In Memoriam ✓

Chapter Sixteen: Broken Clocks

Nina

Being friends with Reid was a glowing, novel situation to me; he was a glimmer of joy that accompanied me wherever I went. We spoke every day on the phone, and I felt Reid's trust in me increasing with each day.

I looked at myself in the mirror, and my lips were redder, my eyes golden and perfect. Every flaw that I remembered was carefully scraped away, by my belief in this boy's ability to fix me.

After two weeks of daily conversations, I decided it was time to visit his parents' home. Previously, Reid's shared apartment with Mallory was off-limits to me. It was hard to shake my old fear; that Reid would remember how much he hated me before the crash.

I was caught off guard when Tony answered the front door instead of his cousin. Tony's expression blew wide open with surprise when he saw me on his parents' porch. "You didn't say you were coming."

I flushed, trying to pick my brain for a suitable answer. "I'm here to check on Reid. Just to see if he's doing okay."

Tony's eyes narrowed. "Well, Reid didn't mention anything about you coming here."

"I didn't realise that I need an invitation to see my friends." I countered defensively. Tony sighed and stepped away from the door. I brushed past him, wondering how his sweetness could give way to the stiff, awkward manner he showed me now.

My eyes roamed the unfamiliar hallway in front of me. Snapshots of the boys lined the cabinets, years spent in happiness. My heart turned in my chest every time that I looked into Reid's eyes.

I heard someone's footfall on the staircase. Reid came into view, obviously having just woken up from his messy hair. He didn't notice me at first, staring at Tony questioningly. He opened his mouth to ask a question, but then his eyes shifted to me.

Reid tried to cover his surprise with a smile. "Hi."

I tried to ignore the mixed feelings rushing in me from hearing his voice. "Hey. Can we talk?"

"Sure." Reid said, looking from me to Tony. His cousin's expression betrayed his suspicion of me. Reid looked concerned for a moment, but then he gestured for me to follow him back up the stairs.

Reid opened the door to his bedroom. I stepped inside cautiously. He sat down on his single bed, and I stared at the space he'd left at the end. Gingerly, I sat on the edge, feeling out of place in this private section of Reid's life.

"I wanted to talk to you, so this was pretty good timing." Reid said, giving me another broad smile. 

I smiled back, fiddling with a loose thread on my jeans. "What do you want to talk about?"

"We're friends, right?" Reid asked directly.

I felt like I was sinking through the air. "Right."

"And friends go out together." Reid probed.

I sighed, hoping he'd get to the point. "And what, Reid?"

"Do you want to get coffee with me tomorrow?" he asked, his eyes searching mine. My heart almost stopped in my chest. "Just as a friend thing, obviously. I'm going on a date with Mallory tomorrow." he clarified.

It felt like he'd pricked me with a needle. And I was beginning to bleed out. But he instantly realised his mistake, from the horror that crept across his expression. "I'm sorry, I shouldn't have said that. I don't know why I did."

I forced a smile, regaining my footing. "It's fine. I'd really like that, Reid."

My bad luck never came in halves. When I left Reid's house, Cleo was getting out of her car. She shut the door, noticing me, and approached with a wary expression.