Sleep Tight, page 11
I turned to Cass. “Looks like we’re going to be roommates.”
We went back to the cabin and packed up all our clothes. We had only just started to settle in and already we were moving on again to somewhere new. Would we ever find a real permanent home, or would this always be our life? Moving from place to place. Never feeling like we had a home.
Rael was more than happy that we would be living together. Soon we would all be learning to find our light. Wendy was willing to teach us in private once we got settled in.
When we got back to the house. Our house, I mean. Cass and Wendy told us we needed to get used to calling it our home. It sounded strange.
But when we got back Wendy took me to my room.
“If you want to paint or decorate your room however you want, go for it.” Wendy said as she helped me put away my clothes.
I surveyed the room and decided I would keep it just as it was. The wallpaper had a baby blue tint to it. The furniture was white vintage. And it came with my own personal bathroom. It was perfect to me.
“No, it’s perfect.”
“Oh, I’m so happy you think so. I thought you would like this room. Seems like I made the right choice.” Wendy smiled as we finished up.
I didn’t have a lot of clothes with me, most of it was still back at home with mom.
Priya and Sky walked into my room.
“We were just leaving but we wanted to make sure you were all settled in.” Sky said.
“How are you liking your room?” Priya asked.
“It’s great actually. I don’t even want to change it.” I looked at Wendy and smiled. She smiled back and winked as she walked out of the room.
“You know we can ask our parents to move in here if you don’t feel comfortable being alone. Just say the word.” Sky said as soon as Wendy was gone.
“We can pack up everything tonight and be moved in by morning.” Priya said, her face serious.
I reached out taking their hands in mine.
“No, I’ll be alright. Besides I’m not alone, I have Jesse and Daniel.” I said trying to reassure them. They couldn’t always take care of me, I needed to learn how to do things on my own without them always being there to hold my hand. And this was a journey I had to go on by myself.
“If you change your mind, tell us right away. I mean it Ava. You know our parents wouldn’t even question you.” Sky said.
I hugged them.
“Thank you. But we’ll be okay.” I realized this was the perfect time to ask them some of my pending questions.
“Sit.” I pointed to my bed.
They walked over and sat down.
“Are we in trouble?” Priya joked.
I crossed my arms over my chest. “I don’t know yet.” I took a seat on a small desk chair on the side of the room and faced my friends. They looked at each other then back at me, they’re eyes darting around trying to read my face. I wanted to smile but I held my face and stayed silent a little longer just to mess with them even more.
“I need you guys to tell me something. And I need the truth.”
“Of course, Ava. You can ask us anything you know that.” Sky said right away. Priya nodded her head in agreement.
I looked at both of their faces before asking. “What is going on between you, Blake, and Ethan?”
My face broke out in a grin.
“You scared us!” Priya grabbed a pillow from the bed and threw it at me. I caught it before it hit my face.
“Good aim,” I laughed. “Seriously though. Sky I can see something between you and Ethan. And Priya every time I see you with Blake, you’re flirting with him.”
Priya scrunched her noise. “I really need to stop being such an obvious flirt.” She smirked at me and I rolled my eyes.
“To late for that.”
“Well, Priya might have something going on with Blake but there’s nothing going on with me and Ethan.” Sky said seriously.
Now Priya rolled her eyes. I threw the pillow in my hands and hit Sky straight in the face. Her eyes widened for a second before she broke out in laughter.
“You can’t lie to us Sky. You might be in denial, but we can see that you like him.”
Sky looked down as her cheeks flushed red. She twirled her hands in her lap.
“Yeah, okay I might sort of, kind of, like him.” she mumbled.
“I knew it!” I yelled.
Sky looked up and laughed. “I’ll admit that when I first met him, he annoyed me,” she said. “But these last couple of weeks I’ve been getting to know him better and I guess he’s not that bad.”
“You should have seen the first day they met Ava. Sparks were flying.” Priya fanned herself.
“They were not Priya.” Sky fought back.
Priya looked at her with an incredulous look. “Oh, come on Sky. You can try to deny it all you want but I know what I saw and so does Blake, he agrees that Ethan also acted in a way that wasn’t himself. Sparks were flying between you two and you guys didn’t know how to handle it.”
“Speaking of Blake,” Sky said trying to push the attention away from her. “You guys have been really chummy.”
“Oh yes. Tell me Priya. Sky has already admitted that she likes Ethan. What about you and Blake?” I moved in closer.
Priya smiled, winking at me. “Unlike Sky I’m not afraid to admit that I do like him. I like him very much.”
My eyebrows raised up. “Wow I’ve never seen you guys ever take any real interest in any guy.”
“This is different for me.” Priya said. “Blake is so easy to talk to and we have so much in common. I’ve never connected with anyone like I connect with Blake.”
She smiled shyly and looked down. I had never seen her act this way talking about a guy. This was serious then.
“Yeah, it feels the same way for me too,” Sky said. “No guy has ever been able to catch my attention the way Ethan has.”
I looked at my friends and sighed. I was happy to see them excited and giddy, I just hoped that the boys felt the same way about them. They deserved to be happy.
“Girls,” my tone was serious. They looked up at me. “I’m so happy for you both.”
They both sighed in relief.
“We weren’t sure how you would react, and we didn’t think it was an appropriate time to tell you yet.” Sky said.
“Hey, you know you both can tell me anything. No more secrets alright. I’ll always support you just as you’ve always supported me.”
We agreed to no more secrets.
“Alright it’s been a long day, get out of here you two. You need rest.” I gently pushed them to the door.
I walked out into the hall first with the girls behind me when my face hit a hard wall. I looked up in confusion and saw Elijah’s bemused face looking down at me. So not a hard wall. Just Elijah’s strong chest. My face flushed with embarrassment as Priya and Sky struggled to hold in their laughs behind me.
“I’m sorry I didn’t see you there.” I mumbled, quickly moving to the side letting Priya and Sky out.
Wait why should I be apologizing? He was the one just standing at my bedroom door. Had he been ease dropping?
“Sorry I was about to knock when you opened the door and bumped into me.” Elijah said.
Priya and Sky both gave me a bemused smile.
“We’ll talk to you later okay Ava.” Priya said slyly.
As they walked away, they kept looking over their shoulders winking at me and giggling to themselves. Thankfully, Elijah was facing me and only I could see them. I gave them a warning look as they turned the corner leaving me and Elijah alone in the hall.
I knew they would tease me about this later. Yes, he was attractive I couldn’t deny that, but I didn’t like him in that way. The best I was hoping for was that we could be good friends.
Besides, after being with someone as beautiful as Clarissa there was no way he would ever be interested in me in that way. So, I had nothing to worry about.
“I just wanted to see if you were settled in.” Elijah said interrupting my thoughts.
I glanced up at him and nodded. “Yeah, I’m all good. That’s nice of you to check but you didn’t have to. I hope this isn’t part of your job too.”
He rubbed his jaw. “Ouch. Still remember that huh.”
I shrugged. “It doesn’t bother me anymore. I mean I get it. I was just a stranger to you, so why wouldn’t you see me like that.”
He awkwardly laughed. “I’m sorry. I hear I can be a little… well insensitive.”
“You didn’t have to apologize but I will accept it,” I stretched my hand out. “Let’s start over okay. We’re trying to be friends, remember?”
Elijah looked down at my hand before taking it in his, holding it firmly. I smiled at him, careful to avoid looking into his eyes, while he kept my hand in his. The warmth of his hand was spreading up my arm, I looked down and started pulling my hand away. He quickly let go and took a step back.
He coughed into his hand, clearing his throat. “I should go. Goodnight, Ava.”
“Have a good night, Elijah.” I quickly walked into my room and shut the door.
I couldn’t even drive myself to work anymore. I argued with Elijah for ten minutes before finally giving in and only because I would have been late to work. When he dropped me off at the Bookstore, he told me that he would be back to pick me up. This was getting ridiculous. I felt like I was losing my freedom.
I looked up at the clock above the door, it was almost closing time and Elijah would be here soon. A loud thud next to me made me jump.
“Oops sorry didn’t mean to scare you.” Tally said as she started pulling books out of the box she just dropped on the counter.
Tally and I were the only two who worked for Nora at the Bookstore, it was a small shop, so she only needed us two to keep things flowing. Tally was a year younger than me and seemed like a nice girl. We had only been working together for a couple of months, so I was still getting to know her. Her curly black hair bobbed in front of her glasses, she pushed it away impatiently with the back of her hand.
“New inventory? I thought we had already gotten our shipment for this month?” I reached into the box and started pulling out books.
“These were just donated.” Nora said as she came up behind us with another box of books. She dropped them with a loud thud next to Tally and wiped her hands on her jeans.
Nora hired me three years ago, she was somewhere in her mid-fifties, I tried asking once but she wouldn’t tell me. Her long brown hair was pulled back into a ponytail, bits of grey running through it. She was athletic for her age and could probably outrun me without breaking a sweat.
She turned and smiled at me. I returned it and went back to taking the books out of the box, Nora was awesome and had always treated me like a daughter. She never had kids of her own, and she was currently going through a bad divorce. For twenty years of marriage her and her husband had both decided that they hadn’t wanted kids but just a year ago he changed his mind and left her for someone younger who could still give him children.
My face scrunched up at the thought. How could you dedicate your entire life to someone and make plans together and then just abandon them? Did he ever even love her? How he could do that to sweet Nora still shocked me.
I looked up at Nora just in time to see her face turn sour as she looked at the front door. “Well look who’s here. Again.”
I didn’t have to look to know who she was talking about. I picked up a pile of books that we’re already priced.
“He’s so handsome don’t you think?” Tally sighed as she looked at the front door, her hand resting under her chin.
Nora glanced at Tally before turning to me and rolling her eyes.
I tried walking past Nora to put the books away on the shelves when she gently grabbed my arm and stopped me. “If you want you can go to the back. You don’t have to deal with him.” she whispered.
“That’s okay Nora. I won’t let him know that he bothers me, he seems to like it more when I show I’m uncomfortable. I can’t give him that satisfaction.”
I walked to the first shelf when I heard him walk through the door, keeping my eyes on the books in front of me, I ignored him as he walked up behind me. His breath was brushing the back of my neck, and it took all of my will power not to run. This was the first time I was seeing him since Jesse’s birthday party.
“Aren’t you going to greet your customer?”
“Are you going to buy something this time?” I kept my eyes on the books in front of me.
Balin moved to stand next to me, he leaned against the shelf casually. “If I buy something, will you finally go out with me?”
“No.”
I skirted around him and moved on to the next aisle, Nora was still at the counter watching closely. Tally was staring me down with dagger eyes.
You can have him! Take him, please.
Balin followed right behind me. He came in at least once a week, never buying a thing, only to bother me. No matter how many times I told him that I was not interested in him and never would be, he didn’t give up. He was only a few inches taller than me, his black curly hair looked like it had been dipped in oil.
His beady black eyes scanned me up and down as he moved to stand in front of me, blocking my way as I tried to move down the aisle.
“There’s a new bar downtown, let me take you.” His mouth curled into a wide grin.
Barf.
“I’m not twenty-one yet.”
“That’s okay I can get you in. It’s actually my dad’s bar. I just didn’t want to brag.” He winked at me.
“Balin why don’t you find someone else to bother,” I looked toward the front counter. “Ask Tally. I can introduce you guys. She seems to like you.”
Balin turned to look at Tally for a moment. She smiled and waved at him. He rolled his eyes and turned back to me.
“I don’t want to take her Ava. I want you. I’m not interested in anyone else.”
“Well, that’s tough because I already told you that I’m not interested, and I never will be.”
His eyes darkened, something I didn’t think was possible. “Don’t do this Ava. You have no idea how great we would be together.”
“Balin, listen. What you’re doing isn’t healthy or right.”
“You don’t know what you’re saying. I know that in the future we will end up together. I can’t give up on you,” Balin’s hands clenched at his side. “You were promised to me.” He looked down and mumbled to himself.
“What? Promised? What are you talking about Balin?”
“Nothing. You heard me wrong.”
I gripped the books in my arms tighter. “No, I heard you say that I was promised to you. Who promised you that?”
Balin looked up at me and the change in his eyes was instant. One second, they were clouded with darkness and then they were back to normal.
He laughed. “No one of course. It’s just… an expression, I think were meant to be and I promised myself that I wouldn’t give up on us.”
“When will you finally get it through your head that I will never be with you.” I whispered harshly.
I hated being mean to people, but I had my limits. And he was way past them.
“Please move on. I’m sure you will find someone who will love you in the future, but that person is not going to be me.” Finished with this conversation I tried moving past Balin, but he grabbed my arm and held on tight.
“I’m not done.” His fingers dug deeper into my arm.
I tried pulling away, but he wouldn’t budge. “We’re done here. Let go.”
“You’re making a big mistake Ava.” He said through clenched teeth.
I spotted Nora walking towards us when I felt another hand on my arm.
“If you don’t let go of her arm right now, I’ll break yours in half.”
Elijah was beside me holding my upper arm and Balin was holding the lower part. Elijah towered over him; his eyes drilling into Balin.
Balin narrowed his eyes at him, not letting go of my arm for a second. They were having a standoff right in the middle of the store with Nora and Tally watching on, all of us holding our breaths waiting to see what would happen.
“Who the hell are you?” Balin looked Elijah up and down with disdain, tightening his grip on my arm.
Elijah quickly glanced at me. “I’m the boyfriend.”
Balin turned to me, his eyes wide with hurt and rage. I felt his grip loosen and I quickly pulled my arm free.
“Boyfriend? Are you really with him?” He searched my face looking for an answer.
I looked up at Elijah. Should I go on with the lie? Maybe Balin would finally leave me alone if he thought I had a boyfriend. Or it could make him more unstable. I had to make a decision.
“Yeah,” I said slowly. “This is my boyfriend, Elijah. Elijah this is Balin.”
Elijah gently pushed me further away from Balin. He slightly nodded at him but didn’t say another word to him. Balin looked between us in confusion. He was still processing what I just told him, and he seemed in denial.
“Sorry we’re closed now Balin, let me escort you out.” Nora popped up behind him and started to gently push him towards the door. His nostrils flared as he turned away from us and let Nora lead him to the door.
Once the door was locked, I let out a big breath. Nora came back and took my arm, carefully inspecting it.
“He didn’t hurt you, did he? That boy,” she tsked. “When I saw he grabbed you I was ready to kick him out. Good thing your boyfriend came just in time.” She smiled up at Elijah.
“Elijah, this is Nora Woods, she owns this bookstore. And Elijah isn’t my boyfriend, Nora.”
Nora looked at me confused. “But you just said he was. Did you guys break up already?” She joked.
“We lied. It was just to get Balin to leave me alone.”
Elijah reached out his hand to Nora. “Nice to meet you, Nora. And Ava is right. I figured I should lie to help her out. Sorry.”
“Oh, don’t apologize that was smart and very kind of you to do that for her.”
