She had settled in her new room, which she had to admit was amazing! It actually had a view, a rather good one too and was definitely light. It was too high for anyone to break into, so much safer.
The first thing she noticed walking in was the huge balcony window and of course the huge balcony to go with it. The room was a very open space and combined a bedroom with a living room and a kitchen as on the left from walking in there was a stove and a mini fridge. On the right there was a bathroom which she was reluctant to go in after her last adventure. The bed covered a large area in the rest of the space and looked incredibly comfortable.
The whole room was beautiful and weirdly enough, seemed untouched. She dropped her things on the floor and jumped on the bed. It was soft and she felt it bounce from under her body. She settled down and lay watching the ceiling. It was barely even morning, despite being up all night she wasn't ready to sleep. Just resting was good for now.
A knock on the door was heard interrupting her rest.
"Who could it be at this time?"
She struggled to get up, her muscles aching slightly, and walked to the door. She opened it.
-Trishtan?
The man was standing at the doorstep, his usual smile in place.
-Hey, can I help?
Mika was puzzled.
-What help?
-I sensed you needed me, are you in trouble?
It took a while before what he said sunk in her head.
-Uh… No, I don't think so…
Trishtan laughed awkwardly.
-Oh, I am terribly sorry. I must be completely losing it to be this far out...
Mika felt a smile creep onto her face for some reason. She tried to hide it but it wouldn't go. A smile is indeed contagious, as they say.
-Well, since you're here, want anything to drink? I haven't had the chance to thank you for all your help..
Trishtan's grin got wider; and brighter.
-Sure, thanks!
Mika stepped aside and let Trishtan come in. She pushed the door closed behind him and headed for the mini fridge. She opened it for the first time, slightly surprised to see its contents. An awful lot of milk.
-Uhh, so what do you want to drink? she said while slamming the fridge door closed.
-Just water, he said while looking around the room. That's a great view you've got from here.
His eyes were fixed on the sight outside through the glass window. Mika filled a cup with water from the tap and joined Trishtan in admiring the view.
-Your water, she said as she handed it to him.
-Thanks.
He took a sip from it, his eyes never leaving the view. Mika, who hadn't really studied it from when she got there, did so now. Trishtan seemed engrossed by it but it failed to impress her. She could see all the town, the tops of the buildings and the desert, it surrounded the place like sea surrounded an island, it was all that could be seen from the horizon.
-You like the view she asked?
-Strangely enough, yeah, he laughed. Something about it… makes you think there's life outside this town.
Mika chuckled inwardly. Yeah, and I live there, she thought.
-I've been stuck here for a day and I feel like it's been years.
Trishtan looked at her with a smile.
-Time really goes by slowly here, doesn't it?
Mika smiled back.
-Yeah.
They stood next to each other in silence. It was a comfortable silence and Mika didn't want to be the one to break it. However, one thought popped in her head that she had to voice.
-Um… you've said before that you can sense someone in trouble but not how serious trouble, right?
-Yes, I can sense anyone who needs me, he said adding a thumbs up.
Mika lowered her head as she felt her cheeks light up at what she was about to say; no way though, she's not the kind to blush!
-Well… I think I do need you…
There was a slight pause so she looked up. That's when she locked eyes with Trishtan. She almost felt dizzy staring into his beautiful eyes, the way they were staring back at her. There was something that made her feel so safe, so secure…
Trishtan leaned towards her, his lips closing in on hers. At first she was too startled to react, but then she responded. Their lips met. The kiss was sweet at first, but started to get more intense by the second. She felt his hands roam on her back, she hadn't even noticed when they got there and her own were tugging at the neckline of his shirt. Once she noticed she was doing this she stopped, driven by the heat of the moment she was doing things subconsciously, they both were. Trishtan's hands seemed to be getting lower and their bodies were now pressed together, she hadn't realized when that happened either.
Managing to regain some self-control, she stopped the kiss. Trishtan was still looking at her with those eyes that seemed to say "I like you", or so she hoped. She looked down for a sec to recompose herself. Her hands were still on Trishtan's shoulders, almost like she was pushing him back.
-I'm sorry, she said, I can't.
-Can't what? he asked.
-I just broke up with my boyfriend, over the phone too, this town's got me doing crazy things! I just don't think it's right to do this, right now.
Trishtan nodded in understanding.
-It's ok. I don't know what got me, I just started going too fast… Sorry..
Now he looked like he could die of embarrassment. Mika didn't know what to say she just left it at that.
-Oh look at the time! he said looking at his left arm which didn't actually have a watch on it. I should get going.
Mika nodded. It would be better if he left. She was very confused and had many things to work out.
She escorted him to the door, the events that had just occurred playing over in her head. She couldn't help but blush. She kept her head down so it would go unnoticed.
Trishtan looked back before leaving.
-See you around.
With that he left, Mika standing at the doorstep and leaning slightly on the frame, a smile on her face that she wasn't even conscious of. She stayed like that for several minutes before retreating into the room.
Night again and Mika was hitting the town. She wasn't the type to stay out partying all night, although the noise from the saloon didn't seem to promise a peaceful, uninterrupted sleep, but she only had one friend in this town and she liked to visit.
She entered the saloon, the scent of smoke and alcohol hitting her right away. It was as crowded as usual and she had to push her way past to the bar. There serving was a woman she had seen the other night. She looked like she was in her mid 40s, her curly hair tied-up in a bun and wearing a pink apron. The bar was pretty full, Mika had struggled to get a newly-vacated seat. There were many customers waiting to be served and the woman was obviously struggling to cope. Kaylen who was normally there doing the donkey work was nowhere to be seen.
The woman had served most of the thirsty customers their beers (not much variety) when she got to Mika.
-What will this lady be having?
-I was just wondering, do you know where Kaylen is?
The woman's expression got serious.
-That girl… She went at the hotel with the hotel manager to talk about some issue or stuff and hasn't come back since!
Mika froze.
-Say what?
The woman seemed puzzled by Mika's reaction.
-What's wrong miss?
-You say she went to the hotel?
-Yes. Wait, are you the new hotel manager?
-Yes...
-Ohh! And Mayor Jackson did tell me some blue-haired girl had taken over!
-Yes yes, but the issue is more serious…
-What issue?
Mika didn't know what to think. Ever since finding that corpse in her bathroom she considered the hotel a dangerous place. The fact she had nowhere else to go forced her to live there.
-Um.. she's been to the hotel and hasn't come back… I'm concerned.
The curly-haired woman looked slightly worried for a moment but recomposed herself.
-Oh I'm sure she's ok! she said with a laugh and moved on to the next customer. Oh wait, did you want anything to drink?
-No thanks, Mika replied and the woman resumed to taking the order of the person next to her.
Mika leaned her forehead on the bar, hands around her head as she sunk into her thoughts. She really hoped Kaylen was ok, she really hoped so…