Learning to Fall

12: An Understanding

I ran up to the dorms building, pleading to God that no one would enter the elevator as I got in. For once, my wish came true and the doors opened and took me to the 10th floor. I pulled my keys out and opened my door, slamming it shut. I leaned against the door, a sharp gasp of breath leaving me before I slid down to the ground, my heart twisted in pain.

"WHY CAN'T I LET THIS GO?!" I shouted, my voice cracking and the warm tears stinging my eyes. I felt myself break down and buried my face in my hands, drawing my knees up to my chest as my shoulders shook up and down while I sobbed.

I heard the creak of floor boards and then heard someone sit down next to me. Whoever it was didn't say anything or do anything; they just sat there as I cried.

I tried to get myself to calm down, taking a few deep breaths to steady my emotions. After several long moments, the tears stopped and I could breath again. I slowly looked up. The room was dark, the only light coming from the streetlamps outside the single window. I knew my face was blotchy and my eyes were red. My head felt like someone was pounding on it with a metal hammer and I felt sick to my stomach.

Then I looked to my side to see who was sitting next to me.

For some reason, I wasn't surprised. It was Aiden. He was looking straight ahead at the blank wall in front of us. I could feel the warmth radiating from his arm, which was so close to mine. When he realized that I was looking at him, he looked down at me. His brown eyes glittered in the darkness of our room, but they were solemn and sad and concerned.

"I--" I began, but he shook his head.

"You don't have to explain it to me if you're uncomfortable," he said.

I wanted to ask him how I possibly could go without explaining to him what happened. He had seen me cry. No one had seen me cry since it happened. I hid my tears and emotions from everyone. But he had seen my weakness. I couldn't not tell him.

But here he was, saying I didn't have to explain to him if I didn't want to.

Wasn't he the least bit curious as to what happened? Why didn't he want to know? Why wasn't he asking me what was wrong? If it was Ben, he would have swept me up into his arms and held me, shushing me and telling me it would be all right. If it was Ben, he would have asked me to tell him what was wrong right away.

But he wasn't Ben. He was Aiden.

And he wasn't asking any questions. He was leaving me to my privacy, my guilt and torment. He was giving me my freedom to keep to myself what was my darkest and more tormenting secret.

"I need some time..." I said in a soft voice, looking down at my pale hands, which looked ghostly in the darkness of the room.

"It's ok," he said, his voice gentle. I looked up. He was no longer looking at me, but instead, he was staring straight ahead at the wall in front of him again.

We sat there quietly, not saying anything, just staring at the blank darkness in front of us. It was oddly soothing and for once since I had gotten to Rosestone, I felt calm.

"I'm sorry about what happened with you and Madison," I said after what seemed like an hour. He shrugged.

"It was bound to happen sooner or later. She's been getting annoying and we've been fighting a lot," he said. I blinked and looked at him, frowning curiously.

It was so strange how we lived together in the same room, but we knew nothing about each other. I had no idea he had been having girlfriend troubles and we slept about 10 feet away from each other. It was crazy to think about. And then, of course, he had no idea about what had happened to me a few months ago and I still had no clue about what had happened with him to make his personality change so suddenly.

But neither of us would ask. Neither of us would say anything. But it was all right, in a way. Because sitting here and not saying anything was good enough for me. Knowing that I wasn't the only one that was suffering made things a little better, but not much.

Because although we weren't talking or saying words, our presence was comfort enough. Gone was the awkward tension between the two of us. Gone was the feeling of annoyance about having a roommate. Instead, we seemed to have reached a sort of silent understanding. That's what we had established.

An understanding.

________________________________________________________________________________

A/N: Sorry it's a short one. I want to do another letter chapter, but I wanted to stick this scene in here first. I guess I could have put it at the end of the last chapter, but this gives it more importance.

Anyway, I think I'll be updating this story a bit more often because I got a few more ideas for new stories. Trinity High is going to end up being a bit longer than I intended (it may be one of my longest stories so far). This one hasn't reached its peak yet, but it's getting there.

Sooo. That's what's going to be happening. I'll try to update when I can, but the semester is winding down and I've got quite a bit of work to do.

Leave me a comment! And please VOTE!! Your votes are the only indication to me that you like my story and want me to continue with it.

XOXO