It was an ordinary day in spring. The cherry blossoms were in full bloom. Everything was tranquil, the birds were chirping, and you could hear the faint sound of the stream. It would have stayed like this if; I did not find Abel sleeping at the computer desk. I quietly walked up to him and when I was about three inches from him, I hit him with book I was holding. He woke up agitatedly. “Why do you do that? It is so rude. I was enjoying that dream.” He shrugged and started looking at the computer screen.

“Well, you should be typing for the magazine. You‘ve done this all week. You get enough a sleep at night. And, unless it was about me, it couldn’t have been that good of a dream anyway.” This being the fifth time this week, he has fallen asleep on the job, I was anything but happy.

Rukia-chan and Ichigo brought over a cherry pie, an apple pie and a watermelon. That’s because Rukia-chan eats watermelon with all of her meals. No joke. It helps her remember her mother and her father. They both died in a car accident in Tokyo. I see her as a very strong individual, and if anyone knows how to coop, she does. “Let’s say prayer” I decide to remind everyone. We say the prayer and then we eat. The conversation consist of Ichigo complaining about Rukia-chan and Abel complaining about me. We just let them have their fun, while they can. But, between the conversations, Abel looks over at smiles and me. I find myself smiling back.

His smile is warm and genuine. It makes me feel good. Rukia-chan and Ichigo give us the “get a room” look. We look away acting as if nothing had happened. Dinner goes smoothly. Abel and me clean up the kitchen and clear the table. He smiles at me again, I want to say “I love you”, but I can’t. I’m so weak but, I’m also strong. Such a contradiction, I just want to scream.

The next day, I bring the materials to the office building. They’re glad to get it and I’m glad I don’t have to worry about this for another week. Who knew dreams could be so bothersome. I walked out to my car; I got in and sat there for a while. I drove off about five minutes later. The rest of the day like a blur. I did the usual routine: getting out of the bed, getting dressed, brushing my teeth and hair, etc. SSDD, which means same schedule different day. Something I made up, to describe the rigidness of life.

I ended up eating dinner alone that night. Abel was out with Ichigo at the Sports Bar, I guess there was a game on. And, they were going to eat dinner there. Rukia-chan was busy sculpting; she does this when she’s alone. Or at least when Ichigo is gone. She always thinks his ex-girlfriend will try and find him. The thought plagues her; she doesn’t like to talk about it either. I didn’t like his ex-girlfriend; she was so helpless and childish. I don’t even remember her name. I think she was a red head. Regardless of what they were doing, I sat there alone staring at my plate, which I hadn’t touched. The house seemed so big and empty; the slightest movement made the floors creak.

I suppose the saying “You don’t know what you have till it’s gone” is true. Rukia-chan knows all about that. Thank goodness, my parents didn’t die in a car accident. They’re still alive and kicking. And, my mom keeps on telling me to propose to Abel. I should’ve told her that we’d be living together and that I’ve had a crush on him for two years. She so wants some grandchildren. I’m an only child so; she doesn’t have any other kids to bother. She thinks the “magazine thing” is dumb. She wanted me to be doctor or a lawyer. “You’re an intelligent woman don’t waste it writing articles” she’s say to me time and again. I actually want to be an author. I’m working my way up, I want to gain some popularity and gain some experience. Not having Abel here makes it so I think about that kind of stuff. It’s so depressing.

I pushed the chair back and stood up. After, I put away my food, I cleaned the kitchen. As, I walking back to my bedroom, I noticed dark clouds rolling in and the sky lighting up. “Great, now there’s a thunderstorm coming. A wonderful end to a terrible night” I complained. I wondered how Blaze would fare. Unlike, dogs and traditional pets, dragons don’t mind thunder. So, I continued to the bedroom. I put my pajamas on and did my nighttime routine. Turned off the lights and was sleeping in a matter of minutes. The next morning, I felt someone holding my waist and head. At that moment, I was dreaming about Abel. We were sitting out having a picnic and the cherry blossoms were blowing all around us. It was so peaceful, this most be what Heaven is like but much better. “Abel-kun, you’re so freaky. Don’t touch me there. But, I would like a kiss…” I didn’t finish the sentence. I opened my eyes and saw that Abel was the one holding me. I screamed so loud the dead could hear me. “What are you doing in my bed and holding me no less?” I almost had a heart attack. “Not so loud, I’m trying to sleep here” he said drowsily. “Why aren’t you in your own room?” my voice had gotten a little lower, but not much. “There was a thunderstorm last night and I hate thunder.

I decided to sleep in your bed.” So, he really was like a child, I sighed. “I see, so are you enjoying holding me?” I asked bluntly. “Why do you say that?” he look puzzled. “Because, you’re still holding me.” He pulled away so fast; you’d think I was burning hot. “I…I didn’t realize, I was still doing that…” he stopped talking. “It’s okay, no harm done.” His face was bright red. It was a very humorous site. I started to giggle a little. Then, out of nowhere, his voice got deep and sexy. “But, it did seem like you were enjoying me caressing you” the redness in his face was now replaced with a seductive look. His winter-blue eyes and silver-blonde long hair shone bright as the sunlight flooded the room. My expression also changed. I was dumbfounded and it was written all over my face. “So, you did this on purpose!” my face was red now, I felt like I had a fever. “No, I just like to hold something when, I’m scared” he said with a smile. “But, you called me Abel-kun, does that mean…” I interrupted him. “No, it was a dream. I don’t know why I said that.”

My face was blood red now, I looked away. “And, you said something about a kiss…I recall.” I could tell without even looking at him he was waiting for my response. I thought carefully about what, I was going to say. “If, and I mean IF, I said I had feelings for you, what would you do?” I was expecting the worst. Maybe he was playing a mean prank on me. It could have been Ichigo’s idea. We’d only lived together for three months. I’ve only known him for two years. It was love at first site. I never believed in it, but it happened to me. And, there are so many attractive women who are attracted to him. He could pick any of them over me. He is a very attractive man after all, like a Greek God or something. Most women would give him at least a 9.5. In addition to that, I have no idea if, he enjoyed living with me. He acts happy and cheerful with everyone. It’s just his personality.

I didn’t feel like, I was getting any special treatment at all. What seemed like an eternity waiting for his answer. He finally said. “I’d do this” he leaned in and before I knew it, he was holding me again. But, this time he was kissing me! It felt nice, and I decided to give in. It was like in my dreams but, it was real. Such a blissful feeling. I guess he does enjoy living with me. Maybe, a little too much. The day went on as usual. I was sitting at the table and then it hit me, he can’t be afraid of thunder, he can control thunder with his crusnik powers. Crusnik Nanomachine 02. “You’re a

sly one aren’t you, Abel-kun” I said with the look of a detective who had just solved the case. “ You caught me, I lied” he said. “Why did you lie?” I asked. I really wanted to know, he seemed like an honest person.

“I couldn’t think of any other way to get close enough to you. I had to get close to figure out if, you really liked me or not. You’re so distant sometimes. It was like there was a big rift between us for some reason. That’s why I became your assistant in the first place.” I was shocked, I never would have expected that answer in a million years. I pride myself in knowing people and what they’re thinking. He took me for a loop there. I finally found someone I couldn’t totally read. I started to laugh. “Why are you laughing, was it funny to you?” he looked so hurt. “I wasn’t laughing in a bad way. I finally found someone I can’t totally read.” He looked confused. “Who’s that?”

“You silly, I would have never thought with your personality you’d do something like this in a million years” I was truly surprised and happy at the same time. “Well, it was kind of Ichigo’s idea. We talked about it at the bar last night. I slipped up and told him that I liked you. I had a couple too many drinks. I never planned on telling him. He came up with a plan and said if I didn’t go through with it he’d use his bankai on me.” “I’m sure he was kidding around and anyway you could take him”I hit his shoulder. “ I know, but I wanted to go through with it. I was tired of not knowing” he said. “Me too, it was killing me. I was so afraid to say something to you about it” I said. “ You afraid of something wow, I thought you were fearless. We both learned something about each other” he said while smiling. “ We did and we have Ichigo to thank for it. I don’t think I’ve every thanked him for anything before. It’ll be kind of weird. I guess I can say it though, he helped me out big this time.” “Me too” he said while he pulled me closer and we embraced each other and kissed again.

To be continued…