Destined Part I

The Date

The next few weeks were so confusing. Haiden had apologized as we were walking down the stairs, and it had truly caught me off guard. And to make matters worse, he was acting so nice. Not as if nothing had ever happened, but worse. Like he was really sorry for it.

He had been coming into my room nearly every morning for three weeks to wake me up, walking with me out to the balcony and sitting with me while the sun rose. He would never talk about the past, though. He would just sit there, trying to be my friend. It was as if he were trying to start over, from a clean slate.

I wasn’t buying it though. Sure I wanted to be his friend, that part was alright with me. I had gotten stronger with each day, and I was finally able to hold a normal conversation with him, without even feeling the ache in my heart at all. But if he thought I was going to jump right back in to being in love with him, ready and willing to be hurt a second time, he was clearly mistaken.

I think he could sense that though. He never came too close, making sure not to touch me, knowing that would have made me put up my wall. I had built it up nice and strong, and as long as he was just being friendly, I had no need for it. But if the moment ever came that he would try to have something more, the barrier would come up. I was determined that this was how I had to be, in order to protect myself. I couldn’t afford for him to break anymore of my already shattered heart.

He came in my room this morning, at his usual hour, but this time I was already up. He walked out onto the balcony, noticing me sitting in the chaise, and took a seat in the chair next to me.

“Hey there,” he said, clearly in good spirits.

“Morning,” I answered, as I looked out at the pink and purple sky.

“What are you looking at?”

He followed my gaze out to the beautiful sunrise, and settled back into his seat gracefully.

“The sky,” I said, sighing. “It’s so pretty today. Like a painting.”

He sat there for a moment, looking out at the colors with me, not saying a word. When he spoke again, his voice was quiet, and shaking slightly.

“Speaking of paintings,” he said, nearly whispering. “Would you by chance like to come to the museum with me today? Where Kristopher works?”

I looked over at him, thinking.

“It’s the last day of the Van Gogh exhibit,” he explained when I didn’t answer.

I could see his shoulders tensing up, and his blue eyes were worried, yet hopeful. I wondered why it seemed that his whole life depended on my answer. I hated seeing him so anxious like that, and I figured it wouldn’t be so horrible to spend a day with him. I thought I might be able to handle that next step. As long as it didn’t hold any implications.

“Yeah, I’ll go,” I said casually, after a moment, and watched his whole body relax instantly. “But it’s not a date.”

His eyes flicked up to mine, and he held his hands up, as if surrendering.

“Not a date,” he repeated.

“Okay, then,” I agreed.

“Good,” he sighed, “Kristopher will be glad to see us.”

Good was right. It made it easier that Kristopher wanted us there. It made it less like a date, and more like a favor. I could handle a favor.

“You want to meet me downstairs in thirty minutes?” Haiden asked me, delicately, as if I might change my mind at any moment.

“That sounds fine,” I said, standing up from my seat.

Haiden left my room quietly, and I went to take a shower and get ready for our trip. Once I was finished, I went down to meet him, noting that it had taken me less time than he had expected.