Up Close and Personal
Part III, Chapter Two
Wearing a black skirt and a pretty, ice-blue sweater, Ami was being escorted through the house by Aileen and Jaden. Rei, of course, had been there several times, so she was sitting with her parents and Derick Coruni in the conservatory; Kira, who enjoyed gardening, had agreed to look at one of the Corunis' newly-imported plants that was doing poorly.
It was just her luck that the Corunis, wishing to spend extra time with the Andersons, had asked them to come a day earlier than all the other guests. The men that Ami's dad had been conversing with before had just dropped by for a brief business meeting with Derick Coruni, and there was no one besides the servants in the house...and they went home directly after dinner was served.
Ami was dreading any future encounters she would have with Zach–it was too optimistic to hope that they wouldn't have much of an opportunity to talk. If their parents had been younger, they probably would have resorted to locking them in a basement and turning the lights off.
She had only seen the formal dining room and several sitting rooms when Jaden suggested to his mother with an all-too-innocent look in his eyes, "Why don't we show Ami the library?"
Aileen Coruni's eyes lit up instantly. "What a wonderful idea! Rei says you love reading," she said to Ami, who nodded weakly, glancing nervously at Jaden. He grinned at her devilishly as he led the way through the halls with a spring in his step.
Ami was hopelessly lost by the time they reached the massive wooden doors, their handles polished to a bright gold shine. She wondered how she would be able to find her way back to the bedroom that would be hers for the next three days...
"Zach spends so much of his time here," Aileen gushed, "it's his favorite room, apart from the greenhouse and his own room, of course."
She was flabbergasted. Zachary Coruni, reading? She'd believe it when she saw it.
Jaden grinned at her. "Mom, don't you think we'd better be getting back? You know Dad bores everyone to death within ten minutes when he starts getting into politics."
"Jade! Don't be impertinent," Aileen reprimanded absentmindedly, checking her watch. "Would you like to go in, Ami, or come back with us?"
"I...I think I'll stay here, thanks," she said with a shy smile.
Aileen bustled off, but Jaden stayed an extra minute, holding open one of the double doors for her and ushering her in. He winked at Ami. "Have a nice time, Ames."
"Thanks..." she replied, feeling nervous all of a sudden. She walked over the soft burgundy carpet, admiring the rows and rows of bookshelves. She was in seventh heaven here, and she couldn't wait to begin perusing the shelves. The room had a large dome of glass that served as part of the ceiling, like a humongous skylight, and Ami smiled happily at the falling snow. She would be safe in this refuge.
Humming contentedly, she browsed through the labyrinth of shelves. After a few minutes, she drew a book off a shelf–and looked straight into Zach's leaf-green eyes. She gasped, dropped the book, and stepped back while he grinned at her.
"Well, hello there, Ami. Fancy meeting you here," he drawled.
"I–I...I didn't know you'd be here," she stammered, then mentally kicked herself for blurting out such a stupid statement.
Unfortunately, her startled floundering seemed to delight the devil's incarnate standing before her. He crossed around the bookshelf to stand in the same row as her. "Looking for something?" he inquired sweetly, holding out the forgotten book to her.
Her nerveless fingers clutched the book instinctively, and she backed away from him. "Yes–thank you," she whispered.
"Well, you've got your reading, and I have mine," he said, holding up his own book. "There are some armchairs over there by the fire. Why don't you join me?"
Ami was so flustered that she couldn't think of a polite way to refuse, and her eyes lit on the doors–her escape–beseechingly. At last, she followed him meekly over to the chairs and sat down. Its plush cushions enveloped her immediately, and Zach stifled a laugh as he arranged himself across from her.
She looked adorable; her little face, with its delicate features, seemed to be sticking out of the armchair that was swallowing her. He put his legs up on the coffee table casually and proceeded to pretend to be immersed in the tome. Ami also opened her book, but she stayed on the same page for several minutes, reading the same sentence over and over. She couldn't concentrate with Zach sitting directly across from her, and she was too afraid to look up at him. Thus, she was unaware that his gaze kept returning to her.
Zach turned another page, smiling to himself. She really was too adorable for words. He wondered when she would realize that she was trying to read the book, which was written in English, the way one might read a Chinese or Hebrew volume.
But he finally had the chance to scrutinize her, and he decided he would wait a few more minutes before embarrassing her. He'd gotten one good look at her in the foyer, but she had disappeared upstairs almost immediately. He observed, closely, the way her bangs almost formed a heart shape in the middle and how the firelight brought out exotic blue lights in her hair. He wondered how the shy, reserved girl had had the nerve to highlight her hair, because surely, they couldn't be natural. He had never seen hair like hers.
Zach's eyes moved to the rest of her face next. Her eyes were a beautiful, unique light blue, the color of a sun-dappled lake. Her lashes were dark and irresistibly long, and her mouth made him want to just take her in his arms and kiss the living daylights out of her. But Zach sighed quietly and forced himself to move on. It was too bad, he thought, that she wasn't the type to wear short skirts. Her legs (the portion he could see) were just as good–if not better–than they were when he'd complimented them two or three years ago. Zach smiled inwardly. She was beautiful, and more importantly, she would be an interesting challenge.
He met her on different terms now. He was all grown up, more suave, more charming...and he knew how to deal with women–all women. Ami couldn't be that different from the average girl, he mused. Her shyness just made the game even more appealing, and her quick change from ice queen to blushing schoolgirl was astonishing. Zach knew he had to make sure he didn't really fall for her, but the enigmatic air surrounding her intrigued him.
Finally, he cleared his throat. "How's your book?" he asked.
"It's...um....great."
"I didn't know you could read upside-down and starting at the end."
Ami turned as red as a tomato, and she immediately turned the book around and to the front cover. "Yes...it's–it's an acquired skill. Very difficult, actually."
"I see," he replied, smirking widely. "So tell me about yourself," he suggested, stretching and yawning, setting down his book.
She was regaining her composure at last, so she merely arched a skeptical eyebrow. "Maybe you could be a little more specific."
Damn. He'd been hoping to get more amusement out of her deer-caught-in-headlights moment. Well, maybe he'd be able to catch her off guard again. "Oh, I don't know," he replied nonchalantly. "Are you looking forward to the ball coming up?"
Privately, Ami thought she would rather face any number of mathematical and scientific exams–and she would probably enjoy them, too–than go to the ball. Pasting a polite smile on her face, she replied evasively, "The winter social season is always one of the most interesting ones." ‘It's also the most painful one,' she sighed inwardly.
"Maybe you'd be more willing to dance with me this time," he suggested.
Her face reddened again, but she managed to say, "If you'd like to."
"It would be my pleasure." Deciding to let the subject drop for the moment, since she had basically agreed to his proposal, he told her, "Mother's been struck with the most brilliant idea. She wants to have everything wonderfully old-fashioned and romantic. She's thinking of making everyone our age go with a date." Zach grinned at her. His mother hadn't thought of any such thing...yet. He would make sure that he passed the thought along to her. "You know all of the parents will love they idea...they can't wait to match-make their kids as it is."
Ami paled. It was the worst news she had heard all winter break...even worse than when her parents had told her they were coming here, even worse than when she had realized there was an entire day she had to spend with the Corunis before any other families arrived to rescue her from this cleverly-disguised version of hell.
Her mother would murder her if she didn't come up with a date to go to the gala with, especially if it was made a rule, and she knew who Kira Mizuno had in mind. He was sitting right before her, looking incredibly smug and sure of himself. She hated him, and she wondered why he was torturing her so. "Excuse me," she said abruptly, "I have to use the restroom."
"There's one right outside."
She pushed open the door and took several deep breaths, then turned slowly to the right. There were seven other doors in the hall...and she wasn't about to open each and every single of them, was she?
Suddenly, she felt warm hands placed on her shoulders, turning her around. As if that wasn't bad enough, she nearly jumped out of her skin when he spoke right by her ear, his warm breath sending tingling sensations across her skin and down her spine.
"The bathroom is that way," Zach told her, removing one of his hands to point out a specific door.
Ami stammered a thank you and rushed into the room, making sure it was securely locked before she turned to look at herself in the mirror. She turned on the faucet, cupped her hands under the cool flow, and splashed some water on her face, which felt like it was on fire. She was surprised that her skin hadn't burned off with the amount of embarrassment he had caused her within the first four hours of her stay.
Her fingers were icy cold as she pressed them against her cheeks, but their coldness only reminded her of the heat of his hands and breath. They had seemed abnormally warm, and she shrugged her shoulders in discomfort, trying to get rid of the sensation of his touch.
Maybe he had a fever, she decided. Yes, that would explain thing. Her mind reveled in having found a logical explanation for his alarming behavior, and she smiled confidently at her reflection as the color faded from her skin. All she would have to do was attribute any strange statements he said to some sickness or other...and she could disregard any abnormalities in his behavior.
And, she told herself sternly, she was not going to think he was attractive. Not in the least. He wasn't even good-looking... ‘No,' her mind sighed, ‘he's breathtakingly gorgeous, and even you can't help but admit it. And he's not even acting like a jerk...only extremely intimidating...bordering on dangerously charming.' She moaned in despair and hit her head lightly against the door.
"Ami? Are you all right in there?"
Judging by the proximity of his voice, he was standing right outside the door, and she spent a few seconds panicking before she got herself under control again. "I'm fine," she replied, running her hands through her silken hair distractedly. Was her forehead a little red from its collision with the door? ‘Remember, Ami, he's delusional. Other than that, he's completely harmless...right?' She took a deep breath and pulled open the door.
Zach was leaning to one side of the door, smiling at her in a way that made her want to turn and check if there was someone behind her. He'd been a little worried about her after hearing the dull thud, wondering if he'd come on a bit too strongly, but when he saw her determined expression, he knew he shouldn't have been–she was tougher than she looked. But he decided to give her a break..for the time being.
"Look, there's something I want to show you," he said, beckoning to her as he started down the hall.
She wavered uncertainly, unsure of what nasty shock he could have in store for her. "I–isn't it about time for dinner? We don't want to be late."
"Come on," he coaxed, "you'll like it. Trust me. Besides–do you know how to get to the informal dining room from here?"
Color flooded her face once again, and he grinned at her. He mused to himself, ‘Maybe Mizuno-Anderson can be just like all the other girls...you just have to know which buttons to push.' But his traitorous heart added, ‘If she seems the same to you, why can't you take your eyes off her?'
He grabbed her arm, tugging her along gently. Again, his touch seemed unusually warm, and she blushed slightly.
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Ami's cerulean blue eyes were huge as she stared at the aquatic paradise before her. She knew the Corunis were extremely rich–richer than most of the people they associated with, including her family–and she usually thought money could be put towards better things than personal luxuries...but for once, she was absolutely enchanted by what it could create, when paid to the proper people.
The first thing that had caught her eye was the Olympic-sized pool, which was not rectangular but shaped like a crescent moon. Cradled in its curve was a large whirlpool that resembled a many pointed star; its vertices ideal locations for seats. It bubbled and steamed invitingly, but the cool, sapphire-colored water, which was emphasized by the soft blue lights placed at regular intervals, had a stronger pull on her.
There were skylights in the ceiling, but because the sun set early in the winter, the room was darkened. As her eyes adjusted, Ami noticed the tropical plants placed throughout the room. The brilliant, multi-colored flowers caught her eye, and she thought they would have suited Rei wonderfully. She turned to Zach, her eyes alight with dreamy enchantment, an enormous smile on her face.
Zach's breath caught as he stared at her. The incandescent lights brought out the blue lights in her hair again, and she almost seemed to be glowing. The only sound that could be heard was the continuous, soothing sound of water, but he thought the pounding of his heart was loud enough to drown it out.
They were so close to each other, and when she looked up at him, he knew she was the most innocent girl his age that he had ever seen. For once, the suspicion and caution was absent from her gaze, and she seemed completely at ease. He wanted–badly–to touch her, to kiss her, and he couldn't understand why. He was used to initiating relationships with girls he didn't know very well, but Ami had been here for less than a day, and he was inexplicably drawn to her. It was more than a little frightening for him, and he stepped back.
Ami's eyes were wide, and she had no idea what was running through his mind at the moment...but for some reason, she felt a small twinge of disappointment. Trying to reorient herself, she asked, "How did you know–that I liked to swim?"
His grin was back, with its reckless edge, but it was just Ami's imagination that it lit up the room... "Oh, Rei mentioned it once or twice," he said offhandedly. "I hear you're the star swimmer of your school team."
She shook her head quickly, feeling embarrassed but also oddly pleased. "No...I'm really not that good. But I do enjoy swimming."
His emerald eyes were intense as he invited, "You're welcome to use the pool anytime, Ami."
"Are you sure? Would anyone mind?"
He flashed her another heart-stopping grin. "I wouldn't mind showing you how to get here...but yes, I'm positive that no one will mind."
Something had changed between them those few breathless minutes that she had first turned to him, her face and spirit uplifted, but neither of them were willing to explore the change at the moment.
However, an awkwardness had sprung up, and he looked at his watch. He sighed. "We're late for dinner..."
‘And everyone's going to get the wrong impression!' her mind screamed.
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AN: Now, this doesn't really constitute as a cliffhanger, does it? ^.~
Mainpage: Love at Fifth Sight
