~6~

Louise didn't know how to approach him, know what to say, or do if she did meet him. 'Why did I say such things to him?' She thought. She liked Cyrus; there was no doubt about it. She knew that he had little to no interest in her at the time. She couldn't sit still and not do anything about it. What do I say? How do I approach him?

"Call him," Diane, her paternal, aunt suggested.

"Oh, Cahir, how arrogant," Louise said, hitting her head lightly on the wall. "Why didn't I just shut my mouth?"

"Are you going to call him or not?"Gregg said in annoyance. He loved teasing his older sister, and he couldn't wait to see how she would handle that guy. "It's okay if you don't do anything too."

"What? No, I like this guy. I've already lost an opportunity once."

"Or, you can wait until he notices you."

"Then, someone else catches his attention."

"Then, what are you doing here looking gloomy and sullen? This Cyrus is not interested in you right now. Do you think relationships happen overnight?" Diane said.

Louise'd be grateful if someone were to give her a full manual on 'How to Chase a Guy.' "What am I supposed to say? "Let's go for ice cream? Come to my place, let's hang out," she sighed in frustration.

"You were brave. You can do this," Diane encouraged.

"Do it your way," Gregg said. "You can be aggressive but, not much. Some guys like assertive women. It's no different than chasing a lady. You like Cyrus, show him. Make him feel safe. It's the same."

"If a girl says she likes you, what would you want and expect from her?" Louise asked.

"I love you, and I like you are empty words for me. You have to show me that you love me."

"Am I thinking what you're thinking? No, way!" Diane gasped.

"Are you serious? Your brain only thinks of sex."

"Less nonsense, guys. Talk!" For someone who was asking for help, she sure was bossy, Greg thought.

"Sincerity and honesty are the best for me," he sighed, "All men aren't like me, sis. I can't speak for all of them."

"I merely need to be sincere and honest?" Louise asked.

"Sure. Sure. Yeah!" Gregg said. Louise stared at him with uncertainty. "Try your best," he added nervously.

"Thanks, baby brother," she smiled.

"J'ai 17 ans," Greg stated. (I am 17). Louise shrugged uncaringly.

"As your loving aunt. I have to tell you this. No guys want to date a woman who wears such an unapproachable expression," Diane said.

"Yeah! You always look mad," Greg g supported. "I know you aren't like that, but other people are going to misunderstand—"

"Get out! Should I be smiling like an idiot all the time?"

"That's not what I say—" Louise pushed them out, "Tu es aussi violente," Gregg yelled. (You are also violent).

"Je m'en fiche vraiment!" Louise yelled back. (I really don't care).

~~~

"You want to bet?" Diane asked.

"It will complicate things. Bets never seem to work out—"

"I love to ridicule my sister, but I don't want to mess up anything for her."

"Little nephew is getting wiser."

"Little nephew? We are almost the same age, aunt," Gregg laughed.

"Almost, almost," she whispered. Greg may have been younger, but he knew his aunt well. He knew when she was sad, happy, and had things on her mind that she didn't want to open up to other people.

"What?" Diane asked when she felt him staring at her.

"Who is it? Cecilia? Their mother?" He asked.

"It's nothing. I can handle it. Cecilia is out of the house most of the time. We don't even talk to each other."

"Here we go," he said, "Pretending to be strong. Then, who is it?"

"I am supposed to take care of you guys, but instead, I keep on relying on you for help. All the time," she sniffed.

"We are your family. It's okay to rely on us. Let us help Mmh."

"Okay, but I will take care of this one."

"Should I tell Dad, Uncle Ben or Louise—"

"Not my niece, not my brother Ben," Diane said. "Please!"

"If it gets out of hand. You tell Louise. I don't care if she burns that house to the ground—"

"Don't—"

"Don't tell me it's Lynn!"

"It's not him."

"Then who is it?"

"I said, I can handle it," Diane yelled.

"If it turns out to be him. I will—"

"Nephew," she hugged him. "Let me handle it."

"Okay!" He exhaled.

"Thanks, honey."

~~~

"Petite aunt," Louise yelled, rushing out of her bedroom. "

"Good grace, Cahir. What's so important— I almost fell down the stairs," Diane breathed out. "Just because you are taller doesn't mean anything. I am still an aunt. Stop calling me petite—"

"Pet—aunt. I am sorry," Louise laughed. "What if I go find him? It's not right to give him a call after two weeks."

"Ah! Are you kidding?" Diane yelled.

"Take it easy, ladies."

"Gregg, she has been in there forever, but that's all she came up with," she said.

"Petite aunt, it's not that easy."

"What did you think? Relationships don't happen overnight. You are unbelievable."

"Come on, dear aunt."

"I remember my dad saying how much he wanted to be a grandfather last time," Gregg said.

"My brother said that?" Diane asked, up to her feet. "Go to the cafe nearby. You love that place. It will help you think."

"You think that's going to work?" Louise asked.

"Go, go!"

~~~

"Cyrus is in that coffee shop, isn't he?" Gregg asked.

"He is!" Diane grinned.

~~~

"What! No way, she isn't going to do that," Louise heard someone said as she entered the store. "She isn't all that interested in me. She confessed, took my phone number but didn't contact me. It's been two weeks. How would I know? Why should I? She's the one who confessed."

"Hi! Can I sit here?" Louise asked.

"Peter. I'll call you back," Cyrus said, ending the call. Louise sipped on her coffee. "Hey! What are you doing here?"

"I come here almost every day." Louise didn't think she was going to meet Cyrus there; she went out wearing her gym clothes and her curly hair in a messy ponytail.

"Oh! So, you didn't come because you knew I was here?"He asked. Half-jokingly.

Louise smiled. "Wished I came for you?"

Don't smile like that! Cyrus stared at his cup.

~~~

"Aren't you going to ask why I didn't call?"

"Not really!"

"Mmm, okay." God! Let him say something.

"I supposed that you were only joking," Cyrus said with an undetected bitter smile.

Did he not see it? Was he that dense? Or he just wanted to pretend and avoid it?

"What?" He asked, feeling Louise's eyes on him.

"I don't joke about things like this," she said, slightly angry. "I am 'very' serious—"

She took a closer look at Cyrus, noticing how his lips were a blurred shade of pink, yet that didn't change how provocative they looked. They look so soft.

"Cahir! What were you going to say—"

"So fucking handsome," she whispered underneath her breath. Louise really could not concentrate on anything except his lips. I wonder how soft they really are.

"Are you okay?" He asked.

"I am fine, " she smiled, "What are you doing?" Louise asked, avoided looking at his face.

"Grading tests."

"You're a teacher?"

"I teach Algebra and Stats at T. Community College."

"Nice. How long?" She asked enthusiastically.

"Three months," he answered. "What about you?" He asked, his voice low and deep, yet pleasant.

"I am an architect. I have a small business."

"Great!"

They laughed awkwardly.

~~~

"Listen—"

"Look—"

"You go first," Cyrus said.

"I like you. I told you before, but I am reminding you. I know you are not as interested as I am in you, that's okay. If I make you uncomfortable, or you're not okay with me pursuing you, please tell me. I will—"

"It's okay. I want to try. I feel comfortable with you, and we get along well. I can't guarantee you anything because I still love my ex-girlfriend. It was an abrupt breakup I am still trying to get over it."

"It's not a problem. I like that you're honest."

"Really! Thanks!"

"I am confident in myself."

Cyrus laughed heartily and bit his lips. "I like your confidence."

"Please, don't bite your lips like this. I can't concentrate."

He laughed at her; Cyrus bit his lips unconsciously. Louise groaned. "Sorry," he mouthed. "It's a habit."

"Bad habit. Don't do that around women." 'Well, lewd woman.' "I am leaving you to your grading. I've disturbed you enough," Louise said.

Strangely, he wanted her to stay longer, but he smiled shyly at her and said nothing.

"No more coffee," she said.

"I'll try," he smiled.

"I'm leaving," Louise said. "Bye-bye."

"Thanks for keeping me company," he stood up, offering to hug her.

"I hug you?" Louis asked but leaned forward a little.

"You don't want to?"

"Anything else you're offering?" She joked.

He laughed softly. "You really don't give off that vibe."

"What vibe?"

"A comfortable, outgoing, warm person," Cyrus said as he pulled out of the hug. "You look mean and arrogant."

"There's so much you can find out," Louise grinned and winked at him.

'Ah!' Cyrus smiled.

"I am leaving," she smiled and went out of the coffee store happily.

Cyrus looked out of the window, watching her as she went down the streets until she was no longer in sight. She's so warm.