ᴍʏ ʙᴜꜱ ʙᴜᴅᴅʏ. [ᴍɪᴄʜᴀᴇʟ ᴊᴀᴄᴋꜱᴏɴ ꜰꜰ]

Ch. 9-Realizing Her Feelings.

The young man and woman arrived in California. They decided to stay at a hotel for the first night. It felt a little strange, sleeping in the same room as Darryl, by herself. They were friends, though, and she trusted him. "What should we do for food?" His soft voice broke her out of her thoughts. She shrugged. "We could get pizza?" He suggested. "We had pizza last time!" She laughed.

"Chinese, then?" She nodded. "Sure. I haven't had Chinese takeout in a while." Darryl walked to the phone. "What would you want?" The lady pulled a plain shirt out of her suitcase. "Um, whatever you're getting. I'm sure you have good taste." She pulled out pajama pants. She wanted to eat, shower, and relax. The thought of laying in bed, staying up all night talking to Darryl, made her blush.

"It'll take a while for the food to get here, so you can shower now if you want to." Darryl spoke. She grabbed her clothes. "Alright, I will. Be right back." She entered the bathroom, closing the door. Her back laid against it as she calmed her nerves. Why did she feel nervous around him all of a sudden? Ophelia was usually comfortable around him. It was only when she wanted to ask him something that she normally became uneasy. She sighed and showered. The shower helped put her at peace again, and she exited the lavatory, dressed in her pajamas.

She dried her hair. "Hi," she greeted the young man. "Hi." He stood, preparing to shower, as well. "The food still isn't here yet?"

"No. It should be soon." Phelia nodded at him, and he went to take a shower. What could she do or say to make things less awkward? She felt herself overthinking, and the more she did, the more paranoid she became. Part of her thought she shouldn't have asked him to come.

The bed sank next to her. "Are you ok?" He wore a silk red, button-up, matching pajama set. "You can talk to me," he reassured her. "I...," she started. "I feel nervous being alone with you like this." He tilted his head to the side, confused by this. "How so? We've been alone together any other time." Her fingers traced the duvet under them. "Yes, but we're gonna be sleeping in the same room, and it's just us."

"I'm sorry. I don't want you to feel uncomfortable around me. Is there any way I can help? I can get a separate room." Ophelia shook her head. "You don't have to do that. I think you talking to me helps. It's just the silence that's making me feel awkward and all." He didn't say anything, but the act of communication and clarifying her feelings made the silence more mellow. And in his eyes shone understanding.

A knock echoed throughout the room. Darryl stood and grabbed the money set out on the table. They agreed to pay together. He brought the food over, and the two sat on the side of the bed, eating. They spoke from time to time, but for the most part, they smiled at each other. Just like when they first met.

They stayed up for hours on end, talking and laughing together. They acted like children around each other, jumping on the beds and having pillow fights. Playing hide and seek in a small, cramped hotel room. She wished she knew him when they were children.

They laid in their separate beds in the dark. Neither of them could see, but they could feel the other facing in their direction, peering into the darkness at one another. She didn't know exactly how he felt, but she knew that she loved him. Was Ophelia in love with him? The woman wasn't sure, but she hoped so. And she hoped he loved her back.