Sora of the Moon

NATHAN~16

I gently laid Claire on her bed. She looked so peaceful and yet I was under pressure. I was lucky to find her key on her pouch. There were so many things going on and I wanted Claire out of this. I brushed her hair away from her face just to let myself drawn in her mundane beauty. This time she had been reborn as I remembered her. A brunette. It was so unfair. I had given up so many things for her to be safe but here she is now. Completely awakened. Without any memory of me. And things would remain like that. I left my towel on her desk and took off her glasses so she wouldn't break or crack them. I threw a blanket on her and I walked towards the door. That was the plan, but something wouldn't let me leave her alone. I could at least wait for Hayley to return. It was dangerous, especially with the awakening happening and all. Eventually I decided to stay by her side. I really didn't want someone from the Sun Tribe invading her room. I brought the chair from the desk and stood by her. Well, I could just stay here all night watching over her but I needed something to keep me busy so I wouldn't be falling asleep.

My eye spotted her sketch book and I smiled victoriously. I took it and started going through the painted pages. Drawing was always one of my passions and I so much adored the fact that Claire was an artist in this life. She even told me that she wanted to draw me. I was pretty flattered actually. I noticed that most of her drawings were romantic. Couples standing on clouds, flowers, sunsets. But those weren't ordinary couples. Each one of them had something supernatural either that being horns or pointed ears.

"You yearn for that kind of romance, don't you my love?" I spoke fascinated.

I laughed at myself who was actually waiting for an answer. There was no way that I would get one, not with her sleeping that soundly. My attention caught her last painted page. This was a couple with angel wings standing outside a floating castle. The girl had black wings while the boy had white. I smiled thinking that in reality was quite the opposite plus the boy had no wings that he could be proud of. This was a bittersweet feeling for me. Seeing that kind of drawing. I flipped the page and used the blank one for my sketch. I reached to my pocket to take out the two pencils I always carry with me. You never know when the inspiration is going to strike.

I started sketching her sleeping beauty from my point of view. I was so into it to be honest. I had literally decades to make a painting of her. I used to do it all the time when I still had my wings. I have a whole chest hidden back in the castle, full of her. I started doing that because I didn't want to forget any version of her. But then things kept going more and more difficult and so I stopped. I had forgotten how much joy this brought me. While drawing her, memories of all the years we passed together overflowed my mind. I came to the point of not actually seeing the lines I drew. My hand moved spontaneously along with my memory. How many times had we exchanged passionate kisses, how many times had we flown together, how many times had I held her on my arms... How nostalgic. I so desperately wanted to go back to the day I first fell in love with her, oblivious of what was to come from those feelings of mine. But that could not be done. It was okay. I would definitely figure something out. I would get us out of this mess. The thing was, I didn't know how.

The door opened abruptly cutting my thought off. Hayley had just stepped into the room and for a moment I was worried that I would scare her. It would make sense thinking that I stood in darkness over her friend, sketching. She immediately spotted me bringing her hands in front of her mouth.

"Oh my God. Is this a bad time?" She whispered and I nodded in denial.

"You sneaky little... you should have told me that you wanted the room for yourselves Nathan!" She continued on the same tone.

I smiled at her wrong assumption.

"No Hayley, we weren't doing anything. She is sleeping and well I..."

"Ah! You wanted to attack her on her sleep while she was drunk too? You jerk!"

I couldn't help but laugh.

"Not at all! I'm drawing her, drawing!" I held the block up to show her.

Her expression changed in a matter of seconds.

"Oh... really? Let me see".

She stood above me and flashed her phone light to the paper.

"Beautiful! You're so talented. But, really, isn't that a little, just a tiny little bit, creepy?"

"How so?" I asked concerned.

"Well, you are standing over her head. If I were her and woke up seeing you like this, I would've freaked out, not gonna lie".

"You may be right. I just ran to Claire while she was heading for the dorms. She didn't look well and I would offer her an escort to your guys room but she collapsed on my chest before I could ask. So I brought her here and stayed just in case she needed something until you come. I know I totally look like an invader but I swear this was just it".

She smiled playfully.

"How kind of you. You're so noble Nathan". She said yawning.

She looked completely exhausted. I quickly signed the paper and pulled it out of the sketch book. I walked to Claire's desk and left it under her glasses.

"Okay then. I shall take my leave. Please don't tell Claire that I was the one who drew this".

She sat on her bed confused.

"But why? She would be delighted".

That was just a selfish urge of mine. Under any circumstances I didn't want her to know that it was me who drew her. I should be keeping my distance from her. That was an extra. I didn't plan for this. I guess I couldn't help but do it. God, I was hopeless.

"Just do this favor for me. I like some mystery".

"Oh, is this how you're going to play? I get it and I'm liking it. I won't say a thing, you have Hayley's precious word".

She hit her fist on her chest proudly and I sighed in relief.

"Thanks. Goodnight Hayley".

She yawned again and fell on her pillow.

"Goodnight... Be careful not to get caught! You wouldn't want detention on the first day now do ya?"

"You're right, I wouldn't. See you".

I said and closed the door behind me. I looked at the empty corridor in front of me and took a deep breath. Tomorrow, it would be a big day...