Withering You

Noah

I know, Ava. I know that Laura is not in her apartment. I shouldn't be in front of her door, carrying a tray of assorted sweets in return of the treat she had given us, but here I stand reaching out to ring the bell. I had called Laura beforehand, she told me to leave it with her flatmate.

I know, Ava. I know that her flatmate is Saige. I shouldn't be here. My heart was racing as I heard the lock turn. I'm sorry, Ava, because I know I'm going to be a mess around her. I won't be able to control myself from being attracted to her.

The messy head, the reason for the high beatings of my heart, smiles at me.

"Oh. Noah, right? The boy with the weird looks," she says with a laugh, "such honor to have you here." She moves aside, her long skirt swaying gracefully by the movement.
She was wearing a black vest, paired with a multicolored long, flared skirt. The skirt hung in a beautiful manner. I move my eyes away from her skirt.

"Uh- I brought this. Where should I keep it?" I ask, walking in and moving away from her. Being in close proximity to her turns my blood warm.

"Keep it on the table," Saige says as she walks into her room. I place the tray on the table and straighten up. I stand awkwardly alone in the open space. Should I leave?

"Uh- I'll be going then," I say out loud so she can hear me. I try not to feel the disappointment that's building inside me. I feel low. I shouldn't have come.

"Wait!" Saige comes back hurriedly wearing a black tight instead of the skirt. I miss the skirt already. The tight was revealing too much. You would have looked stellar in that skirt, Ava.

"I'll buy you coffee, what do you say?" She asks and I look at the door, trying to think of an excuse. I can't have coffee with her. I can't do anything with her because it would mean being alone with her. I mean we are alone now too. I clear my throat, feeling hot in my cheeks. We will be having coffee in a crowded place, a restaurant-

"You don't like coffee? I'll get you ice cream then!" Saige says, bringing me back to earth from my thoughts. She sounded so excited. I have never seen you excited to spend time with me, Ava. Now there is a girl- I mean a woman- who is excited to take me out. I feel light, Ava. I fear I would float out the window in happiness.

"Are you feeling uncomfortable about the other day? I was only kidding," Saige says.

"No. No, really. It's fine.  Let's go."

* * *

I'm not going to compare, Ava. I don't know anything of you to compare it with Saige. You left too soon before I could- I don't know. I think even if you were alive, I wouldn't have had the courage to talk to you.

Saige was light to talk to. She was not like the Saige I met on the balcony. This Saige was easy going.

"How old are you, Noah?" Saige asks as she digs into her ice cream. My throat tightened and I couldn't swallow my ice cream.

"Eighteen this year."

She nods before saying, "I'm turning twenty next month."

An unavoidable fact. It was okay when not addressed but now, since it's out loud, I can feel the friction between us building. Two years. She is two years older than me.

"What are you planning on doing?" Saige asks.

I shrug, "College. The usual. What about you?"