Timeless love

by Priscila Serrano

  “I don’t know what you are talking about. I’m not behaving in any way,” she assured her, getting up again.

  Alicia placed herself right in front of her. She wanted to intimidate her enough as for her to open up and tell the truth. Elsa didn’t want to look at her, since doing that would be like opening up with her stepsister. She wasn’t prepared to tell her she couldn’t stop thinking about her uncle since he saw her in her underwear. She was starting to see Stefan under a new light.

  “Elsa, tell me the truth. Do you fancy my uncle?” She repeated the question she had asked her a few days earlier.

  “I already answered that. I don’t know why you are asking me that again, Ali.”

  “Can you answer me, please? I just want you to be honest once and for all.”

  “No, I don’t fancy him,” she replied, looking down at the floor.

  “And why do I feel like you are lying to me?” She said stubbornly. “Look at me, for fuck’s sake.”

  Elsa fixed her eyes on her and snorted. The situation was escaping her control and she didn’t want to argue with her best friend. They were too close as to spoil their relationship on a whim. But, what if it wasn’t? What if what she was feeling was something else?

  Elsa stepped away from her, looking for the most suitable words to make her understand she didn’t feel anything for that man she loved so much. Stefan had always been like an older brother.

  “Ali, believe me,” she turned in her heels. “I don’t feel anything for Stefan. I ran away the moment Chloe talked to me, yes, but it didn’t have anything to do with him. I just needed to be alone for a few minutes. That’s all.”

  Her stepsister never stopped staring at her during all the time she was speaking. Without realizing, she started feeling ridiculous for having thought that about Elsa. For God’s sake, she was a girl and her uncle was an adult. She didn’t think there could be anything between them, and now she was feeling guilty for having asked that question twice.

  “I’m sorry,” she apologized. “I feel quite stupid now for believing that about you. Can you forgive me?”

  “There is nothing to forgive,” Elsa said, feeling emotional.

  They hugged fondly, with all the love they felt for each other, the love they showed each other at all times. No matter how much they argued, no matter how big their differences, they couldn’t deny they loved each other very much. When they let go, Alicia smiled and pulled at her to follow her and go to eat with the family. Everybody was waiting downstairs. At the beginning, Elsa didn’t want to go because she felt ashamed for having ignored Chloe when she was just greeting her. However, they went downstairs and entered the dining room, where they were all sitting.

  “Sweetie, are you okay?” her father asked, standing up to kiss her.

  “Yes, I’m fine,” Elsa said, looking at Chloe and Stefan.

  He was afraid to look at her. If Elsa had noticed the way he looked at her, the others would surely notice that too.

  “Chloe, I’m so sorry for having left without talking to you, but I was feeling a bit under the weather,” she said sheepishly, forcing Stefan to finally look at her.

  Elsa sat down opposite him, as usual, and their eyes focused on each other for a few long seconds. Luckily, her family was fairly animated and nobody was paying attention to them, but… what about Chloe? Was she also unaware of the way her fiancé and Elsa devoured each other with their eyes? It was clear there was something going on between them, or that was what the brunette with honey eyes thought.

  Eventually, it was Elsa who looked away, forcing herself not to look at him during the rest of the meal. As soon as she swallowed the last morsel of food, she excused herself and went back to her bedroom, using the excuse that she had to study for an exam taking place the next day. It wasn’t a lie since she had an exam, but she couldn’t study even if he wanted to. His stare didn’t let her focus on her books, especially after checking he had looked at her again in that way he couldn’t understand, let alone explain.

  By the time she managed to study a bit, it was already three in the morning. Unless a guardian angel came down to help her, she would fail the exam for sure. She stood up, furious at herself for not producing better results, and left the bedroom to head to the kitchen in search of a glass of water. Her throat was beyond dry. She went slowly down the stairs, since everybody was asleep and she didn’t want to wake them up. Arriving at the kitchen, she turned the light on and got quite a start when she realized she wasn’t alone. Another person, who couldn’t stop thinking about what was happening either, and who couldn’t fall asleep for nothing, was eating a cereal bowl.

  “You scared me,” she complained while heading for the fridge. “You can’t sleep?”

  “No. How about you?” Stefan inquired, watching her every movement.

  Elsa was wearing black leggings and a tight tank top. Her outfit showed more flesh than he wanted to see, or maybe he would use anything she wore as an excuse for his thoughts from now on.

  She shook her head while pouring water in a glass.

  “What are you eating at this time of the night?” She approached him and sat next to him.

  “Cereals. Want some?”

  Elsa pouted and squinted with a thoughtful look.

  And Stefan could have sworn that was the most fucking beautiful gesture he had ever seen. He shook his head and looked down, sighing at least three times, scaring Elsa. She touched his shoulder and he tensed immediately. He was going crazy and she didn’t seem to realize that. That was what she was making him believe so they wouldn’t go ahead with what was going on inside their minds. It was so crazy that it didn’t make any sense… Damn crazy feelings that would be the end unless they put a rein on them.

  Chapter 3

  Stefan lifted his head mere inches; just enough to understand that having her so close was a temptation. He had to make clear for her they couldn’t meet alone, because things between them were changing and they had to prevent that from happening. Elsa was too close and, although she was fighting with herself to get away from him, she wasn’t brave enough to do it.

  Their eyes connected in a matter of seconds and silence reigned over the kitchen, unwilling witness of something as magical as a look, as a stupid smile on her face at discovering Stefan’s bewilderment.

  “I’m sorry,” she apologized, removing her hand from his shoulder.

  Elsa stood up to run away. She had to go back to her bedroom before the situation got out of hand. Then, when she was about to take the first step towards the door, Stefan grabbed her arm and pulled to hug her. He was going crazy and, why deny it? Elsa was getting crazy as well. Perhaps the desire that was growing in them was something already hidden under the scorching ashes her grief for her mother’s death had left in her heart? That was the event that made them be closer, where he taught her how it felt to be protected by someone she thought was her stepsister’s uncle. Stefan had become someone really important for her and, up to that moment, she hadn’t realized how much.

  “Stefan, what are you doing?” Elsa said in a hurry.

  “I don’t know.”

  He held her flushed to his chest, his hands on her waist. They started breathing heavily. Their hearts started beating wildly.

  “If you were smart, you’d stay away from me,” he muttered, looking intently at her face.

  “So what if I am not smart? What if I am so stupid that I’m unable to stay away?”

  He hadn’t expected such a reply. He had thought that by hugging her against his body and saying that, she would stop having inappropriate thoughts about them. Inadvertently, he had worsened the situation. Everything was even more messed up now because his head was all confused now.

  “Shit,” Stefan said before kissing her in desperation without a second thought.

  Elsa didn’t expect that, but she didn’t reject him either. To be honest, it was something she had desired from the moment she realized what a single look from him could do to her body. Because
she couldn’t erase those eyes from her mind, devouring her, undressing her completely without even saying a single word. Because it was practically impossible to do it now she had tasted his lips. Because if it were insanity, she’d rather lose her mind than be sane without having felt what she was feeling at that moment.

  Stefan held her tightly, unable to separate her from his body, since her body fit so well with his that he couldn’t even believe it. He drew a path with his hands up her back, afraid to lose control and touch where he shouldn’t. Staring at her semi-naked body, not being able to stop thinking about her, was one thing. Kissing her was a completely different thing; kissing her was losing his head. Touching her was crossing a line and fucking everything up.

  Once they separated, they were both embarrassed and worked up. Elsa’s cheeks were flushed, her lips were swollen, and her chest heaved at full throttle. Stefan didn’t know what was going on, but he didn’t have the willpower to let her go. How could he do it when he had realized how lonely he felt the moment he hugged her?

  Suddenly, they heard steps approaching the kitchen and that made them let go of each other. Before whoever that person was could enter the kitchen, Stefan opened the door to the backyard and went out. It was something he was going to do anyways; his need for fresh air was patent. Elsa was frozen on the spot, trying to process what had just happened, trying to calm down before…

  “Goodness, what are you doing awake at this time of the night?” Corina’s question took her out of her reverie.

  If she knew her brother had been kissing her husband’s daughter a few seconds ago… Elsa got nervous just thinking that and couldn’t utter a word.

  “Are you okay? You seem nervous,” she mentioned, approaching her.

  “Uh, I… No,” she stammered. “I just came to drink some water, but I was already heading back to my room. Good night, Cori.”

  She hurried to the door before Corina could say anything, running upstairs at top speed to hide under her sheets. Her heart was galloping. She touched her lips with her fingers and drew a little smile. She was crazy and… happy? No, she couldn’t feel happiness for kissing Stefan. He was a forbidden fruit and didn’t seem to register what had just happened. Elsa’s lack of maturity was messing up everything around her, but she needed to think sensibly. She had to think with her head and not her heart.

  Stefan went for a walk and surrounded the house to enter through the front door, as if he was really coming back from somewhere else. Although he was wearing his pajamas, he could have gone for a walk, right?

  Upon entering, he saw his sister, who was going upstairs, back to her bedroom. She frowned when she saw him arriving at that time and wearing such an outfit.

  “Where were you?” she said lifting an eyebrow.

  “I went for a walk. I couldn’t sleep,” he answered nervously.

  “Did anything happen with Chloe?” Corina snapped. He shook his head, closing slowly the door. “I understand.”

  “What do you understand? I just went to take some fresh air. What’s so weird about it?”

  “Oh, nothing. Good night. Don’t go to bed too late because you are dealing with your final exams.”

  “I know. Don’t worry. Good night.” He kissed her and went upstairs.

  Corina entered her bedroom and he… He couldn’t go to bed, so he stopped at Elsa’s door. He had the intention to go inside and talk about what had happened. They had to let it go, never kiss again, or even look at each other. He had to explain very clearly there couldn’t be anything between them. But he couldn’t and went back to his bedroom, where his fiancé was waiting for him. Looking for a way to forget, they made love… although he kept seeing Elsa’s face instead of Chloe’s.

  That week was a real chaos. All the exams, the more and more frequent visits of Chloe, his niece’s puzzled looks, and trying to avoid Elsa all day long… it was all too chaotic. He was supposed to be focused on the final exams to become an engineer; instead, he kept thinking about that freaking kiss that had awoken the desire he didn’t know he felt for Elsa.

  And Elsa was second to none. She was also taking her final exams at high school. Their age difference was too big as to overlook something that would destroy both their families. She shouldn’t think of him in the way she did, but it was unavoidable. How to stop thinking about someone you see every single day? To prevent that, they must live in different houses, and even that was complicated. Stefan moved in with them as soon as Corina married her father. Although it was an idea she really liked, since now she had an uncle in law to back her up whenever her father didn’t allow her to go out with Alicia. However, it didn’t seem quite a good idea right now.

  Elsa heard some knocks at her door. She hadn’t peeled her eyes from her math book and, to be honest, she wasn’t planning to; her exam was way too important. Fearing that it would be Stefan, the person at the other side of the door opened it.

  Her father entered and sat on her bed, waiting for her to do the same. It had been too long since they had had a conversation. It had been too long since she had told him how she was feeling. She missed those hours they used to spend talking about anything and everything. She missed the time when she still needed her father. But she was quite a woman now, not a little princess who needed protection. Elsa knew how to take care of herself.

  “Hi, dad.” She pecked his cheek.

  “How are you doing, honey?”

  She shrugged as an answer. “I’m exhausted. The exams will be the end of me.”

  He smiled fondly. “Well, just think that after this exam, you will have all summer to rest. I’ve been thinking you could travel somewhere with Alicia.” Elsa frowned. “I think it would be good for you. Besides, don’t tell me you wouldn’t like to be away from everything for a week.”

  “Why this sudden change? You practically never allow me to leave later than eleven at night, and now you want to send me away on a trip. Who are you and what have you done with my father?”

  Leonard laughed out loud. Everything her daughter was saying was true. He had always been quite overprotective of her, basically because he was terrified of losing her too. Just thinking about it gave him the chills. He understood perfectly well Elsa’s confusion, but it was time to be somehow flexible and give her the trust she needed to start living her life. She was seventeen, and the moment she turned eighteen she would go to university. What experience would she have then? None. That was why he wanted her to explore different things during the holidays.

  “It’s just me, sweetie.” He sighed. “I realized it’s time to give you the opportunity to show how responsible you are. Take it as a litmus test.”

  Speechless, she hugged him with all her might, peppering him with kisses. She adored her father, especially when he treated her like that.

  “Is that a yes?” he asked, laughing.

  “Yes, of course. I will talk to Alicia so we can prepare everything.”

  “Sounds wonderful. Well…” He stood up. “I’ll leave you to it, but don’t study any longer. Whatever will be, will be.”

  He kissed her on the cheek and left the room. Elsa smiled happily. What her father had suggested was a great opportunity to escape from what she desired and knew would make her suffer. Then, the moment she thought that, Stefan entered her mind and her smile disappeared in a jiffy. She wanted to get away from everything, but it would be difficult because, though she knew it was a mistake, she wanted him more than anything else in the world.

  She jumped to her feet and tried to resume studying, but it was impossible. So she ended up leaving her room in search of something to eat. She was starving.

  There was nobody around although it was six in the evening. She supposed that Corina would be working in her office; she never got out until nine o’clock. Alicia would be at the library because she could never concentrate at home. Her father would surely be out. And Stefan… She didn’t know where he was, but he would be most likely with his fiancé, the one she had begun to hate so much, t
hough she was not to blame for what was growing inside her.

  She was in the kitchen for at least half an hour and, since she drank so much water, she had to hurry to the bathroom. She had one in her bedroom, but she was sure she wouldn’t make it that far, so she went upstairs and used the bathroom in the hall. She was in such a hurry that she forgot to lock the door. Fortunately, she wouldn’t be long. When she finished, she was going to get out when the door opened and Stefan entered without noticing there was someone inside. When he realized otherwise, his feet didn’t obey the command to run away.

  Chapter 4

  During a whole week he had avoided every contact, look, smile, and any other thing that made him realize he was getting tangled in a web he didn’t know how to escape from. And she was doing the same. But had it been any good? Nope. Much less now that they were facing each other in such a small bathroom that their breaths mingled.

  “I’m sorry. I didn’t know you were here,” he apologized once he could react.

  “It doesn’t matter. I was already leaving,” she said.

  But none of them moved. She didn’t take any step to leave and he didn’t step away to let her go. They just stared at each other, thinking.

  “Uh, I… Stefan…” she said, trembling with nerves, and then she fell silent, not knowing what to say.

  “Tell me, Elsa,” he encouraged her.

  Elsa went to him, feeling the pull of his eyes. Stefan didn’t realize he was just attracting her even more by looking at her like that. She was too close as to bear it. He swallowed hard, and he had never been so nervous in the life. And she was aware of what stirred him.

  “I have tried to forget about you, about the kiss, about that morning,” she muttered under her breath.

  “And could you?”

  He asked her that, hoping to hear the answer he was forcing onto himself. She shook her head.

  “That’s why I said that I tried. I don’t know what else to do, Stefan. I know this doesn’t make any sense and it is absolutely crazy. It’s hard to assimilate, but… What can I do to take you out of here?” She pointed at her head. “And here?” Now she pointed at her chest.