Withering You

Noah

I stand in front of Laura's flat not sure how to approach the door. It's only a freaking door. Go tap it. I gulp. This wasn't supposed to be hard. I close my eyes, an image of you pops up. I open my eyes quickly in guilt. I shouldn't be here. No. I really shouldn't be here. Just tap the goddamn door. I feel stuck to the floor. I don't feel the strength I had in the morning.

"What are you doing here?"

I turn around to see Laura. She was carrying bags of stationary. I reach forward to help her.

"I was just dropping by to see you," I say with a smile.

"From when did you turn so nice?" Laura asks. She straightens up as I have taken the bags from her. "Man, my back hurts."

"You are turning old, Lau," Saige says. I don't have to look. I just know, by her voice, that it is Saige. You can imagine, Ava, how my body was reacting right now. It set loose a million unbearably beautiful feelings. I don't turn around to look at her because I fear I would lose my sanity and just stare at her.

"Are you guys just returning from college?" I ask, feeling like I'm disturbing them. Laura nods as she opens the door.

"Come in. Whatever you see inside is to be forgotten when you step outside. It's a mess," Laura says, taking the bags from me.

"It's nice to have you, Noah," Saige says as she walks past me. I smile. I nod. I don't find any words to say. Calm. Calm. Calm. Calm down, Noah. Both of them slump down on the sofa.

"Sit down," Laura says, kicking off her shoes. Saige does the same. They both look like dried noodles. Maybe college does that to them. I take a seat, careful not to come in contact with their things that's laying around the place.

"So what brings you here?"

"He has come to see his rude sister," Saige says, giving me a wink. I feel like someone lightly punched my stomach.

"Ah! I was living here the past two years and no crow came to see me and now-"

"I have my graduation next week, Laura," I say, cutting her off with a smile, "you guys wanna come?"

Laura pulls a face, "When?"

"Next Tuesday," I say, trying not to sound too hopeful.

Laura gives a smile, "We have our assignment to submit on that day."

Saige gives a nod. My stomach drops.

"Graduations are boring. They give a welcome speech for a welcome speech," Saige says with a laugh not noticing my disappointed look.

"Yeah, man. If I were you I wouldn't have gone at all." Laura says, which earns a kick from Saige.

"Stop spoiling it for him. Maybe we can have a party after. What do you say?" Saige asks, looking at both of us expectantly. She is giving a try. She doesn't want to turn me down completely. I give her a nod.

"I'm in," I say. Am I looking desperate here? I don't know, Ava. I don't know how to act or what to say. Maybe I shouldn't have agreed right away. I am looking hopelessly desperate.

"Sure but where?" Laura asks.

"A coffee shop?" I suggest, for which both Laura and Saige groan and shake their heads.

"Stop being boring, Noah," Laura says.

"How about we hit the carnival? It's ending on Wednesday. We might as well check out the local ice creams they serve," Saige says, excited. This woman has a thing for ice creams. I'm not complaining.