Take Me Away novel Chapter 78

"What are you looking for?" Spencer heard Celine's voice coming from behind.

He wiped the dust off his clothes as he turned to her. "Why are you home?" he asked.

"I dropped by to get something, but then I saw your car outside so I came up here to see you." Celine strutted in the room wearing her favorite pair of high-heeled shoes. With a smile on her face, she asked, "So, what are you doing here?"

"I'm just looking for something," Spencer replied casually.

"These are all pretty old stuff. What is it you're looking for?" She looked around the room until something caught her attention. Grinning like a child, she called out to Spencer, "Hey! Look, it's my old sketchpad!"

With a noticeable frown, Spencer turned to where she pointed. He was clearly uneasy with her being in the same room. She walked to the window where the sketchpad sat on top of old books. She picked it up and dusted the cover off. "Look, Spencer! I've wondered where this went! Do you remember this?"

His body stiffened slightly as his thoughts drifted back to one warm afternoon six years ago.

"It's such a bright day, Spencer! I want to paint a portrait!" Celine was wearing her hair up in a ponytail, which made her look very bright and youthful. "Will you be my model?"

"Model?" Spencer gave her an incredulous look.

"Yes! Come on! You look so handsome!" Celine held a palm to his cheek and gently caressed it. "I can't ask just anyone to pose for me. Will you do it for me? Please?"

"I don't want to sit in one spot for hours. My body would stiffen up!" he protested.

"Sitting is actually more comfortable than standing. What are you so afraid of?" Celine said defiantly. But seeing that her pressing wasn't working on him, she turned around and said in a hurt tone, "Come on, don't you like me anymore? It's just a small request."

"I do..."

"I'm sure you're lying!" Celine interrupted him. "Is it because I'm older than you? You don't like me anymore!" She cried.

Spencer frowned as he watched her. "Don't overthink it," he said with sigh as he patted her on the back. "When did I tell you I don't like you? There's nothing to be sad about. I'll be your model!"

"Really? You mean it?" Celine immediately raised her head, her eyes surprisingly dry. She pushed Spencer to the window and said, "Then sit down. Really, why are you still standing?"

"I..." Spencer was about to protest some more but decided against it. Instead, he smiled helplessly. "Nothing."

At that time, Spencer was already quite mature, which made Celine feel like she was just a young girl whenever she was with him. As she stared at his face, Celine gave him a kiss and declared, "You're the best!"

Spencer only kept still and didn't talk anymore. He just watched as she took our her sketchpad and proceeded to draw.

"Move a little to the left," she instructed, checking his pose before turning back to her paper.

"Okay."

"That's it! Perfect!" She nodded with satisfaction. "Hold still! It would look so much better if you smile."

"I don't smile," Spencer replied without expression.

"Even when I'm in front of you?" She winked at him and blew him a kiss.

Spencer burst out laughing.

As she drew, Celine kept talking to Spencer, but he mostly kept quiet.

"Don't you have anything to say to me, Spencer?"

"I thought models were forbidden to talk?"

"Well, yeah, but... How about singing a song instead?"

"I can sing some old songs. Is there anything you'd like to hear?"

"Old songs? No! Forget it! I don't want to listen to old songs!"

Hearing her response, Spencer looked hurt. He said coldly, "Old songs are full of wisdom. They're much better than what most young people listen to."

Celine quickly put down her pencil and ran to him. She sat on his lap and held his face. "Okay, I'm sorry. I'm sorry," she said in between kissing him. "Will you forgive me if I give you the drawing once it's finished? I'm sorry, Spencer. Please don't be mad at me."

Spencer was slightly annoyed. Celine always acted like that. Every time she said something that made him angry, she would act cute to make up for her mistakes. There was nothing he could do about it.

"Go on! Continue your drawing! The sun's about to set and you won't finish your work if you don't get back to it now. All of your efforts would have been for nothing."

"Oh, yes! You're right!" Celine nodded and ran back to her sketchpad.

Spencer's heart calmed down as he watched her work on her drawing. He wished she could be quieter.

"You're moving, Spencer!" Celine called out after a few minutes.

"Oh?"

"Stop moving, okay?"

"Okay."

"Your eyes... They're really difficult to draw!"

"Is it because I can't keep them off you?"

It was the sweetest thing he'd ever said.

That was the last thing he remembered before his thoughts returned to the present. He looked at Celine, who was standing in front of him, and pursed his lips. Many things had changed over the last six years. But right then, it was time he made the choice to move forward.

"Do you still remember this drawing?" Celine was holding up the yellowed paper for him to see. "Look! I got your face, the shape of your mouth, your nose, but I couldn't draw your eyes at the time. I never got to finish your portrait." There was regret in her tone as she spoke. She looked tenderly at Spencer and said, "Will you help me finish it? Like our story... I think it should have a happy ending."

She raised her hand to touch his face.

"Stop it." Spencer turned away to avoid her gaze, leaving her hand frozen in mid-air.

"Spencer..." Celine choked as she called his name.

"I found what I'm looking for. I'm sorry, I'll be leaving now." He turned around to take the big gift box before making his way to the door.

"I won't let you go!" Celine ran past him and blocked his exit with her arms. "I'm not done talking. Don't leave me!"

There was a great frown on Spencer's face when he asked, "What else do you have to say?"

"You don't care about my feelings anymore, do you?" Celine pouted and complained. "You used to always ask if I was okay. You wouldn't say anything bad about me. And now, you won't even listen to me?"

"Things are different now! You're my sister! I can't treat you the same way as before, and you can't ask me to do so either! Do you understand?" He tried to keep his voice as calm as possible.

"No, I don't understand!" There were tears brimming in Celine's eyes. "I was forced to leave you. They dragged me to the airport! I didn't even get the chance to call you or send you a text! Have you forgotten what happened at the airport that time I left? How you came and tried to stop me from leaving? Have you forgotten everything?"

Wayne wanted to send Celine abroad without a fuss so he didn't inform Spencer of his plans. When Spencer got the news at the last moment, he rushed to the airport to stop her from leaving. When Spencer arrived, Celine had just gone through the security check. He shouted as loud as he could when he called her, as if it was a matter of life and death.

But they were not even able to hug each other. Guards stood in front of the security checkpoint and aimed their guns at Celine. She felt threatened that they'd shoot her if she didn't leave.