40 ~ Thomas
The dark sky flashed brightly as fingers of lightening curled and sliced through the clouds of grey.
Seconds later thunder boomed, rumbling up through my feet to ricochet in my chest.
Splatters of rain fall in a reckless kind of grace, so hard that it stung my skin and thumped the house with rhythm.
My curtains flap wildly, my open window spitting rain at me as if it were a mouth.
Another streak of light stiffly flashed, lighting up my dark room for or a second, gleaming against my rain stained glasses.
My carpet was so soaked, puddles formed around your feet when you walked. My bed was damp and the layers of white covers and sheets turned heavy and grey.
My desk and everything on it was splattered as wind flung rain in. Papers and books matted together, ink smeared and sometimes a gust of wind would pick up a few pieces and throw them against the floor or wall.
And here I stand, in front of my open window. My face and hands sting with cold and my hair stuck to my forehead. I shudder, thunder growling as if to tell me to get over with it already.
I take a shuddered breath.
I can't tell if I'm even crying anymore. I can't tell anything anymore.
Except for one thing. I can tell that this is something I can't let slip through my fingers.
So I brace my hands on the cold frame of my window. The wind howled in encouragement as I brought my right leg over and leant forward.
Rain pelted my face ferociously, causing my eyes to water even behind my glasses.
I won't let this slip though my fingers, so here I come.
And with that, I drop from my window.
5 hours earlier-
The house was dark and quite after Valerie and Calum had left.
I was exhausted, yet so wake. I couldn't sleep even though I tried, even though my body ached for it.
Worry and anticipation gnawed at my mind. What happens when dad wakes up and Calum is gone?
What happens when he finds out that his back up card mysteriously purchased a plane ticket?
What happens when I'm the only one left for him to get mad at?
I roll over on Calum's bed, as if I could just turn my back to my problems. I breathed in slowly, embracing the soft sent of fabric softener and spiced cologne. Familiar simplicity.
I rolled back onto my back, restless. My eyes wonder to the blood stained wall across from me. I look away quickly, a lump hanging deep in my throat.
My tongue skimmed over my teeth lightly as I thought. I can't just lay here waiting for my dad to wake, I'd go mad.
I sit up with a sigh, my hand running down my face.
There's only one place I could go, and to be honest, I don't know if that'd be the best idea.
Sadly, I'm running out of options. Stay here and slowly wait for my demise or possibly face such embarrassing confusion.
After a few moments of weighing my pros and cons, I slide off the bed and step into some shoes.
I hope I don't regret this.
It was cold outside, but I enjoyed it. It was like a playful slap to the face, one that didn't quite hurt but definitely wasn't soft either.
My glasses fog once I step through the doors, making me take them off for a second.
I take inventory of the library. Janice sat behind the counter, clicking away at whatever was on her computer. A janitor ran a rag over the tables in the back, gathering dust.
Just as I thought the cost was clear, a blink of red moved behind a shelf.
I groan, am I never going to be able to come back to my peaceful place? Because having him here makes me feel jumbled and strangely reckless.
I knew this would be a bad idea, I should have just watched YouTube on my phone or something.
Just as I turned to walk back though the wide oak doors, my name rolled from his mouth in a sweet whisper.
I froze as if I had been caught sneaking in, or I guess in this case, sneaking out.
"You're leaving so soon?" He asked, and I didn't have to turn to see the smirk on his face.
I sighed before turning around, plastering a small smile onto my lips. "Yeah, I just remembered that I have a book at home that I haven't finished so..." I trailed off hoping he'd just let me leave.
But of course, he stuck his bottom lip out and now I was looking at his mouth again. Oh God help me. I mentally forced myself to pull my eyes up to his own, though that didn't help much.
I found myself telling him, "I guess I could just find another one," before I even considered the fact that this was the very last thing I should be doing right now.
Somehow, his hand found the small of my back. "Well, I happen to know where all the good books are hidden," he said with a lopsided grin as he lead me past the now shinning tables.
"Why are you always here? Even in the middle of the night, you're still here?" I blurt, his closeness and my exhaustion numbing my common sense, and it was asked before I could stop myself.
My eyes widened, "I mean, you don't have too- if you don't want-"
Peter gave me a tiny chuckle as we finally stopped in front of a section. "I have insomnia, and as I've said, reading is just so much better than thinking."
I was quite for a moment. I'm really glad I had bit my tongue, as the first thing I thought to reply with was 'maybe you could sleep with me?'
And then, to my horror, I realized that I had indeed stated that ridiculous thought out loud as his shocked face turned to down right hysteria.
"W-wait that's not what I meant!" My cheeks heated to what must have been 345 degrees and I covered my mouth with my hands.
He still hadn't recovered, his face also red as he gasped in laughter.
"I never thought you'd ask," he managed to say between wheezes.
"I meant, maybe you could sleep if you weren't by yourself, like actual sleep, I- actually just forget it," I struggle to defend myself, he really took it the wrong way.
I hid my face in my hands, waves of embarrassment rolling down my shoulders and back.
"Hey, I was just playing around. I know what you meant," Peter said, laugh lines still present with his huge smile. His hands gently pulled my own hands from my face.
He didn't let them go.
His earthy eyes just studied my face, slowly moving over every inch.
The blush crept over my nose under his gaze, and I felt my heart flutter. Yet, I couldn't break my eyes away from his.
I smile once I spot a scattering of faded freckles across his cheeks.
They'll look dark and adorable once the sun brings them out in the summer.
"You have a nice smile," He said, bringing my attention to his lips again and I dart my eyes back to his eyes with a gulp.
But when I looked back he was staring at my own lips and I swear he got much closer than I remember him being.
My heart did another spastic dance against my ribs as his breath fanned my cheeks.
Peters eyes fluttered shut, mine followed, and then his lips grazed my own and his hands held mind and-
I stumbled back suddenly, as if I were tugged by a cord, ripping my hands from his own.
Oh God
His eyes snapped open wide and his jaw unhinged. Peters eyes darted between mine in question, and I think I saw tears begin to poke their way through.
My stomach dropped and my head spun as I pictured my dad and his burning anger.
oh my God.
What have I done?
I took at step back, my heart thudding now with fear. "I-I'm sorry," I squeaked before covering my mouth with my hand.
The look on his face was enough to make me faint. He looked so hurt.
I forced myself to turn around before his pained expression made me stay.
Out the doors I stumbled, the cold now fierce with rain falling all around.
Warm tears mix with cold rain on my cheeks as I wrap my trembling arms around myself.
What just happened?
I tug at my hair as I walk through the parking lot, my clothes already stuck to me like a second skin as rain soaked them. This isn't how things are supposed to be.
This isn't how i'm supposed to be.
I scream into the rain, the wind responded with its own howl.
Things are already so bad, and now I've gone and done this! How stupid can I be?
I can't do this, forget anything ever happened.
I sob as I realized that I'm already in front of my house, the windows glow with light.
Someone's awake.
A/N
I've made this chapter longer, for those who actually read this.
There will be a part two for Thomas next.
The book is almost done.