4: He's gone part 2

"Be my summer in a winter's day"

*****

"Skye get up!"

"Skye!" Nova's voice echoes through my room, urging me to wake up from my slumber. Groggily, I open my eyes and stretch, attempting to shake off the remnants of sleep.

"I'm up, I'm up. Jesus!" I mumble in response, rubbing my eyes to awaken my senses. Nova informs me that breakfast is ready, prompting me to promise her that I'll be downstairs shortly after getting ready.

As I step out of bed, it dawns on me—I had forgotten that Nova was in my room earlier, which means she must have seen Blake in my bed. Panic fills my chest, and I hastily blurt out, "I can explain!" Nova gazes at me with a mix of confusion and caution, her eyes silently urging me to elaborate. "Explain what?" she asks carefully, her tone laced with curiosity. I struggle to find the right words, my sentence hanging unfinished in the air, as I realise that Blake is no longer there. He's gone, leaving me with unanswered questions and a feeling of abandonment.

Nova's concern breaks through my thoughts as she asks, "Are you okay, Skye?" Caught off guard, I respond with a vague, "Huh?" She places her hand on my forehead, checking for signs of a fever.

"Are you okay? Do you have a fever?" Nova's touch is warm and comforting, but I brush off her concern, laughing nervously. "No, I'm fine. I guess I'm still tired," I assure her, gently removing her hand from my forehead. "I swear, I'm fine," I emphasise, sensing her lingering worry. It feels as though she's scrutinising me, questioning my sanity. Well, if she thinks I'm crazy, it's about time she noticed.

Trying to push aside the sting of betrayal from Blake's abrupt departure, I make my way to the en suite for a quick shower. After dressing up, I approach the bed to tidy the dishevelled blankets. As I draw near, my eyes catch sight of a piece of paper on the spot where Blake had slept. My heart skips a beat, and I dash towards it, picking it up with trembling hands. The note, penned by Blake, reads,

"I'm sorry I left without saying goodbye, but I had to attend to something urgent. Thank you for tending to my wounds. I hope you don't treat other strangers the same way. I'll see you soon, my beautiful mate.

-Blake."

The word "mate" lingers in my mind, stirring up confusion and questions. Does he see me merely as a friend? Perhaps it's a term he uses casually. "He probably does, Skye," a voice in my head responds, offering a plausible explanation. After all, why would a stranger call me their mate? The realisation hits me hard, and I feel a surge of anger rise within me. How could I have been so foolish to attach meaning to that kiss? I scold myself for my vulnerability, for allowing this connection to grow when I barely know him. It's official—I've lost my mind.

Crushing the note in my hand, I toss it into the nearby bin, hoping to discard the remnants of a fleeting encounter. Leaving my room behind, I descend the stairs, making my way to the kitchen. Nova, ever cheerful, greets me with a plate of delicious food.

"Finally, I thought you fell asleep in the shower again," she teases. I shot her a pointed look, reminding her that we had agreed not to bring up that embarrassing incident. Ignoring my glare, she bursts into laughter, finding amusement at my expense.

Grateful for the distraction, I dive into my breakfast, relishing the flavours that momentarily distract me from the swirling thoughts in my mind. Bacon, oh, the heavenly delight that it is! Its savoury taste brings me a small measure of solace amid the chaos of emotions.

"Good news," Nova exclaims, her eyes gleaming with excitement. "I haven't been called in for work today, which means we can go shopping!"

Her enthusiasm for retail therapy is boundless, and I know all too well that resisting her shopaholic tendencies is futile. I lean back in my chair, contemplating my desire for relaxation and a Netflix marathon, but Nova's plea for quality time tugs at my heartstrings.

"Fine," I surrender, a smile tugging at the corners of my lips. "But next time, it's my turn to choose what we do." Nova squeals in delight, her joy contagious. Our friendship has weathered the test of time, and despite our differences, moments like these remind me of the bond we share.

"Nova, that's your twentieth outfit already," I groan, my patience wearing thin as she emerges from yet another changing room. The hours have flown by, and hunger gnaws at my stomach. I feel like I could devour two horses at this point, that's how famished I am.

"Oh, relax," Nova retorts, undeterred by my exasperation. "After this, I promise we'll head to the food court." Five hours of watching her try on clothes, and she hasn't made a single purchase yet. I begin to wonder if this shopping excursion will ever end.

"What do you think about this?" Nova asks, stepping out of the changing room once more. I summon my dwindling patience and plaster a smile on my face. "It looks beautiful. Can we please leave now? I'm practically wilting from hunger." Nova's disappointment is evident in her glare, as if I have failed in my duty as the ultimate shopping companion.

"Fine," she huffs, her disappointment quickly giving way to determination. "I'll take them all. The more, the merrier!" I marvel at her decisiveness, wondering how one person can have such an insatiable appetite for clothes. After Nova's extravagant shopping spree, we finally bid farewell to the store and made our way towards the tantalising aromas wafting from the nearby food market.

Sitting down at a booth, Nova settles on her desired meal. "A double cheeseburger, fries, and a Coke Zero," she announces. I join the line, waiting impatiently as the annoyed cashier takes her time attending to each order. I can't help but wonder what has crawled up her pants, souring her mood. Finally, with food in hand, I thanked the cashier, my voice tinged with relief.

"Took you long enough," Nova quips, eyeing the tray of food I've brought to the table. "I thought I was going to starve to death." Rolling my eyes, I retort, "It's not my fault this place is so popular." Nova simply rolls her eyes in response, eager to satiate her hunger.

Taking a sip of my drink, I engage Nova in conversation. "So, how was the bar last night?" I inquired, curiosity piqued. Nova's face lights up, and a mischievous smile plays on her lips. "It was fun. I danced with some boys, drank a lot of alcohol. Nothing out of the ordinary," she replies nonchalantly, as if it's a routine occurrence for her.

Intrigued, I press further. "Did you meet someone?" I ask, my tone laced with a hint of excitement.

"No, but you did," Nova's smirk tells me that she knows something I don't.

Perplexed, I give her a puzzled look. "What do you mean I met someone?" I inquire, trying to unravel the mystery behind her cryptic remark.

"Don't give me that look," Nova teases, her eyes dancing with mischief. "I read the note on your bedside table. So, who's this Blake?" My cheeks flush with embarrassment, and I protest, throwing a fry at her playfully. "You shouldn't be snooping through my things," I scold, though a part of me appreciates her unyielding curiosity.

Unfazed by my protest, Nova smirks and shrugs. "Well, is this Blake guy hot?" she asks, wiggling her eyebrows mischievously. I roll my eyes, exasperated by her persistent antics. "You don't need to know that. And please, stop wiggling your eyebrows. It's rather creepy."

Undeterred, Nova continues to wiggle her eyebrows, revelling in my discomfort. "Like this?" she asks, raising them up and down dramatically. I groan, playfully swatting at her hand. "Yes, exactly like that. Now, stop it. You're giving me the creeps," I declare, unable to suppress a laugh.

"I think I look pretty cool doing it," Nova counters, once again indulging in her eyebrow-wiggling shenanigans. I shake my head, feigning disbelief. "Sure, and Beyonce is married to my cousin," I retorted, my tone dripping with sarcasm.

Nova's eyes widened, momentarily bewildered. "Really? When did that happen?" she asks, her face a mix of surprise and confusion. We hold each other's gaze for a moment before bursting into laughter, drawing puzzled glances from the other patrons.

In that shared moment of laughter and camaraderie, I feel a deep gratitude for Nova's unwavering presence in my life. We may be a little eccentric, a touch crazy even, but our bond remains unbreakable. The world may perceive us as two friends caught in the whirlwind of ordinary life, but in reality, we are so much more—a support system, confidants, partners in crime.

As we continue to enjoy our meal, swapping stories and bantering back and forth, I can't help but feel a sense of comfort wash over me. Blake's sudden departure may have left me feeling adrift, but in Nova's company, I find solace and a reminder that life goes on.

Who knows what adventures lie ahead for us, what twists and turns await on this rollercoaster ride we call life? With Nova by my side, I am ready to embrace the unknown, ready to face whatever challenges come our way. After all, together, we can conquer anything.

And so, we sit there in the bustling food market, savouring not only the food on our plates but also the treasured moments that form our friendship. Our laughter continues to fill the air, defying the constraints of ordinary reality, as we revel in the joy of being two souls intertwined in an extraordinary journey called friendship.