night stand. However, she landed in the muscular arms of darling old chef Daniel.

"I may be an ass, but you're as clumsy as hell."

She pursed her lips together and forced her way out of Daniel's arms. "Oh just come here," he pulled her back by the hand and pressed his lips against her cheek. He slowly planted small pecks on her cheek then moved to her lips where she gave in and wrapped her arms around his body. Daniel rubbed his hands on her back while they both giggled and kissed at the same time. Her fingers intertwined with his hair and she felt his cheek as if she could only do it once in her life. Daniel no longer gave her small pecks but kissed her passionately while lifting her up gently and placing her on the bed. Ivory held onto his neck with one hand and tugged on his gray shirt with the other.

"Daniel, I'm ill right now," she said, concerned.

"What? You're worried I might catch your cold too?" he pinched her cheek playfully and gave her a small peck again. He rested beside her and pulled her into a warm embrace.

"I probably look like an even bigger mess now."

Daniel looked at how they were holding hands; perfectly intertwined fingers, each grasping the other like a lock; a lock that had no key, because it was trusted to open again. He needed her trust to be like this again. "Ivory, I got drunk last night."

Still holding onto him, she spoke calmly. "Why?"

"Because I love you."

"Hmm, so you got drunk because you love me?"

"You make it sound like it's a bad thing."

She sighed. "Well isn't it?" Daniel was silent, unable to think of something to say. "I already knew you were drunk. Eve brought me some tea and told me the story."

"Oh. So where does that leave us now?"

Ivory turned to her side to face him. "You punched Jack, didn't you?"

He hesitated for a second. "Yes."

"Why?"

"Because I love you," Daniel moved in for a kiss but Ivory moved away.

"That can't be your answer for everything Daniel."

Daniel unlocked his hand and sat up. "I know nothing about you Ivory. I can't even get your favorite tea ready. I bet Jack probably knows what it is."

"Yes, that's right," she said softly.

"I want to know everything about you. Please?"

"Oh you silly boy," she sat up too and kissed him lightly. "That'll have to wait until I'm feeling better."

Daniel smiled and let her lay down. He swept her bags out-of-the-way and kneeled beside her bed. "Okay. Get some more rest. I'll handle the cooking today."

He watched Ivory slowly close her eyes and shut the door.
******************************************************

Hope you liked! As per usual, comment please! Look out for the next chapter either Sunday or Monday (: