Burns

10.

A word I hadn't experienced in years. What was it? It was a hug. But I had experienced it a few hours ago. It felt weird and surreal yet so comforting at the same time. Why did she do it? A question I've found myself asking myself over and over in a matter of hours.

I had asked her and she had given me the weirdest reply, "I don't know. I felt like I should." The way her lashes batted at me while she wore the widest smile was engraved into my memory. Her floral scent and feeling of her soft body against mine was added to it.

She was a strange girl. Talkative most times, demanding, yet soft hearted. She acted on impulse sometimes too, today proved it.

Or perhaps I was just thinking to much about her antics. Damn my anxious, insecure and antisocial self.

I glanced over at her sleeping frame, she looked so small, so innocent and so peaceful. My t-shirt became a gown on her body and though it was funny, I grew to love the sight in a matter of minutes. It was high time I told her about my family. She always assumed they were inattentive but it was ironic because they were dead; dead people don't care.

Although I wasn't as forthcoming as she had hoped, especially through texts, she didn't give up. She didn't give up on me. Her interest in me was overwhelming at first but thinking about it now, I was just confused that I had piqued her genuine interest. No one has ever been interested in getting to know me, rather those that knew me scurried away from me. Would she do the same if I opened up? I smacked that thought out of my head the moment it appeared.

My hands skimmed across her face and she didn't flinch like Monse did, instead she smiled subconsciously, groaning sleepily and mumbling incoherent words. Even in her sleep, my touch was soothing to her. My lips twitched upwards, it made me happy to have someone want to be close to me, to not flinch at my touch. She looked cute with her hair sprawled all over her face and bed. My hand reached out to sweep her hairs away from her face but I paused midway. I shouldn't so I didn't.

I was enjoying Camilla Cabello's 'I have questions'. It felt perfect for the way I was feeling. The unsettled turmoil raging inside me was beyond my control and understanding. I had darkness brooding inside me and I had planned to keep it that way till she stormed into my life. In a strange way, she made me want to try to be well, uh, nicer or should I say better?

She had suggested staying in my room and I let her. I never compromise my room yet I trusted her and left her alone in my room. She didn't snoope. I knew she didn't. I let her and her family stay over again. And I didn't know why or maybe I did but I didn't want to admit it; but I knew it was beyond me not wanting to be insensitive and mean. I had enjoyed their company during their previous stay and being lonely gets tiring. They were a cute family and being around them was peaceful to me and very nostalgic.

I made to leave after staring at her like a psychopath and probably a creep. I was going to stay in the living room. I wasn't going to stay in the room as her, let alone share a bed with her. She was a lady and she needed her privacy. It would be inappropriate. Besides, I already told Bill I was sleeping in the living room.

"Stay." An arm latched onto mine and I froze. "You don't have to go. I know you've been staring at me. Please stay."

Embarrassment crawled up my neck and settled on my face. My cheeks were tainted a slight pink and so were my ears. She knew. I made to move but she tugged on my arm, I heard shuffling and stole a look over my shoulders, she was now kneeling on the bed with her tousled hair and heavy eyes. She looked adorable. "Please don't go."

"Why?" I rasped out, finally finding my voice. My question referred to what her brother had confirmed. He didn't have to say it, the mere look he shot at me then back at her when they had their short conversation said it all. Why me? Why did she like me?