Alluring Masquerade

          Hira couldn't go to sleep because Kael was sitting on the chair again with a plastic cup of coffee. She watched him make a disgusted face and put it back down on the little table, which was standing next to her bed. Her cheeks grew red like two balloons blowing up, her little mouth slightly pouted and her eyes wide. Slowly, she turned her head to her left, making sure not to irritate her injured scalp, and glared at the young man who was trying not to laugh. She looked insane. "What?" she snapped.

          He looked down and shook his head.

          "I can't fall asleep when you're watching me like bloody hawk," she snapped again, and tutted. "What's ... what's so funny?"

          Her eyes flickered up and he was still trying not to laugh.

          "Do I have two heads?" she quizzed, staring up at the ceiling.

          "Your hilarious when you're angry," he finally explained, and laughed quietly.

          "Thanks," she said sarcastically.

          "Ah ... shit," he said, after checking his watch. He sighed as he got up, done with his laughing, and slipped his waist length, black jacket. He didn't even need to run his hands through his dark hair since it was still immaculately styled.

          "Where are you going?" she asked in a meek voice, turning to look at him. The annoyance flew out of her immediately. She didn't want him to go. It was the first time in what felt like a long time that she had liked being around him. She wanted to be alone at this moment. Even if he didn't talk it wouldn't matter to her. As long as he was there – someone was there – she would feel good.

          He nodded, not wanting to leave so soon as well. "Mother wants to see me," he revealed, buttoning up the front of his jacket half way from the bottom.

          The colour drained from Hira's face.

          "Don't worry," he chuckled, leaning down over her. He leant his left hand on the bed past her body and smiled when she shrank back a little from his closeness. "She seems to be in a really good mood." His smiled faltered slightly, "which may or may not be a positive thing..." The rest of his smile back on his handsome face again as if it was nothing. "Nonetheless, she sounded oh so cheery."

          "I don't like the sound of that," she whispered.

          "Yeah," he said guiltily, and smiled, "the challenge. Why did you have to go crazy with her? I could have had handled her. But you had to go and take everything upon yourself!"

          "Hey!" she cried defensively. "I can take on anything!"

          He pecked her on the forehead. Standing up, he brushed down his jacket and checked the time again. "Trust me. She will come around once she realises I only love – I mean, want to, erm..." His face reddened and he coughed in his throat.

          Hira sighed unbelievingly. "Boys," she amused. "One time they say they love you and the next they can't."

          He frowned with a small pout, turning quickly to catch the smile on her face. "Whatever," he muttered. "I can say it whenever I want to. I don't feel the need to say it 24/7."

          "And what is that supposed to mean?" she demanded. "Oh, right, I get it. You're Kael Xavier. It's in your nature to express emotional feelings to a girl for more than only a few minutes, right? Bastard." She had added the last word in a low, dangerous tone. Her eyes were narrowed and daring.