Chapter Twelve - These Are My Confessions

The song Confessions played in Samantha's head ever so loudly because she wanted to confess to Klaus and also because it was catchy and shocking how a man can do that to someone he loved. She then stared at the painting and got lost in its detail and the interpretation she got.

The painting was a 50-inch across oil painting of an old woman seated on her front porch on a wooden rocking chair. Her hair was white as snow, her face wrinkled with a smile, and her hands held a portrait of her and her husband on her lap. She was looking in the distance at children playing near an enormous oak tree as it swayed. The old woman's smile was gentle like she had no regrets in about how she lived her life. The landscape was green like the fields of Grindelwald in Switzerland, with a mountain range creating the backdrop scenery and households scattered along the base of the mountain range. Skies were clear and blue.

This made Samantha contemplate on her talk with Nicole under the Northern Lights, the closed-off life she's lived, and her promise to Jake. The choice she's about to make would be out of her comfort zone. However, the regret of not trying to find out and move forward with someone who's removed her guard in only two weeks could actually be worth it.

"About yesterday?" Klaus replied, entranced by the painting on the wall.

"Yeah." she replied, still staring at the painting.

Klaus turned and pointed at a wooden bench on his side. They both sat down and had a panoramic view of the entire museum. The white walls and blue marble floor contrast made each painting pop out with their golden frames. The art museum was not packed and this made Samantha comfortable to have this conversion here.

"Alright then. I'm listening." Klaus said, with his posture facing Samantha. He wore full black on black; a black shirt, black jeans tucked in, and black moccasins. His blue eyes and blonde hair matched his outfit perfectly. Samantha felt intimidated by his gaze, but she mustered her courage and spoke.

"Okay. I didn't expect what happened yesterday and I panicked..." She paused.

"Go on." Klaus replied.

"Look what I'm trying to saying is that I like you and I'm scared of whatever this is because this is the first time I'm getting involved with a guy and I've only talked to you for like 2 weeks and... t-this is out of my comfort zone you know." She said nervously.

Klaus clutched his hands around hands to calm her down. "Samantha breath." He said.

She exhaled and said, "I want to get to know you better, you Bloody Brit. You make me calm and open. Similar to how Nicole makes me want to be more open, but you... you're different and I don't want to regret not knowing you, so can we talk it slow for my sake?"

Klaus bit his lip as if wanting to say thank you, Nicole. "Okay Samantha, we will take one step at a time." He smiled in relief.

"And no funny business. No abrupt kisses or whatever. I could have thrown you on your face if I wasn't..." She flushed.

"Don't be daft. I literally weigh, I assume, over 20 kilograms compared to you." Klaus laughed.

"My dad trained me, Klaus," Samantha replied with a plain expression.

Seeing this, Klaus paused and thought about the possibility of that man and he said, "I see your point and I can promise no funny acts, but I can't promise you for this, though."

"Like wha-" she was interrupted by a kiss.

This time Klaus took his time. He caressed her cheek with his hands and slowly kissed her. This time, Samantha didn't fight but embraced it. She felt a jolt of electricity run through her, but then she pulled him back realising they were in a museum, and they could get kicked out by security.

She smiled and said, "You're a sly one, Bloody Brit."

"I'll take that as a compliment." He replied.

Their chemistry was once again back and there was a shift in the atmosphere for everyone coming in and out of the museum by Klaus' calm composure and Samantha's giddy laughter. They looked like the perfect couple.

An hour later, Mr. Morty had returned and wasn't in a good mood. He had changed into a charcoal grey cashmere suit from his usual summer shirt and shorts. Hair laid back with had a pouch with documents inside by his side, like a corporate executive.

"Is that Mr. Morty? Is he okay?" Samantha asked.

"Yeah, it's him and it seems the meeting didn't go so well," Klaus replied.

He stood up as Mr. Morty approached him, and they talked. As Klaus talked to Mr. Morty, he became less and less tense and his facial expression softened. Mr. Morty sighed and walked over to Samantha.

"Klaus told me I looked pissed off. I am, but don't worry about it. Get the others, time to go to the boat." Said Mr. Morty.

"Um, okay," Samantha said, squirming.

______

The boat was a deck boat and it only had the group from Belmont in it. They carried fishing rods and cooler boxes with ice and sodas. The glee of the teens forced Mr. Morty to fake his enjoyment on the boat the entire time. He felt sea- sick and all he wanted was to drown himself in a bottle of whiskey and go home.

They went about a kilometre inward and they stopped to fish something out. The boat swayed left and right as Paul and Klaus set up the rods. The two of them were the only ones with fishing experience.

"You fish?" Nicole asked Klaus.

"Yes, I do. Every year I would go on a fishing trip to Hastings with my father and brother." Klaus said.

"Oh. I figured it was too cold to fish." Said Nicole.

Klaus cast his rod into the water and said, "Mate, you do know we have summers like this, right?"

"Well, no 'mate'. Anyway, now you're here in the greatest country on Earth, so explore," Nicole said as she tried to get one of the remaining fishing rods and fish.

"Explore? I think I'll do that this summer." Klaus replied and looked at Samantha, who was daydreaming most of the ride, "Hey, Captain Dinghy needs a partner to explore the Seven Dweebs with. Care to join me?"

Samantha couldn't contain her smile and replied, "Yes, Captain Dinghy!"