They Say Opposites Attract

XVIII. The Calm

[Sumiko]

It wasn't all too long before my supposed fever had gone away completely. If your idea of not too long is nearly a week's time.

But something was bothering me.

"You'll be more careful around her from now on," Lana asked me, causing me to sit up. Well, she told me to call her that, but I suspect that it isn't her real name. "Right?"

I had given an immediate nod afterwards, deciding that I'd avoid Raven as much as possible. However. That wasn't what was bothering me.

I got up off the bed and stood in front of her. I stood close enough that whisper would reach her. At which I did. A nearly soundless whisper.

Lana sighed at that before leaning against the door behind her in a way that caused it to close. Her expression... those sea blue eyes.

She started to tell me that it was nothing, but one look at my serious expression stopped her. "Why do you want to know?" Lana asked me, her voice trailing off at the end. I simply looked away at a spot on the floor in response to that.

It had been bothering me for a while. After all, ever since I heard her say something about getting the door.... she's had this depressed darkness in her eyes.

But how was I supposed to tell her that? While I do know sign language well, I don't know it enough to say that without spelling each individual word out, which would take decades to do.

Not only that, but phrases spoken in whispers can be easily misheard. I learned that the hard way myself.

"..." There's was a long moment of silence that washed through the room before Lana spoke up. "You really want to know?"

It wasn't that I desperately wanted to know, but rather, I wanted to help with whatever was bothering her. I could only look away in response to her words, messing with the bottom hem of my shirt. After a long moment, I had decided to nod once.

Lana sighed at that before walking past me, sitting on the edge of the bed. I slowly turned to look at her. Her, who had an expression that one would call depressed.

"I..." her voice trailed off as she shifted her gaze at me. "What am I supposed to do?" She asked me. Despite looking in my direction, her eyes seemed vacant, shadowed, even.

I couldn't help but tilt my head in question as I sat down beside her. "You..." Lana started, staring down at a spot on the floor. "You won't tell anyone... right?"

I nodded once in response to her question. I could only guess that she saw from the edge other vision when she spoke up again.

"What am I supposed to do when it's obvious that she doesn't see me the same way as I see her?" She asked in a near mutter.

I couldn't help but tilt my head in question at that. Who's her?

Lana noticed my questioning expression and sighed, "Recently... I've fallen for one of my friends. Maybe it's because she's changed, maybe it's because she depends on me so much..." she tells me in a shaky voice.

Out of all the advice I've ever given to others, this was out of my expertise. Sure, I used to spend a majority of my time reading books, but I've no clue what to tell her nonetheless.

Lana took note of my expression and shook her head. "I... I'll figure it out," she tells me, wiping her eyes with the backs of her wrists.

I gave a small nod at that before moving close enough to hug Lana. She seemed to hesitate quite a bit before she decided to hug me back. I could help but notice how cold her touch was, but it wasn't enough to spark worry.

Despite the awkward position of us both sitting on the edge of her bed, we had stayed like this for a while, my mind oddly blank. There are some moments we wish to last forever. This was one of them.

It wasn't long until Lana spoke up, finally letting go. Her expression seemed so carefree now. Like there was nothing wrong with the world. Like she didn't have to worry anymore.

"Would you mind if I suddenly kissed you?" Lana asked with a slightly tilted head. I couldn't help but nod at that. Even though she did help me recover (as well as kept bringing food and water), I still mind.

She stared at me in silence for a few moments before giving a small smile. "I thought so. Maybe it will work out after all," she says in a mutter. When I tilted my head in question, she spoke up again, "You don't look all that opposed to another girl kissing you."

How exactly she came to that conclusion, I've no idea. But. I'm not opposed to it at all. In fact, I do prefer other girls to guys. My mom tells me I've been like that for more years than I could remember.

I couldn't help but shift my gaze away from her.

"Sorry, I'm just thinking out loud," Lana told me in response to my response. "You should probably get to your parents," she tells me. "And maybe we can talk some more later if you want."

I gave a nod in response to that, looking back at her.

I honestly would.