The Hermit's Retreat

Chapter 8

Xisuma sighed as he rolled over. He'd been laying in bed for hours, and he couldn't sleep. According to the alarm clock on the table, it was one in the morning. He figured that if he wasn't going to get any sleep, he may as well do something other than lay in bed, so he stepped quietly out into the hall. The first thing he noticed was the sliver of dim light coming from under False's door, so he tapped quietly on it.

False opened the door wearing an excessively large t-shirt and baggy flannel pants, with her hair tied up in a messy bun. Xisuma could see over her shoulder that she'd been playing Minecraft, but it seemed to be just for fun.

In lieu of a greeting or explanation as to why he was at her bedroom door at oh-dark-hundred hours in the morning, Xisuma said the first thing that came to his mind.

"Do you know how to play eight-ball?" He asked softly.

As soon as the words left his mouth, he cursed himself, wondering what on earth he was doing.

But False didn't seem to mind, she just whispered, "No."

Xisuma motioned for her to follow him, so she turned off the light and walked downstairs after him. He led her to the game room and turned on a single lamp, then handed her a pool cue. He explained the rules, then showed her how to hit the balls, and they started to play. After she missed a few shots, he saw his opening.

"Your elbow's too far out, and it's making the cue crooked, which is why you keep missing them." He said.

"What?" She asked.

"Line up for your next shot."

She did, and he moved behind her, gently pushing her elbow in. She took the shot and knocked the ball into the pocket, then turned around. The smile she gave him turned his insides to jelly.

They played a few more games, and somewhere along the way they migrated to the couch. They sat facing each other, and the conversation moved to plans for the rest of the month.

"You know," she whispered, "I saw that there's a really good hiking trail not far from here. There's a waterfall at the top, and I think it would make for a good day hike. Would you want to come with me?"

"Of course."

"I was thinking maybe Sunday."

"That sounds great.

Neither one of them knew how long they talked, the conversation just kept going. They talked more about that Sunday, about recording, music they liked, anything that crossed their minds.

The thought of what they're going to do when they have to go home crossed his mind. If he was being honest, he thought maybe he'll leave a piece of his soul on that couch. His brain very bluntly reminded him that this is what he'd be ruining if he screwed things up with her.

As the conversation went on, both of them started to yawn, but Xisuma had no desire to end whatever this was just to go look at the insides of his eyelids. It seemed like False didn't either.

Suddenly he remembered the light in the gameroom, and that it was still on.

"I'll be right back." He said.

He turned off the lamp, and when he got back, False had fallen asleep sitting up. He couldn't leave her on the couch, or she'd have a wicked kink in her neck the next morning. As gently as he could, he picked her up bridal style and carried her up the stairs. He laid her down on her bed and pulled the blankets over her. He brushed the hair out of her face before turning to leave.

Just as he reached the door he heard her sleepily murmur "G'night X."

"Goodnight." He whispered.

Back in his own bed, Xisuma was asleep within minutes.

He dreamt of Sunday.