Red Shoes, Black Coffee (Red & Black #2)

21 | Cold water

Ada

The sound of the door opening is what wakes me. I stiffen in the bed, my sleepy mind trying to come up with an escape plan. My dorm room is small, has only one door, there is no way to sneak out. The only thing I can do is to pretend I'm not here, to curl into myself the best I can, to disappear...

The door closes as the person makes their way inside. I can hear their footsteps when they step further into the room without turning on the lights. I barely dare to breathe as I imagine them grabbing random objects, hiding them into a bag. I think I'd left my phone on the table, and my guitar...

My guitar.

A choked sob escapes me before I can stop it. The footsteps stop for a second, then start again, much closer. Terrified, I clamp my hand over my mouth and curl into a tight ball, pretending I'm not here, not here, not here...

"Ada?" A whisper. I don't dare move, don't dare think how they know my name.

The bed dips when someone sits on the edge of it. Another strangled sound leaves my parted lips when I feel someone touch my shoulder. The grip isn't tight, it's very delicate, barely there, but the sole fact it's there punches the air out of my lungs, making me choke -

"Jesus."

Hands gripping my shoulders, turning me onto my back. I bring my hands up, using them to hide my face for no reason. I haven't realized I've been crying until the air brushes over my face and the hot tears smeared there. Fingers wrap around my wrists in a gentle grip, trying to pry my hands away from my face -

"Ada, wake up." A voice. Urgent. So soft. Familiar. "Wake up, baby. It's me. I'm here. It's okay."

That voice. I know it. It has a soothing effect, wrapping around my strained nerves, easing out the tension...

"Look at me." He whispers. "Everything's gonna be okay once you look at me."

There is something in that voice that brings me to obey. Slowly, tentatively, I lower my hands and open my eyes. Black-rimmed glasses appear in my vision, shielding warm, brown orbs, the colour of melted chocolate. The eyes are wide, surrounded by thick lashes, and they stare into mine, looking petrified. Time seems to stop as I blink, taking a moment to connect the dots.
My gaze slides lower, stopping on the straight nose, moving on to soft lips and even lower, to a chin covered by slight stubble. My own lips part on a sharp inhale as everything clicks into place.

"Jed?" My voice is just a broken whisper, hoarse and weak, but he nods.

"Yes. It's me." Jed whispers back. His eyes search my face with concern, as if he's worried I might break down again. He's leaning over me, his upper body hovering over mine, his face close to my own. His fingers are still wrapped around my wrists loosely and I tug against them, signalling I want to get up. He lets go and I shift, struggling to sit. Jed helps me with the action, reaching behind me and situating the pillow so that I can lean my back against it. Once in a sitting position, I slide my fingers into my tangled hair, smoothing them out. I then slide my hands lower and run them down my face, exhaling.

"Water?" Jed asks in a soft tone.

Only my head moves when I nod, still not ready to look him in the eye. Jed's weight leaves the bed as he saunters into the kitchen. I hear glass clinking and a moment later he's back, reclaiming his old place at the edge of the bed. 

"Here." I lower my hands and find him offering me a huge glass of water. I take it from him and tilt it back. I want to weep with relief when the liquid touches my lips, then flows past them, filling my mouth and trickling down my throat. It's deliciously cold, tastes fresh and works perfectly to help me relax a little. I drink until I'm out of breath, taking long gulps, swallowing like I'd just ran a marathon or spent a month alone in a desert. When I feel like I can't possibly drink anymore, I pass the glass back to Jed with the tiniest grateful smile.