Gateway To My Soul

I collect everything I ordered and headed straight for the bus stop since I decided that I would wait till the festival to take pictures so I don't waste any film.

I wasn't gone for too long but they might be up now.

A notification sound from my phone catches my attention as I'm turning the key in the key hole.

Once I'm inside I sat my drink and the pizza box on the table.

I was starting to feel hungry so I couldn't wait to try what I had bought from that bar.

I took out my phone from my pocket and realized I got a text from Greylar.

I opened the message.

Greylar: Come outside on the balcony. If your busy text back.

[ The message was sent 34 minutes ago. ]

I looked at the balcony's entrance and slowly began to move my feet.

[ I'm nervous now...but I really wanted to see him. ]

I smiled uncontrollably.

When I came to the realization that I was probably smiling too much I covered my mouth tightly to quickly hide it.

[ How long have I been doing that?

I'm not afraid to smile I just...

Have I loss the inability to control my emotions?

I must be really easy to read to some people. ]

Before I knew it the smile faded away.

I opened the door to the balcony and stepped outside. I turned to see Greylar sitting on the rails that connect his apartment to the balcony.

I slid the door closed behind me and walked closer to my rail, immediately realizing the distance between his balcony and mines.

I also realized how long his legs were. When he sits on the rail he is the same height as me.

He smirks at me.

I bit my lip to keep from smiling so brightly.

"Are we going somewhere?" I asked him.

"Yes. Tonight" he said looking at me after glancing at the ground.

I broke eye contact as soon as he looked at me. I watched the leaves on the trees sway in the one direction.

[ I was about to ask where until I realized that I had class tomorrow morning.

Why'd he have to ask me to go somewhere tonight. ]

"When do you plan on taking me home?" I say giving my scalp a small scratch.

"When you are ready to go home."

[ I keep reminding myself that this guy is kind of a stranger but I feel oddly comfortable with him, knowing that I don't know anything about him and he doesn't know much about me.

I want to go with him but I feel like I should say no.

But this could give me an opportunity to learn something. ]

"Hey" he said calling out to me gently.

"Yes?" was all I said.

"You need a bathing suit." He said with lack of emotion.

[ oh we're just going swimming.

Wait a minute-

It's like October, I don't think there are any pools open.

I honestly don't feel like thinking of all the places we could need a bathing suit for so I'm just going to hope we aren't doing anything illegal. ]

"I'll see you tonight then. Are you driving me again?" I asked him.

"Yes if you don't mind." He said standing on his feet now.

I slid open the balcony door and walked inside.

Time passed a little and I was sitting on my bed enjoying the pizza I got from Fates Lounge with Talia.

While I stare at the TV screen, out the corner of my eye Talia side-eyed me a few times.

I was going to repeat something the Joker said in my head and I was interrupted by the sound of the TV turning off.

"I think we should address something" Talia said.

"Nooo I was watching that!" I say kind of mad now.

"Let's talk" Talia grabs my hand.

I snatched it away playfully.

"No no noooo I don't want to talk I just want to watch suicide squad" I say sighing heavily.

"Pleaseee I just want to talk about the festival-" she starts to say.

"No you don't. You just want to be nosy." I say

I continued looking at every inch of the TV screen.

[ If I don't look at her then she can't trick me into telling her stuff. ]

"I just want to know if you are going to the festival." She throws her hands up in defeat.

"Of course I'm going. I get to party with strangers and old heads and get harassed by drunkards at the bar."

I said taking a bite of my pizza crust.

She gave me a look.

"I'm kidding. Not." I say munching on my pizza crust.

"Are you bringing your guy friend?" [ She finally stops beating around the bush. ]

"Are you bringing your guy friend?" I respond.

"I don't have any guy friends I want to-"

"Well I guess we both found an answer" she shook my arm in aggravation as I try to take a bite of the pizza that rested in the arm she was shaking.

"Nel I'm serious" she said dragging out the end of her words.

"I am too." I glanced at her and she quickly started pouting.

[ Ughhh my eyes. I forgot not to look. ]

"Why are you bothering me about this" I say chewing my pizza some more.

"Because I want to know if you like him and are you dating" she said taking a bite of some pizza.

"We aren't dating and we're just hanging out" I say looking for the remote.

She smirked at me.

"If you don't want to admit it that's fine but please be careful and be safe. Do you know a lot about him?"

[ I didn't see the remote anywhere. She must be sitting on it. ]

"No but I plan to find out. So stop worrying okay." I said meeting her gaze.

"I'm going out tonight" I say looking at her still, to see her reaction.

"What? With the same guy?" I nodded in agreement.

She didn't say anything else. She removed the remote from under her and turned on the TV.

I started to pay attention to the TV again.

I sighed, knowing that I missed some of the best parts of the movie.

[ I know she wants to know everything that I'm doing with this guy but I don't like telling people my business. And she knows that.

We're just two people hanging out. I don't know if you'd call us friends. I mean I think we might be friends but I don't want to speculate.

After all that I just want to sleep. I wonder why he chose to want to go somewhere with me tonight.

He must want to talk about something. ]

I looked at the black screen my phone displayed. Then my eyes found its way back to the TV.

Once the movie was over I decided to go brush my teeth and wash my face.

As I brushed my teeth I stared at myself in the mirror.

[ They say your eyes are the gateway to your soul.

When I look into my eyes, why do I feel scared. ]

The continuous brushing I was doing snapped me out of it.

I could hear the sound of the TV playing in the background. But I couldn't make out what was playing.

[ Talia was still awake so I guess she's waiting to see me off. Probably hoping to get a glimpse of Greylar. ]

I looked over my shoulder.

She was sitting on the bed counting her toes with her fingers, while looking at the TV screen.

I looked back at the mirror but not for too long.

I couldn't help but think about the time she almost drowned every time I think about water or either of us are near it.

I rinsed the product off my face with warm water and covered my face with a green microfiber towel.