The Boy with the Blind Eyes

TWENTY

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The sun drifted through the hazy clouds lethargically on the way back to campus, dodging behind grey puffs before emerging slowly again. A couple of times on the way back Brett had glanced at Tamsin, clearly worried about her. Curious about her meeting. She hadn't told him anything, just that she needed a ride back to school urgently. He'd forfeited his plans of hanging out with the guys this afternoon for her. She was touched, but she didn't owe him an explanation.

She fiddled absentmindedly with a frayed end of her seatbelt. She couldn't help but envy this little string. All it had to do was stay attached to the seatbelt. That was its only duty. It got carried around in this car, never having to do anything on its own. Tamsin sighed gently as Brett glanced over again, his features creased with concern and confusion.

Just when she thought he was finally going to say something, his blue eyes shifted back to the road, his knuckles turning white gripping the steering wheel. His shoulders rolled back once and he cleared his throat, glancing in his mirror.

'What happened this morning?' He asked suddenly. The words seemed to bump right into one another, tripping over, with his hastiness and unsureness to speak. She looked up, in no mood to answer. Their eyes met.

'None of your business,' she snapped. Tamsin's eyes widened momentarily after she'd said it. She hadn't meant it. Really hadn't. And now he was going to think she was deliberately being a bitch, to him, someone who had given up his plans for the day to drive Tamsin back to school. Would he think she was taking advantage of his unending kindness? Was she doing that? She didn't think so. Wasn't doing it intentionally, anyway.

Brett sighed tenderly. 'Fine. If you say it's none of my business, I can accept that.'

Silence.

Tamsin closed her eyes. Guilt overwhelmed her—with another surge of bitter anger. Was it even possible the two could coexist in the same moment? 'Look, I'm sorry, alright?'

'Tamsin, I don't want an apology,' Brett said, somewhat impatiently, as he turned them down the side street which would eventually lead them into Hamilton's underground carpark. 'I just get frustrated when you don't see how much I care about you. I want to know what's going on because I genuinely worry. Not to indulge in some fantasy of mine where you tell me the dirty secrets of your life.' He clicked a button on his remote and the panel of steel blocking the parking entry began to slide upwards, protesting with a chorus of groans as it did.

Tamsin blinked, surprised. She really meant that much to him? They hardly knew one another for such deep exchanges. What was she supposed to do with that statement? While she chewed on his words, he attacked her with another spiel.

'I mean, I don't want to pressure you into telling me anything you don't want to, but sometimes it's a good thing to be vulnerable. I just don't want you to feel alone, that's all. I don't know what's happening in your life right now but I can tell it isn't good and you're struggling with it. I'm offering to help you. As a friend,' he added hastily. 'Because I don't expect anything more from you.'

Tamsin blinked at him. She was at a loss for words.

Brett grimaced, parking the car. He turned to her, gently tucking a strand of her hair behind her ear. She knew she was being selfish, but in that moment, all she wanted to do was kiss those pink lips. He saw her looking and shook his head, frowning a little. She instantly blushed.

'That's not what you need right now,' he whispered.

Sighing agitatedly, she threw herself back into the chair, like a petulant child might. 'I just...' She buried her head into her hands. 'I just want fun.' She nodded once, a sharp, jerky motion. A decision. 'Yeah. I want to have some fun. I'm sick of the dark and dreary.' Biting her lip nervously, she asked, 'Can you show me a good time?'