20 Days In His Bedroom

Chapter Eight

I can't believe how ridiculous he is. Fifteen? Seriously? So he sees me like a child. Why am I so stupid to care what he thinks? I don't even know why I expected anything from him... He never even told me his name. I only found out because Alex said it.

I leave them and head to my room. I need sleep. Just sleep. Everything else can wait.

⸻

"We're home!" a man's voice calls from downstairs, waking me up.

I sit up, disoriented, then quickly step into the hallway.

"Let's go! The ship docked. We're in New York!" Alex beams.

"Oh—okay!" I run back into the room to grab my dirty clothes.

I glance around, double-checking that I haven't left anything behind. Not that I have anything to leave. But then I see Nial's jacket—the one he gave me when I was cold. I grab it.

Alex and I hurry down the stairs. She helps me off the ship and into the chaos of New York.

New York. I remember coming here as a kid, but it's all a blur now.

"What are you going to do?" Alex asks as we step off the dock.

"Huh?"

"I mean, what's your plan?"

"Honestly? I don't know. I'm just going to try and find my mom and dad."

She nods. "Fair enough."

"Isn't there another ship coming?" I ask, glancing at the sea.

"I don't think so. At least, I haven't seen any. But it's not impossible."

"So... where are the other passengers? You said no one died, right?" I ask nervously.

"Yeah, don't worry." She rubs my back gently.

Passengers trickle off the ship, some confident, others lost like me. But... New York's okay. I can start here.

"Where's Nial?" Alex asks, scanning the crowd.

"Nial? I haven't seen him." I look around. I still have his jacket to return... and honestly, I need someone. Just someone.

"There," Alex says, pointing. Nial is helping an older woman off the ship, holding her hand as she steps onto the dock.

"He's gentle," she murmurs.

I smile. He is. Kind of. Gentle and a bit of a jerk—but he did save me. So yeah... gentle.

"I need to give him his jacket. And maybe say goodbye," I say.

"Why? We'll probably run into each other again," Alex says with a knowing smile.

I hope so. I really do.

"Thank God we all made it," Alex says as Nial joins us.

"Yeah," he replies with a quiet nod.

"Here's your jacket. Thanks again," I say, holding it out.

"No, keep it. Might get cold," he shrugs.

"No, thank you. It's yours." I insist.

"I said take it." He throws it over my shoulders before I can argue again.

"Thanks..." I say, giving in. I actually kind of need it.

"Stop thanking me," he says flatly.

He's nice and rude at the same time. I don't think I've ever met anyone like him.

"Where are you going?" he asks, looking at me.

"To a hotel," Alex answers quickly, as if saving me.

"Which one? I want a room too," he says, pretending like he's asking Alex—probably not to embarrass me.

"Maybe Hilton?"

"Sounds good," he says.

"So we're staying at the same place then?" Alex smirks.

"Looks like it." He smiles faintly.

Then he turns to me. "What about you, Twi?"

The way he says my nickname catches me off guard. My heart skips.

"Uhm... I'm going to try to find my parents," I stammer. I still have no idea how.

"Alone?" His eyebrows lift slightly.

"Looks like I don't have anyone to go with me," I mutter, rolling my eyes.

"I'll go with you," he says.

Alex's mouth drops open.

Relief floods through me. At least I won't be completely alone.

"Great, Nial. I'll see you both tonight then," Alex says, smiling at us.

She turns to me and hugs me tightly. "If you don't find your parents, you can always stay in my room, okay? I still hope you find them though."

"Thank you," I whisper, hugging her back.

Once she's gone, Nial looks at me. "Where?"

"Huh?"

"Where do we look for them?"

"Oh... I actually don't know." I stare at the ground, embarrassed. He's going to be mad, I can feel it.

"Okay," he says simply. "Let's ask around, see if there are more ships coming."

I nod, surprised. He's not mad? He's actually helping?

I follow him as he talks to a couple of the crew members. After a moment, he returns to me.

"They said three ships are scheduled to arrive," he says, his expression unreadable.

"Really?" A wave of hope washes over me. Mom and Dad could be on one of them.

"But not today."

"Oh." I bite my lip, feeling that hope shrink.

"Don't worry. You'll find them," he says softly.

"But... I don't have a place now. Where am I even supposed to go?" I ask, throwing my arms in the air.

"Get a hotel room," he shrugs.

"A hotel room? As if I have any money! I thought I'd find them today!" I snap.

"Shhh. Could you just shut up for a second? You're so freaking annoying." He sighs. "Let's just go find the hotel."

My mouth falls open. Did he just say I'm annoying?

"Fine. Go without me," I say stubbornly, arms crossed.

"Go where?" he asks, then laughs. I hate that laugh—okay, maybe I don't—but still.

"I'll stay here. In the port."

"Seriously?" He laughs again. It's frustrating how good his laugh sounds when he's mocking me.

"Yeah. I can't afford a hotel room. It's obvious."

"Come with me or I'll leave you here," he says.

"I said I'm not coming."

"You must be stupid. Alex literally offered to let you stay with her, and you didn't accept."

"I don't want to bother her. Besides, I want to watch the ships. Maybe one will arrive early tomorrow morning. I should be here."

"That's if you make it to tomorrow. It's dangerous out here, little girl."

Little girl. Really?

"Don't worry about me," I say, standing my ground. As much as I want a shower and a soft bed, finding my parents is more important.

He sighs, then drops the bomb.

"The pilot told me the next ship won't come for three days."

My heart stops.

"What?" I whisper. "Three days?"

"I didn't want to tell you earlier. I knew it'd disappoint you," he adds, a little quieter.

Three days. I feel my knees weaken. That can't be real.

Why?