Thoughts That Count
Episode 5 Part 5
Ezra
I held her in the doorway to my apartment, trying to steal a few more seconds before she had to leave, holding her as close to me as I could. I pecked her again and again as she pulled away, trying to hold onto her until the last possible second.
"K, bye," she whispered so quietly as she turned away.
"Wait," I said, grabbing her arm, unwilling to lose her just yet, "You sure you have to go?" Any chance that I could convince her to stay would make this all seem more real. Right now it seemed like one of those romance novels where the girl always rambled on about how she couldn't get enough, always wanting to be closer…
Aria looked almost pained, "Yeah. It was so weird when I left home this morning. I'm… not really sure what I'm going to walk into." I nodded, sympathizing for her. In a way I convinced myself her staying would not just be for me. Those stolen seconds away from the real world were hers as well.
"I like having you here," I told her, no shame, no hiding it.
"Well, I didn't say I wasn't coming back," she alluded with a flirtatious wave of her eyebrows. I laughed. Knowing she'd come back made it easier to loosen my grip on her arm.
"What if I cook us dinner, tomorrow night?" She suggested.
"Oh," I said in surprise, "You cook?"
"Yeah. How do you feel about enhanced macaroni and cheese?" she asked slyly.
Enhanced? "Uh… Frightened. What do you mean by enhanced?"
"Well it means I'm cooking fettuccini, but I don't want you to get your hopes up."
"Ah," I breathed, enlightened. Maybe she'd be able to save us from any more of my so-called-cooking.
I leaned in to kiss her one last time before she left. She looked back one last time as she rounded the corner, tucking a strand of her thick dark hair back.
Closing the door to my apartment, I felt like I was on air. Somehow, everything was just perfect.