Did you ever leave?

5

4 months ago...

I gulped but it didn't help. My throat felt like sandpaper.

'I took the morning-after pill.'

The doctor held the bridge of his nose. 'It is not as effective as normal contraception.'

'But it still works,' I insisted.

'With a ninety five percent success rate, yes. You're a part of the fifth percentile that it failed.'

'Okay,' I said shakily after a pause.

'Does the father know?'

Tears welled in my eyes. 'He can't know. I can't ever tell him.'

——————

Present day

My fingers plucked my guitar and my voice quietly sang "Almost (Sweet Music)" by Hozier. I felt his hands on my waist, my hair blowing as I turned, the people's stares.

There was a clang from the kitchen and I stopped.

'Eden?'

There wasn't a reply, so I picked up one of my dance trophies and crept through the apartment.

Moving with caution, I nudged the kitchen door open and peeked inside, before stepping forward.

'I'm really sorry.'

I stopped abruptly, almost walking right into Grayson after he had popped up and out from behind the counter.

'Grayson! What the fuck?!'

I clutched my award to my chest and held onto the edge of the worktop, trying to control my erratic breathing.

'I'm sorry. Eden told me to let myself in and she wasn't in her room and I heard you singing- I didn't mean to scare you.'

'Stop. Stop, stop, stop. No need to ramble, it's...it's fine.' I blew out a breath, standing straight. 'I'm gonna head back to my room, you're welcome to wait until she comes home. She should be, like, thirty minutes.'

'What is that?'

'Huh?' I asked, turning around.

He pointed to my hands. 'Oh. Uh, it's a trophy.'

'For what?'

'Dance.'

'Why are you holding it?'

I pushed back any loose hairs from my ponytail. 'I didn't know that it was you in here, so...'

'Not your typical choice of weapon, but it's great for delaying the intruder for a second so you can recreate every horror movie ever created.'

'I was thinking on my feet, asshole,' I said, giving him a sarcastic leer.

I moved towards my room, again.

'Um, you sounded really good. When you were singing.'

'I didn't know I had an audience,' I said with a tight smile.

'Was that the song from the diner?'

I looked away.

'Do you...want to watch a movie with me? I've never used your tv before.'

'You've never used our tv? What do you guys do when you come over?' He pursed his lips and I groaned, holding up a hand. 'Don't answer that.'

'If you're busy, it's fine. I can figure it out.'

I eyed my bedroom door longingly.

Fuuuuck.