The Train To Nowhere

chapter 25 - the seventh stop

 "That time when you looked at me," I muttered, "-in the aquarium. That was the first time you'd properly looked at me in so long."

Rosie was quiet and thoughtful. It was eight in the morning but we'd stayed up til about four just talking. There was so much to talk about, and we'd clearly both missed each other equally. It was like we were catching up on all the conversations we could've had in the time we took away from each other. The best part of it was, it didn't feel like I'd lost a friend. Just because we'd slept together and we were in love didn't eradicate the fact that we were still such good friends. That missing part of me I'd lost during my depression phase had finally come back to me, and with it all the warmth and excitement of life I'd been missing.

"I can't believe I left you," Rosie said. "I'm such an idiot. I mean, you're so incredible, inside and out."

"Stop being cheesy," I grinned, wriggling my toes.

Rosie sighed happily and kissed me on the cheek. She was sitting up now so she could pull the sheets off and get dressed, half of her body uncovered. I couldn't just stare at her torso because that would be weird, but I wanted to. She was like a Greek statue, curvy, soft and pale; I just admired her beauty that (somehow) I'd never properly noticed when we were just friends. I guess if I had we wouldn't have been just friends. Just then there was a knock at the door.

"Shit!"

"Er- Abel, can I come in?" the sound of Isaac's voice came from behind the door, and he sounded stressed and urgent.

"Umm... one sec!" I shouted, glancing at Rosie in panic. Her eyes were darting about like mad, calculating how to escape the situation. It would be embarrassing for Isaac to walk in and see Rosie and I lying in the same bed together. He'd tease me to no ends and plus, it felt too early yet for any of them to find out. As quick as a flash, Rosie jumped up and lay on her stomach on the floor. I peered over as she hastily wriggled under the bed and then became invisible. I grabbed my phone and pretended to be playing on it when I let him in.

"What was that?" Isaac asked, looking a little alarmed.

"What was what?" I responded calmly, "Oh, I was just getting changed."

"But you're still in your pyjamas," he pointed out.

"Right!" I hesitated, "What I mean is, I was um... I was taking them off but then I heard your knock so I just quickly er... put them back on."

"Um... okay?" he started making his way across to the corner of the room, where his bag was.

"Spectacular liar," a sarcastic murmur from underneath me.

"What?" Isaac paused and stared.

"Oh! Um - I just said that I feel like I'm on fire! Is your room this hot?"

"No... this room is actually pretty cool. It's February."

"I know, I just-"

"Are you coming down with something?" Isaac looked concerned. "Fever or flu or something?"

"Nah, nope! Nothing! I'm fine, I'm cool!"

"You really don't seem cool. You're acting very weird." I glanced to the side, then back at him. "Am I?"

Isaac was looking very sceptical, with a look that made me feel like I was being analysed. If you knew Isaac you knew him to be very perceptive, which he used to his advantage in social situations. The exact reason why I was hiding Rosie. But he just sighed and chuckled silently to himself. He was rummaging through his rucksack.