Trees (an omori fic)

Always Stare Out The Window

It isn't long before we fall asleep in each others arms. 

I wake up with a headache, not quite sure what time it is, but I can see light flooding through the windows of my new, bare, room. I move out of Basil's grasp, careful not to wake him, and stand up in the near darkness. 

I make my way downstairs, to the kitchen, to grab a glass of water, where of course, is Ai. 

"Hey, Sunny, glad to see you've woken up! Do you and your..." She pauses for a bit, trying to decide what to say. "...friend... want some breakfast? I can make pancakes, eggs, waffles, whatever you want!"

She looks so anxious, wanting to make me happy. I don't blame her, my dad wants me to approve of her, and I just don't think I ever will. I'm sure I'd act the same way if I was in her position. However, I'm sure she would agree that the opposite of true is well. 

I shake my head. 

Maybe Basil wants something. Maybe I should ask him. Maybe I shouldn't be such an asshole to my mother. 

No, fuck that. She's not my mom, and I want to allow myself to be an asshole for once, to get mad, to not just be a door mat that everyone can step on as they please. Maybe I'm jaded from my time with Nik, but I think I'd die if I ever had to appease another person.

I move over to the medicine cabinet, taking out a Tylenol and placing it in my hand, before going over to the fridge and getting myself a glass of water, swallowing it, before heading back upstairs to bed, not even looking at Ai. 

Upstairs, Basil is lying on the bed, still asleep, and I stand there for a minute, just taking in how he looks. The ways his blond hair falls over his tanned skin, the way his he lays limp, still in his sweater. The way the flower that was perfectly placed in his hair earlier today now lies crumped on the bed. The way his lip quivers as he breathes out. The way his eyes blink open as he notices me staring at him.

"Oh, Sunny... you're awake." He says softly. "Sorry for last night."

I shake my head. He has nothing to be sorry for. 

"Well... uh... we should get some breakfast, shouldn't we?" He says, obviously still feeling guilty about what happened the night before.

I shrug, and make my way downstairs to the kitchen with him, back to Ai.

Basil smiles at her, as he does, in his polite and adorable way, the way I wish he smiled at me. 

"Nice to see you've woken up as well, Basil! Would you like anything for breakfast?" She asks him.

He nods. "Yeah, Sunny, what do you want?" 

I shrug.

"Hmm, maybe waffles?" He asks.

She nods happily. "Of course!" 

She starts cooking waffles for us, and we wait, and as we stand there in silence, Basil grabs my hand, and gives it a gentle squeeze. I glance at him, and see the way he smiles at me, and it warms my heart. The way his eyes shine as they look at me makes me want to hug him and give him a gentle kiss. But I don't. I simply squeeze his hand back.

(555 words)

(Title from Fentanyl by McCafferty)