When dinner was ready and Alaric called from the kitchen, Selene pulled Thea by the hand and led her to the dining room. Of course, Thea couldn't help but comply. In the dining room, she saw Alaric expertly setting the dining table, his sleeves folded up to his elbows allowing Thea to see Alaric's well-shaped arms thanks to his consistent exercise.
Thea immediately turned her face away, pretending to look at the food before her eyes wandered further on Alaric's body. As she looked at the food, Thea was equally mesmerized by the mushroom soup with truffle oil, grilled salmon cut into fillets and lemon tart on the dining table. Selene chuckled at Thea's expression.
"I told you my father is a great cook, you won't regret having dinner here." Selene smiled proudly and pulled out a chair for Thea to sit next to her.
"Hey I helped cook this dinner too," Julius exclaimed, not accepting that Selene was only complimenting their father.
"Yeah yeah yeah you did great too, brat."
Thea smiled at the familiarity of the two siblings. Unlike her, she wasn't near her brother realizing that fact made Thea moody for a moment. Not realizing that Alaric was pouring her a glass of juice.
"It's not good to daydream like that when there's a delicious meal in front of you." Thea gasped as Alaric whispered softly near her, she smiled stiffly accepting the glass of orange juice Alaric poured.
"Thank you," she said, awkwardly taking a sip of orange juice to quench the thirst attacking her throat.
Dinner was a leisurely affair, with Selene answering Alaric's questions about the academy, and Julius' voice filling the dining room.
Thea enjoyed the meal while listening to the family's conversation. In her heart she praised Alaric's cooking, the menu was all delicious as if cooked by a five-star chef.
Selene wasn't lying, her father was a good cook and she had no regrets about accepting this dinner invitation. As a girl who lived far away from her family because of college, receiving a treat was like a blessing for her, especially with Alaric's high-end cooking. She could save money and eat lavishly.
Thea didn't realize the corner of Alaric's eye was secretly glancing at her. He smiled with satisfaction as he watched his little guest enjoy dinner.
In the middle of their dinner, a sudden downpour of rain drenched the entire city of Calvenhart. Thea looked out, staring silently as the heavy raindrops hit the Grayson family's dining room window. She already knew it was going to rain because the thunder continued to sound while she was still discussing the festival with Selene earlier. But she didn't expect it to rain this quickly. She just wanted to finish this dinner as soon as possible and then go home.
And now how was she going to get home?
"You seem to be stuck in my house, Thea." She turned to look at Selene who was grinning widely. "You might as well stay here."
"No." The speed with which she replied to Selene's words drew glances from Alaric and Julius making her smile awkwardly. "Um...I mean it's not that I don't like it here, it's just that I don't want to be a bother." Thea continued quickly for fear of giving the family a bad impression.
"Bother? Not at all." Selene shook her head to reassure Thea, she then turned to Alaric. "Right Papa, it's been a long time since any of my friends have stayed here."
Alaric smiled. "Of course, Papa has never forbidden you to invite your friends to stay at our house. Besides, it's pouring rain outside and it's probably going to last all night, so it's best not to push yourself through the rain, Thea." Alaric's golden brown eyes turned to Thea.
Thea sensed that the way Alaric said her name seemed different, for some reason. But she tried to dismiss the feeling, it seemed like it was just her hallucination of feeling too nervous because dealing with Alaric was Selene's father.
"You can sleep in my room, my bed is spacious." Selene put the dirty dishes from dinner in the sink. "And I'll lend you my pajamas. Don't worry even if you're shorter than me, I'll find the right size."
Thea gave a playful glare to Selene as her friend called her short, seeing Selene's eager enthusiasm in telling her to stay the night Thea felt bad about refusing. After all, what excuse could she give? Alaric was right, this heavy rain would probably last all night.
"Alright then I'm staying overnight, I have no other choice right." 'I'll go straight home tomorrow morning.
Selene gave a satisfied smile at Thea's decision. After cleaning up the kitchen and helping wash the dirty dishes. Selene took Thea's hand and led her to the second floor where her room was.
Selene's room is spacious with soft gray mixed with dusty pink. One wall was filled with polaroid photos of her favorite bands, Selene's abstract paintings and various quotes. The queen-sized bed is on the side of the wall opposite the entrance and close to the window, with dusty pink bed sheets, soft blankets and modern pillowcases. Next to Selene's study desk was a bookshelf filled with college journals, various novels - some adult novels that Thea had loaned out long ago.
As Thea stepped into Selene's room, the soft scent of the aromatherapy candles in Selene's room greeted her. Selene hummed and gestured for Thea to sit anywhere, while she was busy opening the wardrobe looking for pajamas that would fit Thea.
Thea sat on the edge of the bed, observing Selene's room in silence. Her gray eyes were unconsciously glued to the picture frame on Selene's top bookshelf. The frame featured a picture of Selene with Julius and Alaric, the three of them standing in front of the museum that Alaric managed. Smiling broadly, their elegant appearance showed that they were a happy family.
"It looks like it's just right for you." Selene tossed a pair of pajamas towards Thea and it landed right on Thea's lap. "You can change in my bathroom."
Thea nodded, she carried the pajamas and entered Selene's bathroom which was also there. Selene herself was busy tidying up her room, waiting for Thea to finish changing. She organized her books in the closet that had been scattered on the study table. She lit a tea-scented aromatherapy candle to add to the relaxing atmosphere in her room.
A few minutes later Thea came out, her clothes neatly folded and hung in the bathroom. Selene turned around smiling with satisfaction as her blue pajamas seemed to fit Thea's small body even though they were slightly oversized-just a little.
"It's a relief that the clothes fit you well. Those are the only pajamas that are the smallest size still in the closet. Everything else has been put in the storeroom."
Selene then went into the bathroom to change too. A few minutes later Selene came out, seeing Thea already sitting on the edge of the bed and picking up one of her novel collection.
"I'm not lying, am I? I have a huge collection of books." Selene grinned proudly showing off her bookshelf. "This is just in my room, not in Papa's office."
Selene sat in front of the dressing table, brushing her slightly messy black hair.
"You're right, I could probably feel at home in your house."