If you had the ability to hear other people's thoughts, would you want it?
When I was a kid, I thought it was the coolest power ever. Knowing everything.
Now that I think about it, perhaps ignorance isn't really that much of a bane in itself.
As I sat on the floor, my back firm against the bedstand, all I could think of was how stupid I was. How stupid I was to go to Damian's stupid party, to follow him upstairs, to even let him that close to myself....
Flashes from that scene replayed a thousand times over in my head.
I forced my eyes shut, coercing them to leave but in vain when I heard a knock.
"You okay?"
I looked up and found Miles standing at the door, with a cup in one hand. After he had drove me back from the party, I had insisted him to stay for a while, considering my parents and Maeve both were out attending different social gatherings and I didn't really feel like being alone.
I wish I knew then how bad of an idea it was.
I plastered a weak smile on my face as he came and sat beside me. Handing me the cup, he slowly tucked a strand of my hair behind my ear.
I took a sip, the hot liquid burning my throat in the process. "It burns."
"It's chamomile tea." He said. "Mom says it eases stress or something. Thought it might help."
I nodded, taking another sip. "Where did you find it?"
"Top counter."
"Oh...um... that's Maeve's stuff then."
"What?" He asked. "You guys have different stuff labelled for the two of you? No sharing?"
"Well, I hate to break it to you, Miles. But Maeve doesn't really like sharing." I answered.
He snickered. "I can see why. You'd gulp everything down in one go."
I knew he was just kidding. That's how he was, he liked to joke around me and I never took offense to any of it. But after whatever had gone down the past few weeks, I just couldn't muster up a smile to that statement.
"Hey, um..." He coughed, sensing my state. "So, what exactly happened at the party?"
"Nothing." I whispered, my voice faltering. "Why do you ask?"
"Come on, Cairo. It was clearly not nothing. I saw how distraught you were." He argued. "You know you can tell me-"
"Can we not talk about it? Please?"
He gave me a look for a moment before looking away. "Fine. Whatever."
I watched as he bit his lower lip, a habit of his whenever he got frustrated. I tilted my head, sighing.
"I'll tell you someday, I promise." I said. "I just... don't have the energy tonight."
He nodded, slowly turning his head, and looked back at me, his gaze softening. "Let's go to your terrace."
"What?"
"It's five minutes to midnight." He said. "Don't you wanna see the fireworks?"
I had almost forgotten about it being New Year's Eve.
"I don't know...i mean-"
"Come on, Hart." He insisted. "I'm sure it'll make you feel better."
I stared at him for a moment before sighing into agreement. He pulled my arm, almost dragging me up the stairs to the terrace. Once we reached upstairs, he pushed the door close and we slowly made our way towards the ledge.
