The Best Mistakes

26. Kayra

"I don't need anyone. I can stay by myself," I said for the umpteenth time. At least for one night. Ruby, Amy and their boyfriends were visiting Amy's parents for their anniversary. I didn't want to intervene in their family gathering, so I was staying home. But knowing my intense fear of the dark, they didn't want to leave me alone. I'd never stayed alone for a night before.

"If you're not coming with us then at least let us call someone over to stay for the night," Amy said, being the worrywart she was.

"Don't worry and leave or else you'll be late." The drive was two-hour long and they weren't coming back until tomorrow afternoon. Jake and Asher were in the car outside waiting from the past hour for these girls to finish but Ruby and Amy weren't budging. After what felt like a strong debate and hard physical labor, I succeeded in handing my friends to their boyfriends and making them leave.

But now that they were gone and I was all alone, I felt oddly cold. The evening was growing darker and I was getting a little too aware of my surroundings like the rustling of curtains and the corners which weren't as dark ever before.

I switched on the TV to distract myself from how I felt like I was in either a paranormal or crime documentary. Perhaps the decision to stay back was wrong. I should've gone with them or else I would be departing from this world tonight. I was beyond afraid of the dark and ghosts. My ability to confront them was even smaller than an ant and it was visible from the fact that it hadn't even been ten minutes since I was alone and I was already feeling this way.

I crouched on the sofa and wrapped the blanket to prevent the imaginary ghost from taking me. I eyed everywhere except the screen, which played the master chef.

The clock grew louder. Tick. Tick. Tick. Knock. Knock. What?

The sudden knock on the door startled me. It was thirty past seven, who could be at this hour? I didn't even remember calling someone over. Someone was outside or maybe I was just imagining things. I brushed it off but someone knocked again, meaning someone was actually there. A person. Uninvited. At night. They can be armed or… I gulped at the thought of the worst case scenario, a ghost.

The number and impact of knocks increased and so did my heartbeats. I was surely dying tonight. I left the protection of my blanket and took slow steps towards the front door. Goosebumps ran all over my skin while I hesitated to open the door. But relief washed over me when the supposed ghost called from outside.

I quickly opened the door and there he was standing all red. Nolan was shivering because he only had a hoodie on in this extreme weather. It seemed like he hurried here because of his state and disheveled hair. "Geez Kayra! You should open the door faster. I almost froze to death."

The relief from earlier was short lived and soon a scowl appeared on my face. What was he doing here and why was he coming inside and taking off his shoes?

"I don't at all open the door for uninvited people," I said and motioned at his outfit, "especially people who look like thieves."

"Were you going to hit the thief with a remote then?" He laughed. I didn't notice the remote in my hand which I brought instinctively for self-defense. Shit!

I composed myself. "What are you doing here?" I asked, my voice as cold as the weather. The conversation from that day was still fresh in my mind and the words he said cut through me so deep, it still bled.

"I am here for the night." He shrugged and continued walking inside. It seemed like he owned this place or something. I followed him while he plopped on the couch and covered his legs with the blanket. My blanket!

I stood in front of the couch with my arms crossed. "Says who?" My brow arched so high it pained me due to the irritation.

"Me.” He pointed his index finger towards himself and grinned. He will seriously be dead soon. I will kill him. Who did he think he was, walking all over me and intruding in my life?