24

The figure of Maddison sauntered into the area, eyes scanning the number of figures in the room.

Something about the entrance of the lady had managed to snatch the attention of the people around, with their gazes befalling her, peering on while the young lady got pulled in the warm embrace of Mrs Holden.

"Oh, dear. You look as fabulous as ever!" Came the squeal of the older woman, with eyes lighting up at the girl before her.

"Where have you been?" The delight that had filled her eyes at the arrival was one out there for all to behold.

She was like a daughter to her—One she longed to have, and with every grace and elegance Maddison Wagner bore, Mrs Holden found herself upholding the young lady in high manners every single day.

"Kristoffer!" She had soon turned to the figure stood at a far end of the room, hands motioning for him to come over.

Whereas, the young man who looked like he'd rather be anywhere but there barely had a glance up, and just when he did, he caught the wave of the girl he had known years back, smile still bright as ever, with eyes enough to pull anyone.

"Kris!" The call of his name by his mother soon had him going over, eyes watching the two figures away.

"Maddison" His voice was low

"Kristoffer" Her voice followed.

Both gazes lingered in each other's, the eyes of the girl holding onto his, meanwhile, Mrs Holden lingered back watching the profiles before her.

"Congratulations on your graduation"

Kristoffer uttered at once, hands reaching to take hers, but his formality was brushed aside, as she wrapped her arms around him, pulling his form into a hug.

He was left gaping on at her, the moment she pulled back. With eyes watching the joy that crossed her face, he held onto every of the word that poured out her lips.

He had soon managed to pull her away from his mother, leading her to where the bar was.

"I caught no sight of you that day" The voice of Maddison poured out low, eyes glancing up at him every now and then.

"Busy, perhaps?"

"I was in fact busy, Maddison" Followed Kristoffer.

"If I could make it up to you, I would"

"Perhaps you can"

Her utterance had his gaze lingering in hers for a long second, before he managed to ward it off, taking the figures that had began multiplying all around.

His eyes went skimming the space, searching for just one figure, yet no where around was her profile in sight.

He had called for her, asking her specifically to show up, perhaps she had turned down his invitation, and only at the thought of that, did the worries storm in.

There was no cause to him being worried. After all, she was only his worker, yet at every second that ticked by, he found himself hoping her form would walk in through that door, that soft smile on her lips, while her gaze beheld his.

"Kris?" His eyes snapped at once to the form of Maddison propped beside his, a look of concern crossing her gaze.

"Are you alright?" She called, with hands reaching to touch his arms, lingering there for a long minute.

"Of course" He cleared his throat.

Hands reaching for a cup filled with wine, he held it out for her, giving a quick nod.

"Enjoy the evening" He gave a quick smile, and with that, his figure had turned around proceeding away.

***

"Your mom told me I'd find you here"

The utterance snapped the gaze of Kristoffer to the figure proceeding into the room.

He had taken leave from the event downstairs, craving for a long moment to bask in the silence up here, when the figure of Maddison had strolled in, her eyes taking his form.

Slowly, she pulled further, soon coming to meet his figure by the window.

"I got worried right after you walked off"

Her hands reached for his face slowly, form inching forwards to close the gap between their figures.

The young man could feel her pulling even closer, and in an instant she had brought her lips to his, pausing in his hold for a lasting second.

Her hands went wrapping around his neck, lips pushing further in.

"Jane"

That word had jolted the glee off Maddison as her eyes focused intently on the man before her.

"Who's Jane?"

Her eyes searched through his, awaiting an answer. Awaiting anything, just anything that would pacify her burning heart.

"What is it, Kristoffer? I thought we shared something"

"We always have" She smiled.

"From our toddling days" Her hands went caressing his cheeks, eyes beholding his in utter endearment.

"You're beautiful" He cleared his throat, gently taking her hands off his face, while looking up at her.

"Really beautiful" His words were low, eyes holding hers.

"But I don't look at you that way, Maddison"'

"Is this about someone else?" She followed at once.

"There is no one else, Maddison" He called after her, although, at her utterance, his mind had found its way beholding the image of that particular lady.

That same young lady he couldn't get off his mind.

"We're no longer kids, Kristoffer" Maddison pulled a weak smile up her lips, her eyes softening at his.

"If there's anything, then I believe you shouldn't keep it from me"

A low sigh escaped his lips at her utterance, form moving to the window.

"I wish it was that simple to let you in" He followed.

The silence which poured in, had his heart aching, eyes averted away from hers, onlooking the outlying yards.

"We should get going" He had soon spun around,  moving towards her at once.  "They might be looking for us" Holding his hands out, he waited for her to take it, and in a second, they were making their way out the area.

Forms moving side by side, they barely made an utterance to each other. With the eyes of the girl skipping away from his, while they made way back into the living room where the gathering had formed.

The form of Kristoffer had halted mid-steps, eyes beholding the figure that had stepped in. Dark, wavy hair, partly covering her face, yet her profile stood out so well.

She pulled forward slowly, pure eyes skipping here to there. He watched her hands fiddle with each other, the innocence crossing her gaze while she took in the entire space.

He found his eyes lost on her form, gaze longing at that profile, and only then did he take notice of his mother walking up to her with nothing but a prominent scowl held on her face.