Memories

XXXVI

PAPER RINGS

'The moon is high
Like your friends were the night that we first met
Went home and tried to stalk you on the internet
Now I've read all of the books beside your bed'

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Neil did come back eventually. Thalia had already returned from her own run, and she'd stayed up to wait for him, though Kevin had offered her the chair in his room. She'd accepted, and sat in it for five minutes before standing up and walking down the stairs to sit in the chair in the living room.

"Thalia?" Neil whispered, out of breath from his run. She hummed. "What are you doing still up?"

"Making sure you came back." She answered truthfully. Neil seemed to wince, but Thalia stood and walked over to the front door. She locked it and headed up the stairs without another word. She forgot about Kevin's chair and instead flopped on the bed. She faced inwards so her back was closest to the wall, even though there was a measurable space between the two. But the door was on the other side of the room, and that was enough for Thalia.

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When she woke up, Thalia was alone in a bed she didn't recognise. She panicked, and lashed out, not realising there was actually someone else in the bed. Then she panicked more, and kicked out. There was a noise of pain and Thalia looked over the edge to see Kevin on the floor rubbing his ankle.

"Shit, Thalia." he muttered. "Just remember you're the one who got into my bed last night." She widened her eyes.

"Damnit, I'm sorry Kevin." she said. "I didn't mean to. I was just so tired I forgot about the chair. I panicked and kicked out. Sorry." Thalia muttered again and helped Kevin up. He seemed fine, just a little sore.

"I'm not worried about the bed thing," he said. "Just surprised. And It doesn't hurt that much." Thalia looked up into his eyes to look for any sign of a lie. There wasn't. Kevin seemed to misinterpret her look, and leaned down. Thalia didn't lean away, surprising herself. Instead, she closed her eyes and only tensed slightly when Kevin's hands rested on her hips. They'd done that before when they danced. But Kevin had never kissed her before.

Kevin's lips were soft, a complete contradiction to what Thalia had imagined them to feel like. He pulled away, unsure of himself, but Thalia grabbed the back of his neck and pulled him down to her lips again. She put her hands on his face and slowly moved her thumbs across his cheeks.

It felt like forever, but only lasted a few seconds. "I'm sorry," Kevin whispered and Thalia's heart dropped slightly.

"I'm not." she said as confidently as she could. Thalia opened her eyes and looked up at Kevin. He was gazing at her and then wrapped his arms around her in a hug. Thalia did the same and her head laid on his chest. She knew he wasn't saying sorry for the kiss. He was saying sorry for everything she'd been through. Everything she'd endured in her life. And she was saying she wasn't sorry, because if she had to go through all of it again to get to this point, she wouldn't change a thing.

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"Kevin," Nathalia whispered. She held her hands, palm face up. The older boy hummed and she entered his bedroom. She'd been in there a few times, but only briefly when the boys needed to get something on their way to the court or classes or some other place. "I fell over outside. Riko told me to get you to clean it up for me." He turned in his desk chair and crossed the room.

Kevin took her hands in his and looked them over. There were shallow grazes on her palms from the concrete. Nothing too major, but it needed to be cleaned and bandaged to avoid infection. Kevin took her over to his desk and opened a drawer. He pulled out a first aid kit and smiled at Nathalia. "For emergencies." he said, making her smile despite herself. "Let me see." He cleared the space on his desk and Nathalia sat on it, holding her hands out for him to see.

"Ah, I see what's happened," Kevin said. "You've been attacked by the concrete monster." Nathalia laughed and tried not to wince as Kevin pressed an antiseptic pad to her palm. "There, all done." he said once he'd put band aids on them. Nathalia smiled and jumped off the desk.

"Thanks Kev!" She said happily. Kevin smiled. 

"No problem, Lia." 

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"So, how'd you like California?" Kevin asked. Nathalia grinned and jumped around the room. He laughed.

"Oh, it was everything I imagined," she said and flopped back onto the sofa. "The beaches, the people. Oh, Kev, it was amazing!" Kevin laughed at her and moved her legs so he could sit down with her.

"Well I'm glad you enjoyed it, but Riko's got a nasty sunburn." Nathalia sat up immediately, worried for her friend. "He's fine, just a little sore." Kevin said as he reached for the remote. Nathalia nodded and lay back down. She turned her head so she could see the tv. The two often watched cartoons together, though it wasn't exactly permitted. All they ever really watched were rematches of their old games, criticizing their own moves and mistakes. Nathalia found happiness in the difference, and contentment with spending time with Kevin.