Dreams We Had

Chapter Eight - Kayden Akita

The moment the warm night air hit my skin I was filled with more contempt, petty, petty, contempt. I got in the car and left. I just needed a break. Time alone to process my thoughts and cool down. I aimlessly drove, staring down every billboard, tree, building and person in the surrounding areas for what seemed like hours. I just drove and drove until I wasn't mad, or sad, or really feeling anything. I parked the car in a small lot overlooking the ocean and got out, cussing and pacing. Sure, I had said some things I shouldn't have, but so did he. And I still thought he had over reacted, but what was done was done. And this was the result.

I eventually decided that I was ready to go home, and when I got there I found my overly tired boyfriend curled up in the fetal position on my side of the bed with his blanket pulled up to his face. This was probably the first time I had actually seen him really sleep since I had been living with him. Most nights he woke up periodically, laying there wide-awake or pretending to sleep. I felt a small smile grow on my face. I carefully crawled around him and lied down on the other side of the bed. He looked so peaceful lying there that it almost made me sad. I gently reached over and placed my hand on his shoulder, carefully running it back and forth as I slowly drifted off to sleep.

I awoke the next morning to an empty bed, which was not out of the ordinary, and dragged myself into the living room where I found him sitting on the couch in only boxers with his legs propped up on the coffee table. He was watching morning cartoons and eating a bowl of oatmeal. It was kind of alluring.

"Hey." I said softly to get his attention, "Good morning."

"Mornin'. Do you want some oatmeal?" He asked, gesturing towards me with the spoon as I stepped a bit closer. I shook my head.

"I think I'll pass. Why are you awake anyway? It's like noon in the morning."

He shrugged, balancing the bowl on his bare thigh, and mumbled, "Couldn't sleep..." in a meek tone, "Well, I mean, I slept a little bit, but not much. The real question is why are you up? You were gone almost all night..."

"You heard me come home?"

He nodded slowly, "I woke up when you climbed over me,"

"Oh, sorry, I didn't mean to. Can we talk about something?" I asked, resting my knees on the coffee table. He gave me a funny look.

"Sure? Weren't we already talking? If you're going to bring up last night, or the other day, then I'm so, so sorry."

"No, no. Don't apologize. We were both being complete dicks to each other. We're both at equal fault." I said. He looked down at the floor and back up at me, obviously feeling a tad bit guilty, "Well, anyways, I was wondering if you wanted to go on a little date or something today, try and get things back to the way they were and clear our heads." I continued. He looked at me and sighed an indecisive sigh as if he was contemplating whether or not he was still angry.

"I guess so."

"It's cool, I'll pay. I was thinking we could go rollerblading or whatever. I mean, that's super cliché date, but unless you can come up with something else?"

"No, dude, that actually sounds fun. Let me just take a shower quick and get dressed then we can go." He beamed, standing up and walking to the kitchen to put his bowl in the dishwasher, "Maybe I should wake up Mo and ask her if she wants to come with us." He suggested, pointing towards the hall. I tensed up a bit.

"We need some alone time, just you and me...." I said in a rather harsh tone, but gave a little, devious smile at the end. He clicked his tongue,"Right, I'm going to take my shower..."