Vitals

Chapter 8

The trip didn't last long before Klaus pulled over on top of a bridge. He got out of the car and stared straight down at the river below for several minutes. Ora hesitated before also getting out of the car to observe the view.
"This is where she jumped."
His tone said everything he felt: curiosity and a bit of remorse.
"How come you and your sister weren't close?"
Klaus slowly intertwined his fingers with Ora's and continued, "we were as children but she got into bad habits and we just eventually drifted apart."
It was hard for Ora to grasp the situation. It was if her conscience had finally caught up to speed on the situation and made her realise where she was standing. Why she was there and who she was there with. But she wasn't phased. It was so right and she didn't want to have to worry about the consequences of her actions.

Klaus pulled down into the steep driveway and forward into the garage.
Inside the lake house were very large windows leading out to a veranda with a view. Down below the veranda was a trail leading to a dock on the shore of the lake.
Klaus dropped his car keys on the kitchen island and started up a long staircase. At the top, the entire second floor was the master bedroom/bathroom. Ora followed with her duffle bag.
"I remember this house. I didn't know your family still owned this lake house."
Without turning around Klaus replied. "You can stay up here tonight. I will sleep on the couch downstairs."

Ora slid open the door to the veranda to find Klaus leaning on the railing intertwined with white Christmas lights. It was an odd and unfashionable accessory but it made the view that much more beautiful. There was a stereo next to his feet playing slow, relaxing music. Ora joined Klaus very close next to his side.
"Why did we come here?"
"I needed to get away from the world for a while. My sister is dead, and my family was only going to get that much more stressed and on my case about everything. I guess I chose bad timing but I panicked. And I brought you because... I feel it too. I know things have changed between us and I feel like it's only getting better."
Klaus smiled and again took Ora's hand. But this time he swayed her in a circle and pulled her body close to his. They rocked back and forth as one solid; their steps in synchronization with the strong guitar of the music.
Ora could almost see them dancing from a third person view. Her heart began to beat harder but not faster. She could feel Klaus' heart beat in his chest begin to catch up to hers. She felt infinite and beautiful. It was a fast moment that ended to short.

Klaus lay on the loud leather couch wide awake. He only had not thing on his mind and coincidentally Ora was in the same situation. She felt bad for taking the master bedroom and the big bed when Klaus was alone on the uncomfortable leather couch on the first floor. She couldn't stand the idea. Ora pulled the comforter off her body and slipped her sweatpants on. On her way down the stairs she stopped as Klaus turned the corner to go up the stairs. They both had the same idea. Klaus walked up until he met Ora's eyes. He put his skinny arm behind her knees and his other arm behind her shoulders, and with one quick motion he swept her off her feet and carried her back up the stairs. Klaus lightly laid Ora back to where she was sleeping and he climbed into the bed on the other side of her.
Ora fell asleep that night cuddled up on Klaus' chest. That could have possibly been the best sleep of her life.