Autumn Leaves

Chapter 21

Chapter 21

Trevor picked me up by 6 AM. He still looked tired and I wondered if it has something to do with visiting his father or if he didn't get enough sleep like I did. He helped me carry my bags and put it in his car. We both got inside and he started the engine and drove away.

"You look tired," I said. "Is it just because it's too early or you didn't get some sleep?"

He turned the radio on and put the volume down a little bit. "Either," he smiled in a tiring way.

I laughed. "Me too," I said, putting my legs up on the seat.

"But, you're still beautiful." I heard him murmur. I turned to him and he was looking back at me with the same expression - astonishment. We stared for a while, digesting what just happened. Don't worry, we're on a stop light.

"What did you just say?" I asked, dumb-foundedly.

He blinked, his cheeks slightly pink. He turned to the road as the light turned green. "I said, you're beautiful." He glanced at me, his eyebrows raised and his lips formed into a smirk. "Did I offend you?" He chuckled.

I looked away as well, shaking my head. "N-no. I was just surprised."

He chuckled once and continued driving. I watched him change his expression from a smirk to a frown. Seeing him like this feels like something filled my chest with sadness.

I put my hand over his on the gear shift - which I didn't really intend to do but my body acted before my mind - and I felt his fingers twitch slightly at the sudden act. I wanted to retrieve it back but I thought I liked the feeling so I let it stay that way.

"Are you okay?" Asking this was a déjà vu again, just like the other day when we had a small misunderstanding and I asked him the same question.

His thumb grabbed my pinky and made small strokes, instantly giving me goosebumps, without removing his hand from the gear shift. "Kinda anxious, actually." He said.

I couldn't think of what to say back while I was easily distracted by his gesture. I stared at it for a long time, fascinated. I gripped his hand, "Everything's going to be fine."

He moved his hand so that he was holding mine. I felt the blood rising to my cheeks and my heartbeart going faster. "I know," he said.

We were quiet for the whole 30 minutes of the ride. Our hands were no longer together when he had to use the gear shift and the steering wheel with both hands. As for me, I slept the whole time until we got to the airport.

He woke me up when we were already in the parking lot of the airport. We both got out of the car and took all of our stuff from the trunk.

We took hold of our bags and walked inside the airport. Before the doors open, Trevor stopped in his tracks and turned to me. He was going to say something but he hesitated as if he was debating to himself to say it.

He looked at me with worrying eyes. "Can you, um, hold my hand?" He shyly said, scratching the back of his neck. "I feel less tense when you do." He smiled sheepishly, biting his lower lip.

So this was what he was thinking about.

I couldn't find the right words to say. It felt like someone told me I'm pretty and saying thank you back was overrated. Instead, I nod. I also had the same feeling when I held his hand so I did.

He looked down at his feet and smiled ear to ear. It was contagious. He motioned his head towards the entrance, signaling me that we should continue walking.