Flawed Perception

Chapter 8

Chapter 8

"Willi? Are you awake?" I heard my mother ask through my closed door. My eyes opened slightly. I stood up and yawned while stretching my arms and legs. It was refreshing, I felt more awake than I had in a long time. My mother called my name once more before I could reach the knob and open it. 

"Hi mom. Did you have fun at grandma's?" I asked, greeting her with a smile, a genuine smile. There was no sarcasm, no coldness to my voice. It almost felt like it did before, only I couldn't greet her with a hug.  

"Yes, I did. She and grandpa got in a bit of a tiff, but overall it was nice to see everyone. They missed you, though. I told them that you were sick, I hope you don't mind," she explained. 

"I don't mind. Like I said, I think it was best that I didn't go. I wouldn't have been very good company. I'm glad you guys had fun though." She nodded in reply before walking to her room. No doubt she was going to shower and put on a fresh change of clothes.  

I walked out of my room and peeked into Andy's room. He was already asleep in his bed. He did this every time we came home from my grandparent's house, as if a night of sleep just did not cut it. I was relieved I didn't have to deal with him. I turned my body and ventured toward the kitchen to find something to eat. I walked straight to the fridge and pulled out some orange juice. Whilst reaching for a glass I heard Nick clear his throat behind me.  

I froze. Somehow the details of last night had totally fallen from my awareness. I woke just like any regular morning, neglectful that Nick and I had a rather interesting night together. I slowly brought the glass in my hand down to the counter and observed my hand.  

Now that I was actively remembering back to the night's events, I felt different. My hand looked as it always did, but it had changed. It had been touched, held, and comforted. I blushed to myself at the thought. My heart began to beat heavily as I went through the night's events in my mind.  

Hearing Nick stand up and walk toward me prompted me to turn his way. There was something vastly different about the Nick I saw before me and the Nick I thought I had been seeing for the past four or so years. Like my hand, he didn't change physically, but he was different. The way my heart jumped when he started to walk my way was proof enough that my impression of him had changed immensely. 

"Hi," he said with a shy smile.  

"Hi," I told him in return, the same smile on my face. Our lines of sight met and it felt as if more than our hands linked last night. He didn't feel so far away or unapproachable to me anymore. He wasn't my old friend Nicky anymore either. He was something else entirely, something new. Whatever he was to me, I liked it.  

"How did you sleep?" he asked. My heart beat thumped heavily with his every word.  

"Good, you?" I asked. 

"Yeah, it was all right." 

I was at a loss for words to say to continue our conversation. I did not know how to act around him anymore. Before, me being cold and callous was expected, as we had no relationship aside from the past. Now, things had changed. I didn't even know where we stood. I couldn't ask him outwardly for fear that he or I would become uncomfortable. What were we? Last I checked friends didn't hold hands or chase each other down streets. 

We stood on either side of the room. I was staring blankly at different objects around the house trying to seem busy. I could see him doing the same. I now, more than ever, knew the meaning of awkward silence.  

"So..." I began.  

"So..." was his reply. This was becoming more and more sad as the moments ticked by.