16 sixteen » I need you

16

Need.

In which Sebastian needs Mira.

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AS SOON AS WE GOT TO the hospital, there was no calming Sebastian down. His hands were shaking and his hair was disheveled since he couldn't stop running his hands through it. I was just as worried, but if I showed it there would be no telling on how Sebastian would act.

Avery had fallen down a flight of stairs and sustained a concussion and a broken arm. Isla and Flynn were away for their anniversary and Avery was staying with her grandparents for the night since Sebastian was out with me.

"Why was Avery running after her bath?" Sebastian questioned his father once he finished talking with the doctor.

"She was eager to speak to Flynn over the phone. Ash, the doctors said she'll be fine so try to calm down."

Approaching Sebastian with a steaming cup of coffee, I lead him to a chair as he sighed. He leaned his head on mine and dragged a hand down his face. Taking calming breaths, we sat in silence before the doctor gave the okay for people to go into Avery's room again.

Since Wyatt and Athena had already seen Avery, Sebastian was the first to get up and I was pleasantly surprised when he pulled me up with him. She was lying in her hospital bed, groggily moving when she caught Sebastian and me entering the room. An angelic smile glossed her lips and she pointed to her cast.

"I got to pick pink, doesn't it look pretty?"

Sebastian released my hand and sauntered to the side of the bed. "It sure does, champ. I'm proud of you for being so brave." His large hand caressed her face and he kissed her forehead tenderly.

As soon as she caught sight of me, she smiled and beckoned me over. "Uncle Sebastian, can I ask you a question?"

Holding Avery's uninjured hand, I was reminded on how small she was. The accident must've taken a lot out of her, but there she was talking as if it was just a little slip. However, as long as she stayed awake, no one would be worried.

After getting the go ahead, Avery moved my hand over to Sebastian's. "I have to whisper it in your ear, silly." He laughed in response, but held my hand through it all. Then he almost choked with an unexpected laugh, and squeezed my hand before he leaned forward and laid multiple kisses all over Avery's face.

"I really love you, Aves." His grin was so infectious that Avery mirrored his expression with a giggle. Turning to me, he glanced at his niece momentarily before sighing and rubbing his thumb on my hand. "I'm putting Avery out of her misery. Will you go on a date with me?"

My heart began to race as an uncontrollable smile overtook my features. It was finally happening. Avery and Sebastian watched me in the seconds it took me to answer.

"I'd love to."

And for the first time in quite a while, I witnessed a shy smile make its way onto Sebastian's face. But, what iced the cake was how the tip of his ears turned red along with the rest of his face. Once Avery began to giggle in the background, I took my eyes off him and met the eyes of the small child who already captured my heart.

"Can I start calling you Auntie Mira?"

Sebastian broke out into an uncontrollable fit of laughter as he clutched at his chest since it was my turn to blush, although I showed it broken eye contact and fidgeting. He began to cough and when it became excessive, he reached over to the pitcher of water that was in the room.

Chugging down the water, he made eye contact with me and winked like he was a part of a commercial. I laughed and brought my attention back to Avery when she tugged on my hand.

"Can you draw?" she asked with a curious expression. Upon hearing my affirmative response, an angelic smile graced her face. "Can you draw a unicorn on it? I have felt tips in my backpack."

I couldn't possibly say no, so for the next five minutes, I carefully drew on her cast even though the rough material made it slightly more difficult. Sebastian snapped many photos, claiming that it was too cute not to put in the family album.

When Wyatt and Athena entered the room hand in hand, she beamed with pleasure at the sight of Avery appreciating the unicorn on her cast. Standing beside me, her warm hand curled around my shoulder as her eyes were filled with gratitude.

"I'm glad I could see you again."

After initiating a long conversation, an hour soon passed and I felt the tiredness beginning to sink in. Athena planned to stay the night with Avery, so after saying our goodbyes, Wyatt, Sebastian and I made our way to the car park.

The one thing I noticed was all the Harrington men looked like mirror copies of each other, but their different ages set them apart. Wyatt looked incredibly good for his age, which I learned was 54. Once he left us, Sebastian and I climbed into the car and proceeded to head back to his penthouse.

My dress was beginning to become a nuisance as the cold November weather caused me to shiver. Sebastian silently turned the heater on when he glanced over at me at a red light. "Do you actually want to go on a date with me?"

Meeting his gaze, I gave him a small smile. "Why? You taking back your offer?"

He shook his head instantly. "God no, I just don't want you to make your decision just because Avery wants you to."

Placing my hand on his, he curled his fingers around mine and positioned them on his lap. "I do want to go on a date with you. That will never change." Smiling at each other, he continued to drive and I couldn't help but think that the night had been almost perfect.

- - - - - - - - - - - - -

Purple-hued rays of sunlight kissed the sky that was basked in a myriad of colours, ranging from a deep orange to the brightest of yellows. The golden globe rested low in the sky as it slowly made its way up the vast blanket. Awe-filled eyes watched closely when my mind was unable to think coherent thoughts.

A calming ambience surrounded me whilst the soft blanket covered my legs. I sat on the floor in front of the window since the crack of dawn as I was unable to fall back asleep. Sebastian looked tired and I couldn't find it in myself to trouble him after the emotional rollercoaster he had been on.

Stevie Wonder played through my earphones and I was shocked when I heard Sebastian's voice from behind me. Tilting my head and taking my earphones out, I came across Sebastian leaning against the sofa that was near to the middle of the room.

He was clad in only black sweatpants, his toned upper half bare, which was understandable since Sebastian was the type who got too hot at night and took off clothes. His bed hair was unkempt as he graced my day with a soft smile.

Silently walking across the room, he took a seat beside me and draped his arm around my shoulders with a sigh. "I bought the place because of this view." He murmured sleepily, his fingertips pressing against the black material of his shirt that I was wearing. "I know we're just friends right now, but your patience means everything to me because I don't want to rush us."

Remaining quiet, I leaned my head on his chest and listened to his heartbeat. We watched the sunrise before he stood up and took me with him. "How about we have our date right now?" he spoke up, raising his eyebrows. "Every time we've been out, it's been either dinner or something complicated. Let's do something different."

"With me looking like this?" I joked, actually loving the idea of having such a laid back date. It was very different to the dates I had previously went on, but I would enjoy anything with Sebastian.

"You know you're beautiful, shut up." He laughed, stepping closer to release my hair from the hairband, framing it around my face. "We'll start with breakfast. I've been craving waffle s'mores so I have all the ingredients."

He began playing music after allowing me to take the lead with making breakfast. Of course he helped with actually making the waffles and the decoration of it all whilst I made the smoothies. Standing beside me, I felt his body heat when he placed the marshmallows onto the waffles.

Pouring the melted chocolate atop them, we took our plates to the island and sat across from each other. My stomach grumbled obnoxiously before Sebastian chuckled and took his first bite. Watching him groan, I was quick to fork some into my mouth and soon understood why he craved them. They were amazing.

"What's your family like?"

Smiling at the thought of my dad and sister, I sipped on my smoothie. "Oakleigh is incredibly smart, and she's a dancer. My dad is the sweetest person I know, and his jokes aren't actually bad. He's a firefighter. My mum was the middle child in a family of three, and I have a lot of cousins."

He continued to ask me questions and learned things he didn't know about me. Once we finished breakfast, it was nearing 7, and Sebastian brought up the idea of me accompanying him to Ayanna's, George's daughter, ballet recital.

I recalled George telling my about it one of the first times he drove me to work, and I was slightly excited to meet the little girl he was so proud about. After changing into something warmer, Sebastian offered me one of his jackets.

"It's funny how you look better in my clothes than I do." He grinned lazily and fastened his watch around his wrist after he finished buttoning up his shirt.

I sent a quick text to Ada and at the same time, I smiled at Sebastian, freeing my hair from the French braid I did when I was changing. Collecting one of his car keys from the hook, he held it out to me.

"You can pick what car we go in today."

The excitement overwhelmed me to the point I felt lightheaded. Throwing my arms around his neck, he laughed against me as he wrapped his arms around my waist. He swayed us for a few moments before he leaned back slightly, his deep chestnut eyes staring into mine.

I couldn't take my eyes off him so I held my breath until I saw his eyelids lower with a barely noticeable wince. Resorting to press his lips on my cheek, he rendered me with a sheepish smile as an awkward silence settled between us.

Clearing my throat, I shook the feeling I received from him, studying him when we began walking towards the lift. I had to figure him out completely.

Ayanna truly was as amazing as George described. She stood out in the group of little girls, practically glowing as her father and Sebastian clapped loudly. George's wife, Isabel, sat beside me with her eyes tearing up.

"You have an amazing daughter." I complimented, giving her my best smile as she laughed, placing her hand on mine.

"Thank you, belleza." Her blue eyes met mine and she grinned slowly. "I must say, I think you and Sebastian make a beautiful couple."

My cheeks heated and fumbled over my words. "O-oh we're not a couple," I swallowed the bitter taste in my mouth. "We're just friends."

Isabel raised her eyebrows in disbelief. "Friends?" she echoed with a quiet laugh. "I thought George and I were friends. Fast forward a couple months, I was pregnant and madly in love with him."

I choked on my saliva at the thought of being pregnant, especially with Sebastian's baby. It wasn't hard to shut that idea down as soon as I thought it because I believed we'd never get that far.

Once we made our way down to Ayanna, I watched as George gathered her in his arms, making her laugh when he peppered kisses all over her face. Her excitement heightened when she laid eyes on Sebastian, her green eyes widening.

Sebastian laughed and returned the hug she gave him once she was placed on the floor. She barely reached his waist, so she was hugging his legs with a squeal. "I'm so happy you're here!" she exclaimed, about to glance up at him before she caught sight of me. The smile that spread across her face reminded me of Avery. "Is that your girlfriend?" she asked. "Avery told me she is."

Everyone laughed and I found myself shaking my head at the thought of Avery. She had to be the cutest kid ever, and the fact that she shipped me with Sebastian so much made me love her.

A while later, George and Isabel took Ayanna to get a smoothie, which meant Sebastian and I were left alone. I couldn't handle the silence that reigned over us so I whipped out my phone, beginning to play Candy Crush.

"Pumpkin..." he eased my phone out of my hands, placing his finger under my chin to bring my eyes to his. "I just need a little more time. I'll open up to you one day, but I need to take it slow because I'm not ready yet."

Confusion coursed through me and I was at a loss of words when he rested his forehead against mine. "Right now, all I know is that I need you."

At that moment, I decided one thing. Sebastian was officially an enigma to me.