She wrapped her arms around him and placed her face on his chest, she could hear his heart beating slowly which managed to relax her.
''I'm fine Elliot.'' She whispered.
''I won't let anybody hurt you Desiree, I promise.'' He told her as he kissed the top of her head and embraced her. There was no better feeling than holding her petite self in his arms against his much larger body.
☯
After they had spent half an hour talking on the pavement, Elliot drove her back home since it was getting darker and the October nights were getting colder every day. He didn't want her to get sick.
''Thank you for today, I appreciate it.'' She told him when he parked his car infront of her house.
''I'm here for you Des, never forget that. If Noah bothers you again call me immeditley. I wouldn't mind rearranging his face.'' He told her with a smirk and a mischievous glint in his eyes.
''That won't be necessary, I appreciate it though.'' She told him as she giggled. ''Goodnight.'' Desiree said as she grabbed the handle and opened the car's passenger door.
''Wait!''
Desiree turned around to face Elliot and her lips met with his instantly. Like their first kiss their tongues moved in perfect sync and as things started to get more heated, she remebered where she was. If her father caught her making out with him in his car he would kill her.
''I have to go now, goodbye.'' She told him as she leaned in again and gave him a quick kiss.
''Goodnight Desiree, I'll see you soon.''
Desiree walked up the steps to her front house quickly, the kiss had made her lightheaded and she couldn't stop smiling.
''Desiree where have you be-'' Her mother started as she opened the front door to let her in but stopped when she noticed the bruise on her daughter's face. ''What happened to your face?'' She asked her as she let her inside and examined the bruise under the bright light of the hallway.
''Erm, I walked into a lampost, it's nothing.'' She lied as she removed her mother's hands from her cheek as she examined it.
''Go and put some ice on it, it will help with the bruising.'' Her mother told her as she started to walk towards the kitchen with Desiree following close behind.
When she entered the kitchen she froze in her track.
Noah was sitting on a chair as he played with his hands nervously, he didn't look like his smart self, instead he looked quite dishevelled.
When he noticed her he looked up at her, and her eyes widened when he saw the damage that he had done.
''Mum, what is he doing here?'' She asked.
''Noah came here because he said that you two had an argument and you need to clear some things.'' Her mother replied.
''Noah I have nothing to say to you, we broke up and that's it. I don't want to talk about this, it's a waste of time.'' She told him.
''Desiree please let me explain, I wasn't thinking straight.'' He told her with guilt in his brown eyes.
Her mother chose that moment to walk out of the kitchen and give them some privacy, although Desiree wished that she had stayed there because she felt safer with her then. She couldn't help but feel a little afraid that he would hit her again, so she made sure that there was some distance kept between them.
''You have a minute to explain.'' Desiree told him as she crossed her arms.
''When you told me that you cheated on me I couldn't help but feel angry and betrayed. I love you so much and I never though that we would argue on something like this. I thought that you love me aswell, we have been together for seven years after all. Please take me back and I hope that you forgive me.'' He said.
''I know that I did a mistake, but I'm a human and human make mistakes. I do love you Noah, but I have stronger feelings for Elliot and I am so sorry but I can't control what I feel. These past seven years with you have been amazing and I learned so much, I will surely treasure them forever. We are better off as friends and I forgive you.'' She told him as she walked a little closer.
''If that's how you feel, I can't tell you to change. I would love to have you as a friend in my life because you are one of the most important people in my life.'' He told her with a smile as he hugged her.
''I know that you will find a girl who will make you the happiest man in the world, she's out there somewhere.'' She told him as she hugged him back.
''I know, I just wish that it was you.''
15☕
❝Everything is temporary❞
Four days later Desiree was in the car with her family and four packed suitcases, on their way to Grandmother Holly.
They decided to spend some time with her to make sure that everything was fine and she didn't need anything. She was more than pleased to have them stay with them, because she hadn't seen them in a while and they were the only family she had.
After about two boring hours of travelling they finally arrived at Holly's house, it wasn't big but it wasn't small either. It had a lovely front garden in which Desiree and Alice used to spend hours in with their grandmother when they were younger. They used to have tea parties there and speak with a British accent for the whole day. They used to have so much fun, before she got sick.t
''Mom, we're here!'' Amber announced as she unlocked the front door and walked in with her suitcase and her family following close behind her.
''I'm in the kitchen dear!'' Holly yelled.
When they walked in they saw the elderly woman baking what looked like to be chocolate chip muffins and humming to a country song that was playing on the radio.
''Come her my beautiful grandchildren!'' She said with a smile and open arms as soon as she saw them.
''Grandma!'' The two girls screamed and ran into her arms, just like how they used to back in the days.
''I missed you so much, I'm so happy that you are going to stay with me for a while. It's very lonely living in a big house all by yourself.'' She told them as she walked away from them and to hand them two chocolate chip muffins, fresh from the oven.
''We're glad to be here too grandma.'' Alice told her with a smile.
Although Holly had Psychosis she looked perfectly well. Her short blonde hair was perfectly cut in a bob which framed her face, her blue eyes had a sparkle in them and her pink lips were lifted up in a smile. For her age she didn't have much wrinkles and quite slim, she was very pretty.
''Go upstairs and unpack your suitcases, meanwhile I'll prepare dinner for you since it's getting quite late.
''I can help you with that mum.'' Amber told her with a smile.
''Oh no, dear it's fine, be here in about half an hour you don't want your dinner to get cold.'' Holly said.
They all obeyed her after giving her a kiss on the cheek and went upstairs where there where three bedroom, one for their parents and two separate ones for the girls. Holly' bedroom was downstairs so they had the whole floor to themselves.
Desiree got the smallest of the two rooms, but she didn't mind as long as there was a window and a comfortable bed to sleep on. She switched on her laptop and played her favourite album by The Neighbourhood as she started to unpack.
She couldn't help but replay what had happened a few days earlier, the kiss with Elliot, breaking up with Noah, her thoughts were a complete mess. Perhaps this time away from them could help her clear her mind and see what she truly wants.
☯
''Father of us all,This meal is a sign of Your love for us: Bless us and bless our food, And help us to give you glory each day.Through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen'' Rupert prayed with his family before they ate their dinner. They were having lasagna, Holly's specialty.
''This is so good!'' Desiree praised her with a grin.
''Thank you, dear. Can you help me with the dishes after?'' Holly told her as she winked at her, that was their code to let her know that she wanted to talk to her about something.
''Sure'' She replied with a smile as she continued to eat her huge portion of lasagna, she couldn't help but wonder about what her grandma wanted to talk to her
about.
After a little bit of catching up and small talk, Desiree was left with her grandmother while the rest of her family members went upstairs in the rooms.
''Dessie, is there a new boy in your life?'' She asked her straightforwardly, she wasn't the kind of woman who beat around the bush.
''Grandma, what makes you think that?'' Desiree asked as she dried the plate which she handed her.
''Well, first of all you have a sparkle in your eye and second you look just how I looked when I had met your grandpa.'' She told her with a grin. ''What happened with Noah though?''
''You observe everything don't you? Well, I started to have feelings for someone else so I decided to break up with him.''
''My advice to you, my dear, is to follow your heart it will lead you to where you belong and always use protection, you don't want to end up pregnant at seventeen!'' She told her.
''Grandma!'' Desiree exclaimed as she turned a dark shade of red.
''I just don't want to be a great grandmother at this age that's all.'' She told her with a wink.
''I promise you, I won't have a baby at this age for sure.''
''I hope so, Dessie. I would like to meet this new guy though, I want to approve of him before you get into anything serious.''
''You will meet him one day, I promise.''
After they had finished with the washing up they bid goodbye and went to their separate bedrooms.
When Desiree got into bed she switched on her phone to find three text messages, one from Mia, Noah and to her surprise Elliot.
She opened the latter one first, she couldn't help but grin like a fool when she received a text from him.
I miss you already, baby girl. Maybe I will be able to come spend the weekend with you, if you want. Have fun and goodnight Desiree x -E
Desiree grinned even more and replied that she'd check with her family if it was fine for him to spend the weekend with them.
After she had replied to the other two texts she drifted off to a peaceful sleep, it had been a long day after all.
16☕
“The little things? The little moments? — They aren’t little.”
Four days had passed since the Locks had moved in with Holly. Those days had been wonderful, filled with fun and more memory making.
It was Friday and that day Holly had planned to go shopping with her two grand children, since it was one of her favourite hobbies. While her daughter and her husband went on a date at a fancy restaurant to spend some well needed time together. Back in the day she used to be a movie stylist but she had retired five years ago.
The two girls got into their grandmother's light blue Volkswagen Beetle, which had once belonged to their late grandfather, as they drove off at a slow pace to the local mall.
They got into the first clothing store they saw from which Alice bought a purple dress which complemented her complexion and Holly bought a floral pink coat, while Desiree didn't buy anything since the clothes were a little bit too formal for her taste.
''Today you can buy anything that you want, I am going to pay for everything so don't worry.'' Their grandmother told them after they had payed for the two items and entered a shoe shop.
''We appreciate it grandma, but you can't do that.'' Desiree told her as she grabbed a pair of nude heels and sat down to try them on.
''I insist darling, see it as my early Christmas gift to you.'' She told her with a smile.
Thirty minutes and three pairs of shoes each they made their way to Tiffany & co.
''This ring is beautiful!'' Alice exclaimed as she stared at a silver ring with a pink sapphire in the middle. The two other women went to see what had captured her attention and they had to agree with her that it was possibly one of the most beautiful rings that they had ever saw.
''Girls, what do you think if we get all this ring as a reminder of one another and this fun day that we are having together?'' Holly asked them with a grin.
The two girls both nodded their heads excitedly which made Holly laugh as she called a salesgirl to come over and find them the right ring size.
Since the three of them were all a little tired after they had gone into every single shop in the mall they sat down on the couch in Starbucks and drank their Pumpkin Spice Latte. Halloween, which was one of Desiree's favourite feasts, was just around the corner and she couldn't be more happy.
''Erm grandma, Elliot asked me if he could come over next weekend and I was just checking if that's okay with you. If it isn't that is perfectly fine since-''
''Is he the boy that you talked to me about?'' Her grandma interrupted her.
''Yes, he is.''
''He is welcome to come and stay with us then, dear. I'm looking forward to meet this young man, who knows maybe he ends up being a part of the family one day.'' She told her with a wink.
''Grandma!'' Desiree exclaimed as she blushed.
''Are you talking about Elliot?'' Alice asked her older sister confused, ''That's not fair, I wanted to date him!'' She said when her older sister nodded her head.
''I'm sorry Al, but he's a little bit to old for you, you should find someone your own age.''
''This is so not fair.'' She sulked.
''Cheer up sweetie, you will find a nice boy of your own soon.'' Her grandma told her to try and cheer her up.
''And he will be a hundred times better than Elliot!'' She replied with a grin.
''A girl can dream.'' Desiree replies as she pulled her tongue out at her sister, just like how she used to do when they had an argument as kids.
After they had ate their Turkey Pesto Panini they made their way back to the parking lot, got into the old car and drove back to the house.
Since their parents weren't back yet they decided to watch a comedy and share some laughs together.
You can come over this weekend, grandma can't wait to meet you :P Desiree texted Elliot when Alice had paused the movie to make more popcorn and get them all a hug in a mug, also known as tea.
That's great! I can't wait to meet her :) - E x
Desiree couldn't help but think about the things that Elliot and her would do when he came over and the places she could show him. She couldn't help but feel that it was a weekend that she would remember for the rest of her life.
17☕
❝When she awoke, the world was on fire.❞
A noise woke Desiree. She groggily reached out in the dark for the alarm clock, but on seeing it was only three in the morning on Saturday morning, she thought that it was just a drunk going past the house. But then she heard a sound she didn't recognize - a whooshing noise. And could smell something too.
Puzzled, she sat upright. It was a few moments before she registered that it was a smell of burning, and that the sound was the crackling of fire.
In panic she jumped out of bed and ran to the door. As she opened it she recoiled in horror when she saw a wall of thick smoke. It was so dense she couldn't even see the banisters of the staircase less than four feet away. But even through the smoke she could see an orangey-red glow coming from the kitchen downstairs, and it was making it's way towards the stairs.
The house was one fire, and she was trapped.
Shutting the bedroom door to hold the fire at bay until She could get out, she ran to the windows overlooking the street. Desiree saw her sister and mother screaming and crying while her father was talking on his phone is a hurry, but her grandma was nowhere in sight.
Tea and Tattoos Page 6