Pieces

12. Alive

"It's a map of all of his favorite places. Every one of which, he visted, at least once a week." Antonio said, when I showed him the map, after he had had his private talk with Rita.

He didn't mention anything about it.

I didn't ask.

"But that doesn't make any sense! Shouldn't we have recieved this earlier?" I asked, voicing my frustration. 

"More importantly, why would it be in Draco's hands?" He said, through gritted teeth, each word laced with venom, and maybe, just a little bit of hurt?

I didn't have anything to say to him. I had a feeling he was more worried about why his best friend would trust Draco more than him? He was right. It didn't make any sense at all.

Sometimes, puzzles could be annoying. Frustrating. Tiring.

They could test all your patience, until you lost all hope. 

And this one was as complicated as they could get. 

"I think I'll go and have a talk with him tomorrow. This better not be some kind of a sick joke." He muttered under his breath, as we made our way out of the hospital and onto the streets.

The thought of him having a "talk" with Draco made me uneasy. My mind momentarily flashed back to when I had met Draco, earlier that night. I remembered how dishevelled his clothes were, the red in his eyes, the kind of red I'd seen in my mirror ever since I'd heard. The kind of red I'd seen in Antonio's, during his moment of weakness. 

Was it of guilt or loss, I wasn't sure. But something told me it was a bit of both. 

Maybe he had apologized to Marc. Marc had always been one to forgive easily. It wouldn't have come as a surprise.

But why trust the guy who ruined the majority of his school life, more than the best friend? 

The streets were eerily quiet now, making me ache for the warmth and the noise of the city back home. The stillness of the night, made me feel a bit uncomfortable. Somewhere around the corner, the sound of the waves crashing against the shore, could be heard, breaking the silence of the night, in uniform intervals of time. Somehow that sound never left, no matter where you went in this little town. 

I had to admit, though I missed home, I had grown to love this little town of Bosa. It was beautiful, welcoming warm, everything I could ever have asked for. I knew I was going to miss it more than ever when it would be time to go home. 

Neither of us spoke as we walked silently towards his house. We were both too deep in thought to be reminded of each other's presence. It wasn't until we had reached his house till he finally spoke up, "So... um... long day, huh?" He said, a sheepish smile on his face as he fumbled with the keys.

I snapped out of my daze, as I stared at him. I hadn't expected him to say that. But then again, I hadn't expected him to say anything at all. 

"Uh... yeah... I guess." The silence inside the house fell heavily upon us. It somehow seemed more awkward to be around him now, than it had been all night. 

I had a feeling that it had to do with the way he'd stuttered a few moments ago... or maybe that sheepish smile, I didn't know which. 

I turned away from him then, breaking off our eye contact, as a different form of confusion entered my mind. What was that? 

I heard the sound of the main door clicking shut behind him as I made my way up the stairs and to my room. I was about to shut the door when I saw his sillhouete through the moonlight streaming in through the balcony, leaning against the doorframe.