The Darkness Between Us || [C.L.]

// f o u r

The distant sound of quiet chatter was the first thing Nina noticed when she began to stir. At first, she had dismissed it as the neighbours, but slowly became aware of the bed beneath her back, and the lack of springs poking at her skin as she turned. Her eyes fluttered open, realising that it was now pure daylight outside, and that the other side of the bed was empty. She reached out a hand, gently tracing the faint indent of his weight. It was still warm.

The chatter stopped, a door quietly closing and footsteps growing louder until they entered the room. He was no longer in his outfit from last night, instead wearing a pair of grey shorts and a white t-shirt that hugged his biceps; and Nina clocked on to how good physical shape he was in. She had felt his arm when he had attempted to lift her earlier, but the wine had made her fairly oblivious. His messy hair had grown wilder, standing up at odd angles and sticking out in every direction. Yet, it still suited him. The tiredness was evident on his face, eyes slightly puffy, cheek still stained with creases from the pillow, slow hands trying to rub the sleep away.

"Good morning." Nina mumbled, and for a brief moment Charles looked taken aback by the noise, before his face was washed over with a tired smile directed at Nina.

"Good morning." The sleep was obvious in his voice, deeper and woollier than the previous night. It was music to Nina's ears. "I'm so sorry, I really tried not to wake you, you looked very peaceful." He had kicked his shorts off, revealing some black boxers, and climbed back into the bed.

"It's okay." She shot him a smile. "Who were you talking to?"

"Lando, he asked if we wanted to join him, Alex and Max for breakfast down the street."

Nina nodded as she reached for her phone on the nightstand by the bed. 10.03am. Two new messages.

Rosie: Nonni I'm so sorry marco just filled me in abt last night !!!

Rosie: BUT YOU NEED TO TELL ME EVERYTHING WHO IS THIS BOY?? ARE YOU AT HOME? IS HE THERE? DID U KISSSSSS???

A small sigh escaped Nina's lips, turning off her phone and letting it fall on the bed. She could feel the alcohol in her head now, behind her eyes and in her throat. Everywhere felt dry. It wasn't the worst pain, but it was enough that she just wanted to sleep.

"What'd you say??" She asked, closing her eyes.

His voice was becoming a whisper now. "I said no." His arm snaked around her, pulling her in closer until her head was resting on his chest. She could feel his heartbeat. It was calming. It was dark.

The next time she awoke, Charles was still there, his heartbeat still echoing in her ears. He was on his phone, Instagram, it seemed, aimlessly scrolling. Nina watched for a while, still half asleep, not really giving what she was doing much thought. There was a photo of a girl in a bikini on a boat, a couple of memes, and another photo of....was that him? It looked kind of professional. Very red. Nina brushed it off, wondering if the sleep in her eyes had distorted the view. Plus, he was scrolling fast, so it could just have easily been another person with a nice face and messy brown hair.

"You are awake?" Charles asked, turning off the screen and putting the phone down on the bed.

"How did you know?"

"I will not tell." He teased, his fingers aimlessly tracing her spine, up and down. "You are very cute when you sleep."

Nina twisted, turning so her body was positioned toward the ceiling, her face turned to look at his. His green eyes looked less tired now, though his hair still had a life of its own. "So are you." She had never had this playful flirting the morning after. She would usually sneak out before the other person had awoken, and made sure never to talk to them again, yet alone flirt with them. Could this even be considered a morning after? They hadn't even kissed, yet alone anything else.