Hasana watched her phone light up for what had to be the twelfth time today. She layed in her bed, curled up into a tight ball under three layers of blankets despite the fact it was 97 degrees. Christian had been calling her nonstop for a month but she just couldn't bring herself to answer. In the back of her mind she knew he would eventually get sick of trying and just stop. Why wouldn't he? She just abruptly cut off all contact with everybody, shit even Mitchel tried calling her. But she has barely left her bed in a month and she honestly has no plans to.
A knock on her window doesn't even startle her, she just weakly slaps her hand against it and weakly mumbles "Go away."
"Come on Has, I brought you something."
It was Christian and he looked like he hadn't slept in days.
"Leave me ALONE Kras."
He slumps his shoulders and scratches the back of his neck, "Did I do something wrong?"
Despite herself she lifts her head and glares and the look on his face hurts her heart but she can't help but snarl, "NO! You're peachy fuckin keen. Now get OUT Christian."
"If I didn't do anything why are you so mad at me?" The tone of his voice was barely a whisper and his eyes are wide and earnest.
She breaks.
Hot, fat tears stream down her cheeks as she wails and gasps. He's never seen her look so...small.
"Damn it Christian if you wanna come in so fucking bad then do it I don't fucking care." She unlocks her window and burries herself back under her covers. Christian lifts the window and sets the small bag he brought on her nightstand before crawling through.
He scrunches his nose in protest at the stale smell of her room. He tentatively sits next to her, peeling the cover from her face, "Hey Sleepy, what's wrong huh?" He can faintly hear Cujo barking somewhere in the house and makes a mental note to check on her.
She simply turns her face to her pillow and cries even harder, loud childish wails akin to a small toddler. She quickly begins to hyperventilate and he has to pry her from her pillow. Christian rubs her back softly and presses his lips to her sweaty forehead in an effort to soothe her. Her whole body is covered in a thick layer of sweat and her hair is greasy, he figures she hasn't showered in a while so he picks her up and takes her to the bathroom.
"How about we start with a bath, then we can get you something to eat how's that sound?"
She does little more than grunt in response as he fills up the tub, making sure to make it extremely hot like she likes it. He stays on the outside of the tub, not wanting to crowd her too much and begins to wash her. Its evident she hasn't stepped into the shower in who knows how long. It took him three washes to get her hair clean and he made sure to really take his time. Asking her what she normally does in an effort to make her hair go back to its normally curly state. When finished he put her hair in a ponytail, he asked her if she liked it but she didn't speak at all, just nodded and hummed in response.
"What do you wanna eat? I brought Chick-Fil-A I remember you said you liked it. I can get something else though."
She shrugged, "Don't matter."
Christian sighs and just continues to wash her until she's completely clean.
"I'm gonna go check on Cujo I'll come right back."
Hasana doesn't react at all, she just keeps staring forward.
He makes sure to keep the bathroom door open.
*
Cujo completely loses her mind when she sees him, and from the smell of the basement, she hasn't been outside in a while and her dog food is spilled across the floor. "Jesus Christ." He pets her and takes her out to the backyard, he stays out there for ten minutes, having lit a cigarette in an effort to calm his nerves.
"Christian," he turns to see Hasana standing in front of the sliding door, still soaking wet and hald naked except for a pair of halloween panties and a fluffy pink robe that's way too short. She looks so small and frail it hurts to even look at her, "you said you brung food so um... where'd you put it?" she asks meekly. Cujo turns towards her owner and excitedly runs to her even though Hasana can only barely brush her fingertips across her head.
Christian puts out his smoke and reenters the house, "It's on your nightstand."
She simply nods and exits the basement, returning a few seconds later. "The fries are cold."
"Sorry..."
She shrugs, "It's okay," her voice sounds watery and thin, "Wanna go back upstairs?" She's trying her best to keep calm, fidgiting with her hands and curling her toes repeatedly.
He slowly reaches out to grab her hand, feeling her relax when her warm palm slides into his. They reach the living room and he pulls her into his lap while he cuts on the TV. He doesn't even pay attention, instead choosing to press his face in her neck and just focuses on her breathing as she eats.
"I wanna go to the park today." Is all she says after an eternity of silence.
"You sure?"
Hasana turns towards him with a smirk that doesn't quite reach her eyes, "Yeah I'm sure, we got a lotta catchin up to do."
YOU ARE READING
SWIM // CHRISTIAN ANTHONY
RomanceHe moved heaven and earth for her and didn't even catch her name. But she caught his and all he wants to do is hear her say it over and over. "I guess I'll catch you on the flipside Christian."
