Palindrome

Twenty-Five

Chapter 25

I've barely gotten any sleep this week. Eight-ten hours maybe in total over the past four days. Which meant I had to double up on caffeine this week. And that meant I was more of a mess than usual. Something I didn't believe to be possible, but I guess I'm full of surprises even now.

The stupid kind of surprises.

I'm balancing a box of costumes in my hands for the dress rehearsal today. The show's finally tomorrow, and we've had rehearsals till ten. Today we're expected to go on till eleven, which is bloody brilliant for my dumb ass.

At least I don't have time to think as much.

Setting down the box in the prop closet, I walk out, dusting my palms on my jeans. Wiping a hand to the back of my brow, I inhale loudly.

Damn, I'm drained.

"Hey, Rohi!"

I whirl around on the balls of my feet to see Paxton dressed in his attire for tomorrow. A hand goes up to my mouth. "Oh my god."

He walks over to me so that I can take in every single detail of his costume. He's got on thick-rimmed black glasses that honest to god shouldn't make him look this good. A loose coat hangs over his frame with dress pants all knotted together with a haphazardly fixed tie.

"I know," he says, grinning wildly.

He's so happy.

And I'm not.

All I want is to be that person for him, the one that's worthy of every inch of him, from his careless grin to the way his eyes search me every time to make sure I'm right. He's doing it again as always. My eyes sting suddenly, and I need to look away. It was easy at first to put up this persona.

Fun, flirty, sarcastic, and spontaneous. 

Now it's all gone, discarded to times that I don't mention. Can I even call this a secret? Are people able to see past the front I put up? We don't talk about mental health because at the end of the day, why would you gravitate towards someone who's a 'buzzkill' when you could have the joyous center of the party. People don't want an Aarohi; they want a Nagi or a Paxton.

Paxton watches me for a quick second before wrapping his arms around me. My hands are limp by my side as he buries his head into the crook of my neck.

"I just need one," he whispers softly in my ear.

Liar.

"How do you always know what I need?" I ask, embracing him back. My fingers clutch at the soft fabric of his sweater as I inhale his warm scent.

"Because I know you."

And you still want to be around me? The question dies on my lips as I stay locked in this arms, our bodies pressed together so that there's no light between us. I take a shaky breath savoring the feel of his arms that cage me away from my worries for a second.

For just a moment.

"Enjelical, Chase wants to see you," a voice calls behind us.

"Of course he does," Paxton grumbles, pulling back.

I'm suddenly aware that we're in the middle of the hallway, and someone unfortunate had to stumble upon the two of us like this. Digging the tip of my shoe into the ground, I look up at Paxton and manage a smile, "I need to get changed too."

He nods, cracking his knuckles, "Later."

"Later," I echo, waving as he walks away with the boy that came over to summon him.