Lucky Number Seventeen

Chapter Thirteen

This time entering the apartment was different, the desperation clawing it's way out of Colby's chest as he flung the door open hastily, the knob slamming into the wall and leaving a dent. Colby didn't care though as he ran into the bedroom and rummaged through the drawers. The shirt that was there early was now gone, and any evidence he had of Cora was destroyed. 

"Please! I know your here, Cora!" Colby's chest heaved as he called out, his voice ringing through the abandoned building. "Show yourself, I need you." All Colby was met with was silence, the lack of noise deafening. "Light a candle, knock something over. I know I'm not crazy!" His voice rasped and crackled. "Do I need to hurt myself to see you? Do I need to pass out again? I will!" Colby searched the place for something he could hit himself over the head with, finding a glass candleholder. He scrunched his eyelids real tight as he picked up the heavy object and swung it up to his head. Instead of being met with a blow to the brain, a pale hand was wrapped around his wrist. 

"Colby, stop it." She spat angrily, but Colby could care less about how she was feeling. He dropped to his knees, wrapping his arms around her waist as he breathed heavily. She began to giggle, bending down to place a kiss to the top of Colby's head, her anger instantly dissipating at the feeling of Colby's warmth around her. "I missed you too." She grinned as he stood up from the floor, taking her hand and placing a soft kiss to it. "Someone's been reading the manual on how to be a gentleman." She blushed slightly. "You're the first person I've shown myself to in a very long time." 

"Why me?" Colby asked, looking into her eyes. Cora smiled, taking his hand and squeezing it as she led him to the couch. 

"Your eyes, they were just so...gentle, and you were so polite, and you liked my dresses." she giggled playfully. "Not a lot of men are like you." She frowned. "Especially in the modern days, men make lewd comments and disrespect my apartment." Colby's brows furrowed, he felt anger for her, and sadness. She must be so lonely. 

"Do you like living here alone?" He asked as her face returned into a smile. 

"Oh no, I'm far from alone. I have plenty of friends. You met Benedict the other night, he's quite playful." She snickered. "But friends can only bring you so much, without a spouse I feel... incomplete." Cora sighed, raking her hands through her hair. 

"I know what you mean. Having a partner just completes the picture. Are you really even living if you aren't falling in love?" Colby thought out loud. 

"Good think I'm not alive." Cora joked as the two of them laughed. "I'm glad I've found company in you, you're different than the other men that visit here. It's refreshing." Cora looked hopefully at Colby. It took her a lot of time to warm up to people, living or dead. It was weird how quickly she decided to open up to Colby. Colby was thinking about Sam, and how he would have to get back soon. 

"Listen about my friend Sam. Don't hold it against him, he would never have been disrespectful if he knew..." Colby paused. 

"Knew what?" Cora tilted her head. 

"How beautiful you are." Colby glanced into Cora's eyes as she turned away. Colby moved closer to her, not letting her hide her face as he took his hand, touching her skin for the first time this evening and moving her face back towards his. He tucked a strand of Cora's brunette hair behind her ear, her breath on his face. "I want to kiss you." Colby whispered breathlessly. "Can I?" 

Cora's chest was heaving up and down as she nervously glanced up at him. "Yes." She whispered as Colby placed his lips onto hers, Cora's eyes fluttering shut. Colby's hand rested on her waist as he pulled apart, not wanting to make her uncomfortable. He regretted pulling apart the second he did, missing the warm feeling of his mouth on her's. "I'm glad you came tonight, Colby." She whispered, the two still holding onto each other. 

"Me too." He grinned down at her, a wave of sleepiness hitting him instantly. Cora sensed it as she led him to the front door. 

"Get home safely, okay." She scrunched her eyebrows. She looked adorable, all worried about Colby getting home. 

"Wait, will you still be here if I come back?" Colby grabbed onto her wrist. 

"I'll always be here."