In the Shadows

Chapter 26

(Author's Note: If you would wish to listen to Chapter 26 parts 1 and 2 on audio, please click the videos. Thank you!)

 He steps out of the bathroom wearing my father's clothes. It's weird to have someone else wearing my dad's clothes; nonetheless, he does look handsome, the red velvet shirt is a little bit big, and the sweatpants are loose on him, but it's nice. I like it when he wears his jeans, it's tightly fitted on his perfect thighs.

  "What do you think?" He asks, breaking out of my pervasive thoughts.

  "You look good." You look damn fine. I want to say, but I don't since he will laugh at me and it would be embarrassing saying that out loud. Don't you think?

  "Thank you for letting me use your father's clothes. You sure your father won't mind me using his clothes?"

   As soon as the word father leaves his lips, I frown and feel the pain in my heart once again. Water starts in my eyes and I blink a couple of times to stop the tears from falling down my cheeks. I found myself falling in silence again as the memories come back to me. 

  I clear my throat and pull myself together. "My dad would be fine if you use his clothes." Even if my dad was here, he wouldn't mind him borrowing his clothes. He was the type of man who if you needed a shirt, would take off his own t-shirt and give it to you. He was kind-hearted to others and a loving father to me. I dearly miss him.

  "Good. Do you have a bag, so I can put my dirty clothes in?" He asks with a smile, and just like that my heart feels warm and the pain slightly disappears. How did he just do that?

  "Yeah, sure." I head toward the kitchen and retrieve a shopping bag from the cabinet.

  "Here you go," I mutter when handing him the shopping bag.

   He vanishes into the bathroom, this time he left the bathroom door open and I can see him grabbing his black clothes and placing them into the bag. Okay, stop staring at him, you look like a weirdo watching every move he makes.

  Geez, can I be any more of a dork?

  He emerges from the bathroom and has the bag in his hands.

  "If you're still feeling hungover, would you like me to take you home or anywhere you would like?" I shrug. "I mean if you want me to."

  Well, that was a stupid question to ask him. He's probably already sober from his hangover. Why did I ask him that anyway? Because you want to be with him, my subconscious taunts me.

  "You can drive?" He asks.

  I giggle. "Yes, and just in case you're wondering I also have a license."

  "Are you being sarcastic with me, Sussianna?" He gazes at me and I gaze back at him trying to see what his mood might be, but his expression is unreadable.

  Me on the other hand- I'm grinning wide. "Maybe," I tease.

  "Hmm..." His mouth sets into a fine line. I don't know if he's angry at me or if this is amusing him. I can never tell with Chris and his mood swings. "Why do you ride your bike to class, if you have a license." He asks, completely disarming me. 

  "Hmm... Because I can't afford a car right now," I say plainly.

  "Oh, I see. Well, thanks for wanting to take me home, but I don't let anyone drive my car."