M U T E 》d.h

E I G H T

February 4th, 2016

9:09pm

Eleanor and Dan were sitting in silence, well, not completely. They were both watching a rerun of Sherlock. Both completely bored out of their minds, since they both seen Sherlock before.

Dan's mind is spinning with questions. And he couldn't handle it anymore. He grabbed the remote that was sitting in between him and Eleanor and muted the volume. Suddenly confusing Eleanor.

'I'm sorry, this might sound extremely rude but.. Can you speak? I don't want to offend you or anything but.. I don't want to make it completely awkward between us..'

She looked at him with no expression her face what soever. Dan couldn't even make out her face. Probably not even Sherlock, like how he couldn't read Irene Adler.

She slowly grabbed her notebook and pen. Her hand suddenly shake.

I'm sorry. I should've told you earlier. And I thought you already knew. But I don't talk at all. Well, not for two years anyway. I'm mute.

Dan wasn't completely surprised but he was flabbergasted. He thought that Eleanor was really shy. Her being mute never crossed his mind.

'I'm sorry.. I... thought you were just really shy.. but..uh.. sorry.. I'll leave'

As Dan stood up, Eleanor quickly grabbed his hand and pulling him back down onto the couch. Giving him a reassuring smile. She then wrote on her notebook again.

Please don't leave. Also you can't go anywhere remember, you're locked out from your apartment. Silly. I'll tell you why I'm mute. But not now. I'm not ready.

Dan gave her an sympathetic look. Looking down at his hands, not knowing what to do.

'I.. um.. I know we just met but if you need someone to talk to.. not talk but.. a shoulder to cry on.. I'm here, okay. If you need any help, either Phil and or I will be there to help'

Eleanor smiled wider and nodded, accepting his offering. She put her hand on his shoulder. Like what she did when they first met. Suddenly she leaned over and hugged Dan. It was a nice, warm, carefree hug. Dan hugged back, savoring the moment.

They both let go. Eleanor quickly wrote in her notebook.

Thank You.

~~~

Both Dan and Eleanor where getting tired. She quickly got into her pajamas and brushed her teeth. Then grabbing a blanket and pillow for Dan. She showed him the guest bedroom. Which appears to be on the left hand side of the hallway, next to the kitchen. Basically Phil's room in Dan's perspective.

She put down the pillow and blanket on the bed and carried on back into the lounge room. Indicating Dan that the bed is ready.

'Um.. Thank you for letting me stay...' Dan stood their awkwardly, he doesn't know if Eleanor is going to do anything back.

She gave him a smile and a nod. Dan slowly walked out of the room and into the guest room, shutting the door behind him. Same with Eleanor with her bedroom.

~~~

They both couldn't get to sleep. Both tossing and turning in their own beds. Their brains would not shut up.

Dan suddenly gotten thirsty, he thought about getting up and getting some water from the kitchen, but he ignored the feeling. He didn't want to go out and accidentally wake up Eleanor. But Dan couldn't ignore the fact that he was thirsty. He needed water.

He chucked his blanket over to one side. Slightly shivering from the sudden cold air. He shuffled his feet towards the door and entering the black surrounding of the hallway. He reached for the kitchen door, making sure he won't bump into the glass door. His groggy eyes observe the kitchen. He stumbled towards the kitchen sink, not bothering to get a glass. He runs cold water in his hands, drinking out from them.

When he was finished drinking, he leaned against the sink, his head bowing down. Trying to regain his balance.

After a while of standing, his feet were getting cold from the contact from the kitchen tiles. He made his way back to the hallway, instead of turning left into the guest bedroom. He turn right into Eleanor's room, out of sheer habit.

He got under the covers and got into bed. Not realizing that Eleanor is a few centimeters next to him. After making a comfortable position, he finally dozed off.

Eleanor was lightly sleeping next to him. She felt the bed drop next to her. But she couldn't find out if she was dreaming or not. Then she heard snoring sounds next to her. She moved her body so she could she what's next to her properly.

She saw a dark figure laying next to her. Her first reaction was to jump out of bed, and that is what she has exactly done. Her movement startled Dan, causing him to jump out of the bed as well.

'What the fuck was that?'

Dan spun around to see dark figure moving towards the bedside table. Turning the lamp on. The low, dim light intimating the room. They both calmed down when they first saw who the dark figures were.

'Look, El, I'm terribly sorry. I wasn't trying to make a move on you.. It's just.. I thought I was back at my apartment and my room is on the right side and.... ugh.'

Dan left the room. Leaving Eleanor shocked from his sudden exit.

They both got into their own beds. Both Eleanor and Dan were still shaken after the little incident. Dan went to sleep faster than Eleanor did.

Eleanor couldn't help but think what Dan had called her before.

El

She hasn't heard someone called her that since two years.

Two years after a life changing incident.

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Edited.