Ethereal

6

Aaron

I let out a puff of smoke as I stared down at my phone. 

"Why do you keep looking at your phone?" the girl with long braids, who I had just hooked up, with asked.

"None of your business" I replied, taking another hit of my cigarette. 

I heard sheets rustling and looked back at her getting out of bed and changing. 

"Alright, well see you around" she said, pulling on her clothes.

I didn't reply and looked back at my phone.

Why hasn't she replied yet?

And as soon as I thought that, my phone buzzed. A notification from Hira. 

I smiled to myself. 

Me: Yo, you going to Quinn's party??

Hira: yea

My phone buzzed right away.

Me: wanna go together??

She didn't say anything for a minute. 

Hira: why

Why? I paused, unsure what to say.

Me: just bc.

I rolled my eyes.

Hira: fine

Me: sweet. I'll pick you up.

No matter how hard to get she plays, she always has a soft spot for me.

I heard my bedroom door open and close, signalling the girl who I was with had left.

I tossed my phone onto the bed, and leaned on the railing of my window. 

I could make-out the figure of the girl walking down my driveway in the dark to her car.

She looked up and waved at me and I nodded in response. 

I put out my cigarette and stared up at the sky. 

"Wonder if she's also looking at the stars right now" I mumbled to myself.

I cringed at myself. If anyone heard me saying that they would laugh at me on the spot. 

I closed my window and walked over to my bed, plopping down. 

I should change the sheets before bed.

I picked up my phone and opened up instagram.

Once again, I found myself looking at Hira's instagram profile. 

The only post she had on it was of her smiling softly looking down at the bouquet of flowers she was holding. 

It was the photo I had took of her in grade 11 after she participated in the school play. In a weird way it felt nice that the only photo of her up was the one I took. It made me feel as if we had a deeper bond than what we would ever admit to each other. 

I turned off my phone and got up from my bed, looking around my room.

I guess I should clean up.

~~

Hira

I stayed home the next day.

I had a nightmare when I went to sleep and when I woke up I couldn't stop shaking. 

It was the same nightmare I had been having since Mom passed away. The same one where, everyone who I care about leaves me alone. 

I sat at my window seat, staring out.