Blind

chapter eighteen

Alina opened her eyes.
Her head hurt. She sat up slowly and pressed her knuckles against her eyelids. They hurt too. She reached one hand out and touched the screen on her phone.

-3:30 am-

She sighed, running her hands through her hair before standing up and leaving her room. She walked slowly towards the kitchen to make herself some tea. She had managed to sleep for three hours or so but didn't really feel that tired. Just worn out. After crying for a whole forty minutes she dragged her feet to bed and slept. It was always easier to sleep after crying. Like your body didn't have any strength left in it. She reached the door of the kitchen.

"Couldn't sleep?"

Alina jumped, a small cry escaping her lips.

"Jesus Christ Noah." She said her voice hoarse and closed.

"Sorry." Noah said.

Alina wondered if she should go back into her room, avoid him completely for the next days but she rejected the thought almost immediately. She couldn't do that. So instead she walked towards the counter with one hand on the wall to guide her.
She had started filling the kettle with water when she felt Noah behind her.

"Let me do it." He said, his hand already on the handle. His chest  pressed against her back for a moment and she felt his heart beating. She let the kettle go and sat on the table.

After a while Noah put a cup in front of her.

"Thanks." Alina said. Noah nodded and sat across from her.

"Why are you up?" He asked and Alina took a sip from her tea before answering.

"Couldn't sleep." She said simply. "What about you?"

"Same." He said. Alina manage to suppress the urge to snort.

"Won't your lady friend worry?" She asked drinking some of her tea. Her eyes started to hurt again. She wasn't worried though. She couldn't cry any more.

"She left." He said playing absently with his cup. Alina felt her heart throb.

"How so?" She didn't know why she was sitting there, making conversation with Noah. She should be angry with him. She should be cursing him. But she didn't really have the strength for any of those.

"I told her to go." He said.

Alina laced her fingers together carefully  around her mug. She nodded not trusting her voice enough to speak. They sat there for a while, not talking. The silence was comforting. Like they had both decided that words weren't needed.

"Are you angry?" Noah asked suddenly. Alina felt her chest tighten.

"Does it matter?" Her voice sounded weak even in her own ears.

Noah started at her for a little.

"Go somewhere with me." He said then and Alina felt her heart flutter.

"What, now?"

Noah nodded looking her straight in the eyes.

"Yes, Now."

Alina stayed silent for a while.

"Why?" She asked keeping her voice straight. He didn't answer right away. She could feel his stare on her. It was burning holes on her skin.

"Because I want to take you somewhere." He said. There was something in his voice that confused her.

"It's four in the morning." She said.

"I know." He answered.

Alina didn't say anything for a while. He was the reason she had been crying her eyes out three hours ago.  He was the reason she was hurting and yet she didn't feel the need to push him away. Maybe Maggie was right. Maybe life was all about taking chances.