Ethereal

five - restoration

Ethereal - Chapter 5 - Restoration

Luna's Point of View
My body came to a jolt and my eyes flew open. I took in a gasp of breath and look over to my side to see Ocean's beautiful, soft face in the morning, but she wasn't there.

She's been so quiet lately. Something's definitely up with her. I keep attempting to bring out some sort of energy from within her, but she always manages to avoid it or push me away.

I just don't get it. Ocean is one of the most difficult people I have ever met. One minute she'll give me a really long hug and be thanking me and I'll reassure her that it's no big deal, but then the next she's ignoring me or she's gone.

I try my hardest to get a tiny grasp onto her heart, but I always fail to do so. What is she so afraid of? Letting people in?

I got out of bed and carefully walked down the stairs and into the kitchen. There I found Ocean, her light hair is small knots, and her eyes glazed and sparkly like never before.

"Good morning, sunshine" I said to her in hopes she'd crack a smile. I was wrong, though. No smile came from Ocean. Instead she kept a straight face. Her eyes seemed to turn cold as she glared right through me. Before I could even ask her what was wrong, she stood up from the kitchen counter and marched her way up the stairs.

I was left feeling nothing but alone and confused.

I wasn't sure if I should leave her alone or not, but my stubborn self couldn't hold back. I sharply turned around and made my way back up the stairs.

"Ocean" I called out, seeing her quickly walk a few steps further than me. She didn't bother to look back. As I picked up my speed, she began to jog. Beating me to it, she ran in my bedroom, slamming the door.

When I reached the door and tried to open it, it was locked. I said out of frustration. What was her problem?

"Ocean, what's wrong? Did something happen? Did you have a nightmare and I wasn't there to help you? Do you need something?" I shouted through the thin, pale white door, in hopes to get a reasonable response. A response that I deserved.

Nothing came back from her. Just the sound of the creaky wood floor as I let my back glide against the sturdy door and took a seat. I sat to think of all the posibilities that could've made her remain silent. Like she lost her voice, or didn't have the ability to speak. That she didn't know anything about communication.

Honestly, not speaking about what's on your mind is childish. How hard is it to speak up? Then again, it is Ocean we're talking about.

The door flung open, I tipped back a little. It caught me by surprise.

"Not gonna apologize, that's a bit rude, dontcha think?" Again, she didn't say anything. I rolled my eyes. As I was watching her walk down the narrow hallway to the bathroom, I noticed she was wearing the same clothes from the morning I had met her. I wonder why when she knows that my closet is available for her to roam through.

I pushed my body using my hands and the strength of my legs to lift me off of the ground. As I got back up, like a lost little puppy, I followed to the bathroom.

She stood there, her hair is small knots, tangled. She was splashing water onto her face, acting as if I wasn't there. She grabbed the small, worn out towel hanging on the gleaming rack.

She turned her head towards me, only to give me a cold glare. What happened to the precious Ocean? Chills swayed down my back.

"J-Just let me know if you decide to talk" I stuttered out, afraid what her reaction would be.

She just turned her head back towards the mirror and continued to dry her face. I took it as my cue to leave. I went back down the stairs and started watching "Friends" trying to not think about Ocean at this point.

About 10 minutes or so later, I heard Ocean's footsteps pounding against the wood steps. I got up from the couch. As I was slowly finding my way to the stairs I heard the front door open.

Is she leaving? No. She can't be. I sprinted towards the door, making it just in time. Ocean standing there dressed in her over worn clothes, her shoes on and laced. She gave me a look of irritation. A look that made me feel like I was in the wrong for wondering what she was doing. A look that made me feel this was her home rather than mine, and I should be the one leaving.

"Are you going somewhere?" I asked hesitantly.

"Can you mind your own business?" She questioned at me, attitude at level one thousand.

"What did I even do to deserve this attitude? All I'm asking is for you to talk to me with honesty and respect, Ocean" I screamed back, furious now.

"I gave you a home to stay in, to get away from yours. I gave you food, clothes, took you places to have fun, and this is how you're gonna treat me? With disrespect? Was everything I did for you not enough to satisfy you?" I finished. I looked over at her, hot tears threatening to spill from her eyes. She let one foot out of the door. I rapidly wrapped my hand around her thin arm.

"I'm sorry, please don't go yet. If you want to go, fine, but not yet. I want to talk to you first Ocean. I want to help you and be here for you, but I can't if you're so quick to leave and not communicate with me. I wanna know what's on your mind." She stayed quiet, then turned around. Tears already swiftly racing one another down her cheeks.

I gently pulled on her arm and pulled her onto my shoulder. She heavily cried as I stood there stroking her back with my hand, giving her a soothing sensation. I could think of better ways to give her a soothing sensation though.

She pulled away and I led her back to my bedroom. We laid on my bed and I waited for her to speak when she was ready.

"I'm sorry I made you upset. I suck at speaking, it's something I'm not good at" She spoke quietly.

She was laying on my chest, on legs intertwined. I took my left hand and picked up her chin so she was looking at me.

"Hey, love. It's okay, I'm just glad you're speaking to me as of right now."

She took my left and placed it on her stomach. She looked down, giggled, and looked back up right into my bare eyes.

"What is it sunshine?" I asked.

"I think I'm falling in love with you, Luna."