Tegan and I got off the plane and arrived to her apartment at midnight. We were coming back from LA, where we've been recording our new record, and had a short break. Our mother insisted on seeing us right away, and since Tegan lives closest to her, I'm staying with Tegan for a few days to spend time with Mum.
It took us a while to get out of the airport. Apparently there's a crazy storm that's headed towards Vancouver, and everybody was rushing to leave. All flights departing from Vancouver were even cancelled
Finally, we made it. Carrying a bunch of luggage and bags, Tegan somehow managed to unlock her apartment door.
I limped inside Tegans apartment, trying not to fall over while waddling with my entire luggage.
"Ooouf" Tegan groaned, the sound of her keys and bags plopping onto the floor.
She quickly flipped the switch on her wall, turning on her light.
"So what time is Mum going to be here tomorrow?" I asked
"Uh, I guess she said around two thir-"
The lights flicked off as the ripple of the thunder pierced my ears; I shrieked and covered my ears.
I opened my eye to see Tegan in front of me, cool as a cucumber.
"Really, Sara? You're still scared of thunderstorms?"
"Hey, that thunder was fucking loud. Did the damn sky crack in half or something?"
"Yup. We're all gonna die." Tegan teased playing with the light switch
"Oh come on! Fucking electricity…."
"The powers out?" I asked
"I guess. Well this sucks" Tegan said, walking away
"Where are you going?"
"I've got some candles in my bedroom, be right back" She said, disappearing into the hallway
Well fuck. I stood awkwardly in the middle of her apartment. The big windows provided a moonlight glow throughout her apartment, followed by the occasional flash of lightening that flicked like a strobe light now and then. The sound of the rain pounding against the giant windows was the only thing I could hear. Her apartment smelled brand new, yet comforting, which eased my anxiety about the situation I was in.
Tegan was taking an awfully long time…
"Tegan?" I shouted
No answer
"Tegan!"
I began to walk down her hallway when she popped out of her room, holding a bunch of unlighted candles.
"what?"
"Took you long enough"
"Sorry, I changed" She said, spilling the candles onto the kitchen table
She walked into her kitchen searching the drawers for a lighter. She had her long hair pulled back into a messy ponytail, and was wearing a baggy cotton t-shirt with pajama shorts.
She lit a candle stick and handed it to me,
"What-why are you giving this to me?" I asked as she lit another stick
"Use it to light those candles," She pointed to the candles that had flat bottoms, making them able to balance themselves on their own, unlike the candlesticks.
We both lit the dozen or so amount of candles and began placing them around her living room/kitchen area.
I finished placing the candles before Tegan did, so I sat down on her couch. She was walking around, candle in hand, looking for a spot to place the only remaining candle left.
"You can put it on the table," I told her, gesturing to the coffee table in front of me
She began walking over when an exceptionally loud boom of thunder crashed throughout the apartment
Tegan jumped and shrieked, dropping the candle at her feet.
"Ow, fuck!"
"oooooooh did that hit your foot?" I asked
"Yeah," she said giving me a pouty face
"Who's the baby now?" I giggled
"Hey! I never called you a baby,"
"Well no, but you implied it."
"That's my Karma." She assumed, standing back up and placed the unlit candle onto the coffee table.
"This candle doesn't need to be lit. Stupid Candle." She pouted
"I'm going to get some pajamas on."
"Kay, bring a candle with you."
"Duh," I mocked.
"Oh, be nice." She snickered, followed by a yawn
I went into my suitcase and fished for clothing appropriate for use as pajamas. I pulled out a loose fitting tee, and some plaid capri pajama pants. I grabbed one of the candles and went into the bathroom, located in her hallway. It was small enough that the candle almost completely lit the room, and yet I somehow managed to put my pants on backwards. After taking the extra time to put my pants on the right way, I walked out of the room, forgot the candle, went back, got the candle, and then walked back into the living room.
Tegan had her eyes closed, sitting up on the couch. I plopped down next to her, startling her from her half sleep.
"Jeez! Give me a heart attack why don't you?"
I chuckled, "Sorry,"
"I want to go to bed." She said, standing up from her seat
"Me too, do you have some pillows and blankets? I'll sleep on the couch." I offered, despite the fact that I really, really, didn't want to sleep on the couch, alone with this storm, but I doubted Tegan would let me sleep in her room.
"Ugh, I do, but they're in the back closet in a cubby. It's too dark to get them, and I'm too tired. Can you just sleep in my bed?"
"Oh god, thank you. I didn't want to sleep out here alone while all hell is breaking loose outside."
"I figured you wouldn't," Tegan smiled at me, and then started blowing out the candles.
I too, blew some of the candles out.
I followed Tegan into her room. I waited until after she got into the bed before I did myself.
I sank down into her blankets, the aroma of the detergent filling my nose. My eyelids grew more and heavier, and I drifted off into sleep.