Chapter 59
Mireya
Play - Fine Line by Harry Styles
Triggered
I’m still here this Friday night. I don’t have a good reason for staying the weekend, at least not one I’m willing to admit. I just know that Friday came, and I didn’t pack my bag.
When I called home this morning, Edna told me that Milo had been invited to a birthday party.
One of his friends from school asked him to come and he immediately asked me if it was okay.
I had to check with dad first, making sure his work missions meant he wouldn’t be coming home yet before agreeing.
He won’t be going alone, though. Edna will take him and he’ll stay there afterwards.
Now, sitting here in my bed, I almost forget what it feels like to constantly wait for something bad to happen. The training wasn’t even that intense today, but my body feels like it’s carrying weeks of exhaustion instead of just one lonely day.
Blue takes full advantage of it, happily attacking my arms since I came back here, because he knows I’m too tired to fight him anymore.
I hear a loud knocking sound coming from the side of the wall and frown. Does she have someone over? I didn’t even know Hayzel was seeing anyone, well, anyone serious enough for her to bring back here.
Interesting.
There’s unfortunately no way I’m ignoring this. So, I tiptoe to my door after asking Blue to keep it quiet and pull it shut as I walk to hers.
I’m about to know when I hear her whisper, “Oh shit…” and she opens it a few seconds later. She walks out looking completely wrecked and I have to press my lips together to stop myself from laughing.
“Rey…!” She yells, breathless, which widens my grin.
“Rough night already?” I ask curiously.
“No, no..” Hayzel shakes her head and I rise on my tip toes to get a closer look at the guy she has in her room.
“You reek of sex,” I say bluntly as I cover my face with my hand to tease her.
I watch her eyes widen as she releases the door to whack me with her hand. “You weren’t supposed to hear that, I thought you went back home, woman!” She says with laughter creeping in her voice.
It’s the smell that hits me first. I don’t realize it at first but, it does. My breath catches, and my body goes still before my mind can even understand what’s happening.
I frown looking at her, then back at the door. Something about this feels wrong.
No, Reya, that’s impossible.
“Rey, are you okay?”
I watch as her soft eyes travel over me, like she’s trying to figure out what she’s seeing.
“Uhm…Yeah, Hayz. Don’t worry, and have fun,” I tell her, smiling.
She keeps frowning, but eventually nods. “Okay, I love you,” she says sincerely.
“I love you too,” I reply, as I walk backward toward my dorm, forcing myself to keep smiling there until the door is between us.
The second it closes, my body gives up. I turn the lock, then slowly slide down against the door, until I’m sitting on the floor.
I don’t know why I’m shaking, or why my chest feels so tight I can’t breathe correctly. It was just a small, a stupid, familiar smell.
Blue appears a few seconds later and circles me before climbing into my lap. He looks at me like he’s disappointed and doesn't understand why I’m crying in silence when he’s right here. A small broken laugh escapes me. “You’re such a strange little thing.”
His paw presses gently against my cheek, right where a tear falls, and something about that almost breaks me. I lean forward and press a kiss to his head, whispering, “Thank you, Blue.”
He blinks, then, apparently satisfied enough that I’m still alive, he walks away and jumps onto the desk by the window, watching the world outside like nothing happened.
My phone buzzes from my pocket and I wipe under my eyes with the sleeve of my shirt before reaching for it.
One notification.
Library: In 10 minutes at the same place. Bring your sketchbook.
I find myself smiling, as my fingers hover over the screen. I should probably ask why or tell him that I’m tired. Instead I type:
Me: Okay
I put my phone down and stood up. My hands reach for my sketchbook and next thing I know, my jacket is on. I kiss Blue one last time, put my cigarettes in my pocket and leave.
One thing to calm my mind, and one thing to keep it busy.