WildFire - Chapter 4

4.

Oliver was a man of his word. Five minutes at Verdant to wipe out his mask and change clothes, and he was back in the car with Nola.

« Where do you want to eat ? »
« I’m thinking either high-end five stars where I can eat lobster and soufflé or local diner with burger and fries and no hassle. »
« Whatever you want. »

Nola thought about it for a second.

« I think I'm too tired to appreciate lobster and soufflé tonight. I just want to sit down and not move another muscle. »
« Then I have the perfect dinner for you. Take-out at your place ? »
« Sounds amazing ! »

Nola laid back on the headrest and closed her eyes. Oliver figured out she was asleep when she didn’t stir as he stopped to pick up the food he’d ordered at Big Belly’s. He drove back to her place and she opened her eyes as he was parking the car.

« Smells amazing ! »
« Taste is not bad either. Voted best burger in town ! »
« Give me five minutes and I can tell you what's in the special sauce. »
« I don't think I want to know... »

Like every day since she had left the hospital, Nola was happy her condo had an elevator. Thirty-two steps from the front door to her own door. They sat in the dining area, a bar with high chairs between the kitchen and the living room. As advertised, the burgers were amazing and the conversation easy.

An hour later, they settled on the couch with ice-cream.

« You really can tell all that just from scents ? »
« Yes. And more. In high school, I knew who was dating who, who was into drugs. The second floor janitor closet reeked ! »

Oliver had a knowing smile.

« I remember that closet. »
« No kidding ! I could tell when you had your first time with Katie Johnson. »
« Katie... »
« You dated for about a month, and then you cheated on her with Rebecca Wallace. »

He smiled sheepishly.

« Not my finest moment. »
« And then you cheated on Rebecca with Stephanie Sandham. »
« I wasn't the most reliable boyfriend. »
« And still girls waited in line to get in your arms... »
« You included ? »
« I watched from afar. I didn't want a boyfriend who smelled of another girl. »
« Can't blame you for that. Can I ask you what Laurel smells like ? »
« You were always sweet on Laurel... She smells of roses. But her base note has changed. Back then, it was more greenhouse rose. Perfect, prissy, and fragile. Now... it's more like a wild rose. Less perfect, but stronger. »
« Still prissy ? »
« Roses are always a bit prissy. »

They exchanged a laugh.

« I wonder what Tommy smells like ? »
« The sea. Always changing, so many shades of blue. »
« What do you mean ? »
« Most of the time he was like a lagoon, turquoise and crystal clear. But sometimes, he became dark and dangerous, like where the light never shines. That's when he was about to do something stupid. »

Nola’s expression showed worry.

« When I saw him at the party, he smelled like a storm. Grey and wild. I don't know what is happening in his life, but he's not okay. »

Oliver straightened up and put his almost empty carton of ice cream on the table.

« He knows. About... and he can't accept what I've become. »
« I'm sorry. Like a storm, he needs to calm down. He'll be okay in a little while. »
« I hope so. »

He sighed and smiled again at Nola.

« When did you notice you were... different ? »
« When I was a kid. About eight or nine. A friend of mine was having her birthday and she received a kit to make your own perfume. It's for kids, so there's about a dozen different scents, but they explain how to mix them to get something more complex. The girls started playing with it and I just kept thinking they were doing it wrong. And they wouldn't listen to me. But I kept thinking about this kit, and when I turned ten, I asked for it for my birthday. I tried all the combinations, making sure to write everything in a notebook so I wouldn't forget. For our graduation party, I sold custom made scents and that was a hit. Every girl wanted theirs. Even some boys asked me in secret to whip up something. I made a small fortune. Bought another kit, etc. »
« Why don't you have your own company ? »
« If I had, I would be stuck in an office all day, talk finances, sells, productivity. And I wouldn't do the only thing I like, which is smell nice things. »
« Do you wear perfume ? »
« Never when I'm working, usually when I get out. I have my very own unique perfume. »
« Wildflowers ? »
« More sophisticated, like an English garden. There's roses, freesias and lilac, a hint of vanilla and a base of leather. »

They looked at each other and Nola smelled the spice of Oliver’s desire.

« I can't remember you with a guy. Not even for Prom. »
« I didn't like the scent of any of the three guys who asked me out for Prom. »
« Who were they ? »
« The first was Jason Bellamy. »
« Big nerd with big glasses ? »
« Yep. And he smelled like he hadn't showered for a month. I just couldn't bear the thought of feet and sweat for a whole evening. »

Nola shuddered at the memory.

« Who next ? »
« Derek Price. He thought he could try his luck with me that night, since he had struck out with Megan and Stephanie. But his scent was so strong I figured out what his intentions were. »
« Strike two. And the third ? »
« The third... was actually Tommy. »
« He asked you out for Prom ? »
« Yeah. But he smelled like Charybdis. »
« The whirlpool from the Odyssey ? »
« Oh yeah. So dark, and up to no good. He tried to deny it, but he had something set up for me that would have been a complete humiliation. »
« If I had known I would have told him to drop it. I have to tell you, we were all a bit scared of you. You knew things... Nobody could keep a secret around you. You don't imagine the power you could've had. »
« Oh, I knew. I chose not to use that power, because I wasn't interested in power. I just wanted to be left alone. »

There was a moment of silence. Nola was finishing her own ice cream and she smiled at the sight of Oliver's gaze on her. She licked her spoon while looking at him, as a way of flirting. He grabbed her carton and spoon and took her lips. She sighed and let the green surround her.

A little while later, they rolled on the side, still in each other’s arms and kissed tenderly. They fell asleep without moving.

*****