his weakness

twenty three

K E N Z I E

Suddenly, I'm awoken in the middle of the night with heavy and muffled breathing coming from right next to me. There's movement erupting from a warm body that I can feel against mine, jittering profusely. I shoot my body up, surprised to see Nolan having what seems like a nightmare.

My mind focuses on the fact that he fell asleep on the same bed as me but I quickly divert my attention to him as he continues shaking, indescribable noises coming from his mouth. Acting quickly, I start gently shaking him, tapping his cheeks lightly as I patiently wait for him to get out of this traumatic dream.

His eyes jolt open, his chest breathing in and out continuously as the darkness around us envelopes our surroundings. A dull light shines through the open balcony door into the room, forecasting a monotonous environment. The breeze of the wind instantly hits my back, goosebumps forming all over my body. My hands are still touching Nolan, casted in the warmth his body is currently radiating.

He holds onto my wrists, staring at me in an unquestionable manner. He's not going to be too happy, is he?

"Hey, it's alright. Just another nightmare." I open my mouth in hopes to calm him down despite the fact I've just seen him in a state he despises.

"Fuck." Nolan mumbles to himself. He observes his surroundings, perhaps also surprised to waking up in the same bed as me. Wasting no time, he rushes out of the room.

I don't follow behind, I know he doesn't like anyone seeing him like that. And if I followed him, I'd seem desperate for him which I'm not. I remember everything from last night but I wasn't expecting him to be asleep next to me on my bed.

I feel the need to quench my thirst and it's the middle of the night. I'm afraid that I'll bump into Nolan on the way and I'm sure I'm the last person he wants to see. But I'm thirsty. Remember what the hell happened last time you were thirsty.

Fuck it. Health comes first.

I exit out of the room, the coldness instantly hitting my body as I try to navigate myself through the dark hollow house. From a certain balcony that's accessible through the top floor, wind pours out from it, immediately letting me know that's where Nolan is.

My heart drops because the thought of ghosts invades my mind. I hastily run down the stairs, grabbing a bottle of water from the fridge and repeat the same thing back up.

I stop before going back into my room, contemplating whether or not I should go to the balcony. I'm feeling extra brave after my experience with Nolan. And I've spent long enough time with him to realise the worst he'll do to me is shout his head off.

We're starting to get somewhat nicer with each other so maybe this encounter will improve our relationship. I'm honestly becoming sick and tired of always arguing with him, and yesterday he showed me a side of his that I had no clue existed.

Rubbing my exhausted eyes, I creep up to the balcony's entrance. I get a peek of Nolan who leans over the railing with his forearms while blowing smoke from his mouth, holding a cigar in his hand.

"Morning." I stupidly blurt, making him turn his head around to glance at me. He brushes my greeting off by continuing to look into the distance of the city that's well displayed through this view of the house.