|| Hannah ||
I remember the days spent in agony. Not an agony from the injuries I had --an assortment of broken ankles and strained muscles and sprained wrists-- more an agony of deprivation. Unable to participate in the sports I so dearly loved, I would feel frustrated and annoyed. I would become angry. Injuries drove me insane.
And the way Carson laid his hand so delicately --as if I might crumble like bread under his touch-- on my waist could almost do the same damage.
Dinner had been a success, giving us all full stomachs. The hotel felt like a sanctuary when we arrived. I had become so stuffed I felt like falling into a food coma. Seeing as it was hardly late, Katie, as the night owl she is, decided she wanted to go swimming and refused to go alone.
Carson and Jack had already immersed themselves entirely in the world of the video game Halo so there was zero hope for getting one of them to go with, or distract, her. This made me the only liable one to go swimming. So I changed into my swimsuit and a cover up, grabbed my phone and a key, and walked down to the indoor pool with Katie.
"What exactly is it that keeps you so lively even though it's time to start calming down? Wouldn't you normally be drinking a hot chocolate or coffee and reading, or writing, and getting ready to sleep by now?" I ask, bored of the silence.
"I suppose I would rather occupy my mind in different ways. Maybe this city is getting to me. It's making me more productive and well-rounded." She slightly stuttered, a very minor habit she seemed to have caught from a younger me.
"Wouldn't you being productive be considered writing?" I shoved her arm playfully.
"Probably," She agreed. "Perhaps it's rather that this city is making me feel more adventurous? No, that can't be it. Eccentric? Certainly not." She droned on for a bit trying to decide on the correct word to describe why she wanted to do more. I knew the truth though. She hated how the busy streets and loud noises and constant sirens made her anxious. And in her mind you could hardly wind down with car horns blaring everywhere. She was merely distracting herself. The rambling was another side affect of this. But, if it brought her peace, I agreed to it.
Once we made it to the pool, I let her enjoy her own distractions. I chose a spot on the side of the pool to sit and dangle my feet in the water while she was already halfway across the pool swimming rapidly. I shook my head at her childish enjoyment. She had swam all the way down and up the pool ten times in a matter of minutes and I had given up on watching her.
I jumped slightly when she popped up from the water at the edge of the pool right near me. She placed her arms over the edge and rested her head on her hands.
"So, how's it going with Carson?" She sprung the question upon me as if she was planning for it to be a surprise. But Katie had almost no element of surprise and I could have swore she knew it. I knew this was coming and I already had an answer.
"It's going great." I admitted, eyeing her suspiciously to see her next move.
"Don't be vague. Has he popped the question yet?" She eagerly hunted for answers.
"Katie!" Shocked by her question, I almost shouted this. I was suddenly glad we were the only people at the pool.
"I meant the girlfriend question, I'm not expecting a proposal yet." She laughed.
"Oh my god. no, he hasn't." I shake my head. "You could have said that earlier."
"I'm sorry, I thought you would understand. You are an all A's honors student. " You could tell she was joking from the sarcastic and dramatic tone of her voice.
