21. Tension

Early the next morning, I woke up to an empty bed and the sound of Greyson- downstairs, attempting to make breakfast. Outside, snow fell in big clusters against the windowpane, and as if someone was gently turning over a rainstick I heard it make a sweet little sparkling sound against the glass. Even under the blankets, my body felt like it was omitting cold instead of heat. So, I stood up and cranked up the thermostat. Then, I sped into the bathroom in the hall and hopped into a warm shower. Even though I knew that the change of temperature was sure to sting my toes a little - It did – I let the warm water thaw away the morning frost.

It was difficult to return to the room and not recall yesterday's incident. I could feel someone watching me as I clothed myself. From the corner, beside the door, I could feel a presence. But perhaps, it was just my imagination, because every time I glanced over to that corner, nothing was there. Still, the unnerving feeling remained.

Greyson said the ghost was gone for good. I had to trust that. Something had happened between Greyson and I, last night. We had become closer, and I didn't want to ruined the progress we had made by discovering he had lied. Trusting his words was important to me. I wanted to give him the benefit of the doubt, because if I couldn't trust him...who could I trust? Even Leah had already put my safety at risk, by allowing her brother to come here.

My nostrils flared. Bacon?

From the smell of it, I could tell Greyson had acquiring quite the skill for cooking, thanks to Leah - If it didn't smell burnt, it was a good sign.

I patted down the stairs and through the kitchen door and my eyes set of him. His hair was mussed with sleep and he looked tired... but content.

"Morning," I said as I entered, my hair still dripping wet against the nap of my neck.

He glanced up from the hot frying pan and his face brightened at the sight of me. "Morning."

A little butterfly fluttered inside my ribcage.

The morning light shone wildly inside the room, hitting his every feature with gold. Greyson was a sight to behold, even in ordinary clothes, blue jeans and a long sleeve black shirt. Though, I suppose he was far from looking ordinary in anything he wore.

Standing in front of him, I felt a little out of place with my long t-shirt, tight leggings and heavy wool cardigan. I was still freezing, even after my shower. Alternatively, he looked perfectly at ease. Even his long sleeves we hiked up to his elbows, giving me a good view of his sturdy forearms.

"Are you hungry?" He asked, lifting the pan from the flame and scooping its contents into a plate.

My mouth watered watching the bacon sizzle lovingly on top of the ceramic. "I could eat." I had to stop myself from drooling. "I could definitely eat."

Cheeks glowing, he lifted the plate in front of me and let me gingerly picked a strip of bacon up to my lips. The damn thing melted in my mouth the moment it touched my tongue. I groaned. It was delicious.

"Good?"

I licked my lips, then my fingers. "It's perfect." I said, savoring all the flavors. "Do I detect a hint of maple?"

His smile broadened. "Was it a good addition?"

"Yes, absolutely."

His eyes wondered to my lips only a fraction of a second before he turned around and placed the plate back on the counter. "Glad to hear it."

I glanced over at the table to my right. It was lavished with vivid colors, golden syrup bottles and two glasses of bright orange juice. "Wow, you were busy this morning."

"Yeah," he scoffed, and cleared his throat. "There's French toast and every type of fruits I could gather. I also have whipped cream and powdered sugar, butter and syrup." He looked at me over his shoulder. "I'm about to make eggs too, if you want some."

Leaning over the counter, I picked up another strip of bacon. "What's the occasion?" I considered him. "Are you celebrating because you made contact with your space family?"

He cracked and egg and ran the spatula through the centre, the yolk burst and the contents quickly hardened above the heat. "I just wanted to do something nice," he said. Focused, he made sure the food was well seared before flipping it. "For you." He side-eyed me, watching for a reaction.

My third piece of bacon halted between my lips as my mouth hung open.

"Ashlyn..." He took a deep breath, as if about to say something of importance. My stomach clenched. His fingers clamped around the handle of his pan, and worry flashed across his face. But his words were drowned out by the sound of the front door opening wide and suddenly, our bubble was burst.

"Guess who brought doughnuts!" Leah sang, before slamming the door shut behind her.

Greyson pressed his lips together and his shoulders sank. I could tell he was more displeased than he was letting on, as he retreated to the kitchen table, bacon and eggs at hand, and ignoring Leah's presence altogether.

Curious, part of me really wanted to coaxed those unspoken words out of my alien's mouth, but there was a more pressing matter to deal with at the moment.

"I can't stay long, I have to go back to work tomorrow," Leah continued from the entryway. "Or else my boss might actually fire me." I heard her throw her boots into a corner. "Anyway, I decided I should at least spend my last day of freedom here, with you guys, before my work week begins."

Heart hammering in my chest, I fled from the kitchen and cornered my best friend in the Livingroom. "Uh, Leah? When were you planning on telling me that the cabin is haunted?"

Her giddiness morphed into something like wonder. She gawked at me, box of doughnuts at hand, and slowly pulled her scarf down her neck. "What do you mean 'haunted'?"

"Haunted as in: there is a ghost living here."

Her eyes darted between mine, as she placed the long-knitted scarf over the back of the couch. "What do you mean? What happened?"

I folded my arms over my chest. "I was almost chocked to death by some malevolent spirit, last night."

A shred of panic crossed her eyes. "What?" She threw the box of doughnuts on the side table, and pulled her pink coat down her arms. "Are you okay?"

"I wouldn't be standing here, if I wasn't," I pointed out.

She mulled it over. "Oh, I bet I know where it came from."

"Fantastic." The slight bite of cold that had snuck in from outside bothered my limbs. "I'm all ears."

She rested her hip on the back of the couch and crossed her arms. "You know how my mother writes horror books. Well, she did a séance a few months back, trying to get inspiration. It's possible she didn't know what she was doing, and ended up inviting something in!" She shook her head as if she took offence to that. "And she always warns me to stay away from spirit boards. Is it still lurking around?"

"No. Greyson took care of it."

Her eyes bulged. "He did?"

"Yes. It's gone." I nodded. "For now," I added, for good measure.

She looked past me. "Is Greyson okay?"

It didn't go unnoticed that Greyson never came to join in on this conversation.

Discreetly, I stole a glance over my shoulder. "I think so," I said, unsure. "He's just eating breakfast."

Her sight snags on the doughnut box with a look of disappointment.

Guilt momentarily weaves through me. "I'm sure he will have room for a sweet treat later. I think he's just in a mood. Last night really freaked him out," I lied.

"I have an idea!" She exclaimed and sauntered towards the stairs. "There's a bundle of sage in my mom's office. That's Greyson's room," she informed me. "You're supposed to burn it when you think there are ghost around, and the smoke is supposed to deters them from bothering you. It's called smudging."

"Yeah, Leah." I gave her a flat look. "I work at a paranormal agency...I know what smudging is."

She lifted her hands up and rolled her eyes. "Okay, sorry. Didn't know you were an expert on herbs." She climbed the stairs, two steps at a time. "I'll be right back."

A heavy sigh. "Okay."

"It's been here for a while," Greyson informed me, leaning against the arch between the kitchen and Livingroom.

"What has?"

"The ghost." He held my gaze. "I hear it, at night, walking around the house. Reciting words over and over again. And sparingly pounding on the walls for attention."

Admiring how stoic he looked with the morning light shining behind him, I had to fight to keep my feelings in check. "Why didn't you say anything to me before now?"

Arms folded over his chest, he cocked his head to the side. "The agency is full of them. I always thought it was normal for humans to live amongst spirits."

"The agency is haunted too?" I snickered. "Figures."

His warm stare took a firm grasp of my heart. "Your food's going to get cold," he said, lovingly.

Swiftly, the mood shifted between us.

My heart hammers in my chest, as he snared me with that simple look. The memory of last night hung in the air, creating a magnetic pull that made me want to close this distance between us, and briskly wrap myself around him. My body craved the warmth of his strong arms, and last night's soft hush of his encouraging words. I missed the tender glim inside his dark eyes when he periodically peered down at me. The memory of him, looking down at my lips, sent a longing trill down my back.

I think he could feel it too; the yearning.

"You shouldn't look at me like that," I whispered.

His gave me a smug grin and looked his fill. "Don't tell me what to do," he ordered, voice deep and low.

I drag a shaky breath in. I found it difficult to break eye contact when he looked so devilishly satisfied.

"Found it!" Leah said, galloping down the stairs, and breaking the tension rising between Greyson and me.

To maintain a semblance of innocence, I averted my eyes, and watched her descend all the way to the entryway.

It was taking every shred of my control not to look back at Greyson. There was no time to dwell on this new development. There was a possibility that our feelings for each other were mutual, but we were not to be allowed to entertain these emotions. I was adamant about wanting to part from my romantic feelings for him. No matter what had changed between us, it wouldn't change the reality of the situation. He was leaving earth, and I was doomed to be left behind. Soon, I would be totally alone. Allowing anything romantic between us, would just result in unwanted pain and disappointment.

Leah watched me with a curious look. "What's eating you?"

I snapped back to reality. "Well, apparently the agency is haunted too?" I said quickly. "Grey just informed me."

She chuckled under her breath. "For a paranormal agency, doesn't seem like y'all are very good at your jobs," Leah teased.

"Yeah." I scrunched my nose. "It's a problem."

"So, anyway." She waved a bundle of herbs above her head. "Should we cleanse this place, and eat some doughnuts?"

"Sure."

By the time I looked back in his direction, Greyson had retreated back to the kitchen, and disappeared without another word.