The Thief of Hearts

Chapter 23

Thalia's pov

I was laying on my bed at five o'clock in the morning, my heart hammering in my chest and Mandy's iPhone pressed to my ears. A part of me begging him not to answer the call and the other in high hopes that he will. Here I am again, doing exactly what my crazy roommate said.

A million questions were parading through my brain and I was struggling to end the conversation before it even began. Why am I calling him? What do I say? Sorry for running away.... Am I?

What is he going to say? He probably thinks I'm just an immature freshman who runs at the first sign of trouble. That's the truth in every sense of the word. I'm a coward. I'm a confused coward.

It felt like hours that I waited. It was one of those times when you really want something to hurry and get over with, but it chose instead to move like a snail. The rings sounded long and drawn out and it seemed to have encouraged my heart rate to gallop.

Mandy was the calmest one in the room. She was lightly snoring in her bed on the opposite side of me, covered from head to toes with her sheets and curled in the fetal position. On a usual Sunday, I would be in a similar state, but this isn't a normal day, is it? It was the day after.... Last night.

My cheeks flushed and I was sure I was getting red in the face, remembering all that took place. Keith kissed me. I touched my lips and sighed, a half grin forming on my mouth. I can't say I didn't enjoy it, for as much as it scared the crap out of me, it actually felt really really good.

A low voice at the other end of the line startled me out of my thoughts and I almost fell off the bed. "Hello?"

I didn't say anything. His voice sounded like someone who just woke up and I had the feeling that I disturbed his sleep. It caused me to smile a bit and made me feel a little guilty.

"Mandy? Are you there?" He asked. Shuffles could be heard on his end of the line and it sounded like he was getting out of bed.

I still didn't respond. I was too busy trying to control my heart as it threatened to jump out of my mouth. I thought he was going to hang up but then he spoke again, this time with his voice filled with panic and worry. "Mandy, is my baby ok? Please tell me she's alright."

It suddenly dawned on me that it was quite cruel of me to let him go through something like this, so I finally fought myself to speak.

"Yeah, she's fine." I said. I could barely hear my own voice over my heartbeat.

The sound of air leaving his chest was audible as he breathed a sigh of relief. "Thalia!" He sounded overjoyed. Just like a child would when they open a Christmas gift to find the one thing they really wanted.

Something funny began in the pit of my stomach and gave me a warm feeling. I guess that's what they call butterflies. Oh shit! I have butterflies in my stomach! ..

I laughed at my own thoughts. "Yes." I whispered.

"Is that really you?" Keith asked unbelievably.

I nodded, then remembered that he couldn't see me through the phone. "Yeah. At least the last time I checked I'm me."

He laughed. "Good to know." He sounded like he wasn't sure what exactly to say to me. Like he was trying his best to not get on my nerves or scare me again. I felt that I needed to talk to him about what exactly happened. Let him know that it wasn't his fault. He deserved an explanation.

"Keith, I'm sorry if I woke you up, but Mandy said you were worried about me and that I needed to call you and so, that's why I'm calling." I said at the same time wondering why I didn't just get to the point.

It took a while for Keith to respond and I almost thought he wasn't going to. He was probably thinking more deeply into my lame excuse.

"T," he said finally, "I'm not going to force you to admit something that you're not ready to accept. I made that mistake already and I never want it to happen ever again. You need time. I get it. I'm a patient man."

I swear, I didn't know where the tears came from. I tried blinking them away and they ended up spilling on my cheeks. "I want you to know that I don't hate you, okay?" I said through my tears.

"Thalia, are you crying?" His alarmed voice switched back on and I hastily wiped my face.

"No, I'm not." I lied.

"Don't lie to me, I hear it in your voice." He replied quickly.

"I'm not. Shut up!" I snapped at him without meaning to.

Keith sighed. "Okay baby."

Silence.

"What is wrong with you?" I almost woke Mandy when I raised my voice. I got up and silently opened the door to find the balcony.

"What did I do now?" Keith was beyond confused and frustrated. I pitied him. No one deserves to go through this.

My tears started flowing again. "You never do what I say, what changes now!"

"Thalia, baby you told me to shut up, so I did."

"Ugh! Leave me alone!" I screamed.

"Okay, now I have no idea what to do."

"Why me Keith? Why me?" I cried for no reason whatsoever, "what exactly do you feel for me anyway?" I wasn't sure if I wanted to know, but I asked anyway.

"Why you? Well, I don't think we have a choice in who we fall for." He paused before he continued, "and for the next question, I love you Thalia."

I was tongue tied as I tried to come to terms to the fact that he actually said what I thought he just said. I honestly didn't know what was going on inside me as I stood staring off into the morning sky, not really seeing anything. What did he say? Am I hearing things now?

"Lia, are you still there?" Keith's worried voice tickled my ears.

"Mhm." I hummed not sure what else to say.

"Oh good." He said relieved. "I'm not expecting you to say it back, because I already know you do. I just want you to know that you can't win a fight against love. Just wave your white flag and surrender, any time you're ready sweetheart. I'll be here. I'm not going anywhere."