Page 25 of The Sky Between Us

“I’ll show you to the laundry room,” I said, voice hoarse from the desire.

Hazel nodded and followed me out without a word. A few drunk students stumbled through the corridors, or sat at hidden corners making out, while all the rooms had their doors firmly closed. Reaching back, I gently laced my fingers with her to guide her. I just wanted to make sure she didn’t get lost. At least that was what I told myself, despite my body dying to touch her.

The laundry room was located at the end of the hall, and I quickly turned on the light before we stepped inside. Hazel squatted down once again by the machine reading the programs and checking the dress, trying to figure out which mode to use. Once decided, she threw the dress in and I helped her out with the detergent and softener.

“It will take three hours,” she informed me as she glanced at the screen. “Is that okay?”

“Yeah, you can stay in my room and pick it up in the morning,” I offered. “I’m sure Sarah is sleeping over too.”

Hazel made a disgusted face and nodded. “That’s if Elliot doesn’t kick her out again.”

With a snicker, I opened the door for her. “True. But I have a hunch he won’t. Plus, if you are staying, he will have to keep her around.”

“Charming,” she muttered as we crossed the hallway. I saw her curious eyes move, observing the people around us. Her eyes cleared up from the alcohol and that reminded me.

“Aren’t you hungry? Thirsty?”

Hazel shook her head. “I’m actually sleepy.”

“I guess you are the sleepy drunk,” I teased her, and my heart leaped when she returned the smile.

She suppressed a yawn. “Guess so.”

When we returned to my room, I moved the comforter from my bed and I motioned towards it. “Get in. I just changed the sheets in the morning, it’s all clean.”

Hazel hesitated as she looked around in the room. “I can sleep on the floor.”

Picking up a pillow I threw it on the floor before shaking my head. “I’ll take the floor. We don’t have practice in the morning, and you will have a hell of a hangover, you better do your best and sleep it off.”

“I…” she opened her mouth to argue with me, but I simply took her hand and pulled her down to sit on my bed.

“Hazel,” I muttered looking down at her, as my fingers gently intertwined in her hair. Her eyes fluttered closed from the contact, and I knew I had some power over her. “Just take the damn bed.”

A chuckle escaped from her and to my surprise she did as I instructed her, moving up on my bed and sliding under the blanket, her head hitting my pillow. “Thanks.”

Making myself comfortable on the floor, I grinned up at her before turning off the light. “Good night.”

“Good night,” she yawned into the darkness. “You know… it’s a shame we can’t be friends. I could really grow to like you. But I’m sorry, I’m such a shitty person.”

With an exhale, I shook my head. “You are not a shitty person, Hazel. You just try extra hard to push everyone away from you.”

“Maybe you just need to push back even harder,” she mumbled, her voice growing more distant. “Walls built in years, won’t come down in days.”

Before I could reply, I heard her breathing grow steady and I knew she fell asleep. “You know, Hazel, it would be much easier if you could let everyone just see the real you. You are quite lovable,” I said despite knowing she couldn’t hear me. I needed to say it out loud at least once, because I was glad, she got drunk. It showed me she cared and she indeed had emotions. She wasn’t that ice queen she wanted everyone to see, after all. And that gave me hope, that maybe, if I kept pushing her, I could get through to her.

My head was killing me. It felt like the worst kind of migraine and I couldn’t believe that was what woke me up. Unfamiliar, yet comforting smell filled my nose, as I pushed my head deeper into the soft pillow. My eyes hurt from the sunlight peeking in through the window and I groaned.

“Good morning, sunshine,” Aiden’s cheerful voice caught me off guard, and I sat up immediately.

The room spun as my eyes adjusted to the light. A louder groan left my lips and I hid my face in my hands. “What’s going on?”

Images from last night swam in my head, but I couldn’t find the beginning. Did I actually get drunk? Oh my god. I hope we didn’t.

Dropping my hands, I blinked up at Aiden. “Did we…”

“God, no,” he laughed a little and handed me a mug. “It’s coffee. It’s supposed to help with your hangover which is probably killing you by now.”

Relief washed over me and I let out a loud exhale. “Thanks, but I can’t drink coffee without drinking water first. It dehydrates your body and after waking up your body is already dehydrated. And let’s not even talk about alcohol…”

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