Page 2 of Teach Me How To Fly

I immediately stood up on my feet and before I got out of the room, I checked myself in the mirror to make sure I looked decent. My honey-like curls were sitting on my shoulders, creating a beautiful contrast with the blush pink blouse I wore. I tried to convince myself that I looked pretty enough to meet him.

Why did I even care how I looked when he was around?

I turned around, making my way to the kitchen and as soon as I stepped on the first stair, I heard his voice making an echo in the entire house.

As I saw him speaking with Katya, I didn’t even notice how noisy my breathing became. My jaw clenched involuntarily and my eyes narrowed to see them better.

“You should come more often to the Cube,” she told him and I grimaced, scratching my temple and taking one silent step further. I didn’t want them to notice my presence yet.

What was the Cube though? Was it a club or something like that?

“I don’t have time for that,” he answered, clearing his throat.

“That’s an excuse. You know how great the parties are there.”

“I’m not interested in partying anymore.”

His answer came out harsh and the coldness in his voice was something I got used to every time he spoke with Katya. I knew he didn’t like her, but his actions were always reminding me of how much he actually didn’t.

So The Cube is a club indeed, I noted in my mind and I knew I had enough of them talking by the way my back straightened and my feet started moving on their own.

Once I got to the hallway, I raised my gaze to him and he looked at me instantly. His lips stretched into a soft smirk and itfilled my heart with pride knowing that I broke that wall of ice he had put when he came here.

He wasn’t the affectionate type, nor the type who showed his feelings in any way. But somehow, he was behaving differently with me. I couldn’t put this on the fact that we grew up together, because Katya was there too and yet, he didn’t treat her the same as he treated me.

“Good evening, Annalise,” he said and I couldn’t concentrate on anything else but his lips.

They moved with such slowness it made my knees almost melt.

Wake up, Annalise. He’s the same Maksen he used to be. He doesn’t like you nor does he see anything else in you rather than a friend. You’re delusional because he’s the only man you know – and the only man that gave you attention.

“Hi!” I replied and Katya turned to me, smacking her lips and analyzing me from head to toe.

“You look like you’ve seen a ghost, Anna.” She bursted out in a mocking laughter.

The anger grew inside me and I felt my fists clenching. As I was gathering the right words to shut my sister’s mouth, his deep, low voice made me freeze instantly.

“I’m sure you have something better to do right now, Katya.”

I felt my cheeks getting warmer now that he just took my side without hesitating.

Why did I feel like this?

He protected me since we were kids, never let anyone harm me in any way, but it never felt like this before. Everything from his gaze to his voice made my body feel like jelly, and that’s not how you should feel when your best friend takes your side.

Katya swallowed any words she had prepared to say and passed by me, pushing me subtly with her shoulder before she made her way down the hallway.

“Isn’t she over with this bullshit?”

“It’s fine, don’t worry. She’s my sister, so I’m used to her.”

He came closer to me and as he took each step towards me, I felt his warmth hugging me tightly. I was going crazy, and I couldn’t explain it. Every time I was around Maksen, I discovered new ways I behaved.It felt as if he had a button he pushed every time he was around me.

“She could be God himself and I wouldn’t care,” he spoke softly, his breath hitting my face. “If she won’t stop, I’ll make sure that she will.”

I gazed at him so deeply and his dark irises sent shivers down my spine. I wasn’t scared of him, but I was scared of what he might’ve done to anyone who got him mad. And it seemed that Katya was one of those people.

“I can handle her, Maksen. Don’t worry about me,” I quickly answered and his jaw clenched.

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