SILVER EYES (GXG)

Chapter 53: Do you trust me?

Have you ever felt like time is endless? Everything slows down and flows leisurely as if life has no hurry to unfold. That's how I sometimes felt when I was with Heather.

She was sitting against the alley wall, her legs crossed and her eyes closed as if meditating. Five minutes earlier, when I had the great idea of kissing her in the middle of the combat exercise, she had shuddered. That kiss had caught her by surprise. But now, after our talk, she seemed different. She was relaxed, in complete serenity, almost blending with the calm of the night.

Beverly was still in the pub, hopefully not getting into any trouble, and secretly I wished she would stay much longer so I could enjoy a little more time with Heather.

I took a moment to observe her. She breathed calmly, with some moonlight reflections swinging in her hair. Her lips were slightly parted. What was she thinking? I'd die to sneak into her mind.

"Are you okay?" I asked, gently touching her leg.

She took a second to open her eyes. "Yeah. Just thinking."

"About?"

She smiled. "Are you sure you wanna know?"

"Yeah."

Heather gazed skywards. "About us," she said. "and how it all fell apart."

I felt a punch in the stomach, but I knew exactly what she meant.

"I've thought about it a lot too." I took a deep breath and let it out slowly as if the fresh night air could cradle that memory.

"It shouldn't have ended like that." She said.

"It shouldn't have ended." I corrected.

Silence.

Heather pulled the sleeves of her jacket down her arms.

"Are you cold?" I asked.

"Just a little. I'm fine." She said.

"We can go inside again."

"No. I want to stay here a little longer." She said.

I was cold too, quite a lot, to be honest. However, I also wanted to stay there a bit longer. I wasn't going to say it, though. I didn't want to seem obsessed or anything. The kiss itself had already been a bit impulsive, and I didn't want her to think I was still the unpredictable Grace I was five years ago. I had changed now. I wanted to give her space and give space to myself too, even though my body and heart screamed to get closer to her.

"Grace," She said. I gazed at her, meeting her eyes which had that little shiny sparkle she always had when she was about to bring up something important.

"Can I trust you?" She said.

"Why do you ask that?"

"Just answer please."

"Of course you can." I said.

She let out a breath, relieved. Then, she leaned towards me, her face just a few inches from mine.

"I have to tell you something." She whispered.

"What?" I said, and the fatigue of the day and night disappeared. Suddenly I felt more awake than ever.

Her features shifted, and she frowned as if what she had to say was troubling her. "Remember the day we went to the Sanctuary where I was raised?" She asked.

I nodded.

"Well, I went inside and you waited outside." She continued.

I nodded again.