Something About Us

The aftertaste of Chris's visit lingered like a faint, unwelcome perfume. Though Heather and Rhys spent a few more hours together, their usual easy camaraderie was replaced by a strained politeness, a subtle tension that crackled in the air between them. Chris's declaration had irrevocably shifted the dynamic, casting a shadow over their comfortable intimacy.

They lay side by side on Heather's bed, the silence punctuated only by the soft ticking of the clock on her nightstand. "I'm gonna go in a few. I'll need to wake up early tomorrow," Rhys said, his voice a touch too casual.

Heather nodded, her gaze fixed on the ceiling. Then, she turned to him, her eyes searching his. "What should I do?" she asked, her voice barely a whisper.

Rhys looked at her, his expression unreadable. "I'm not going to tell you what to do," he said, his voice firm but gentle. He paused, gathering his thoughts. "I know we've been joking about the marriage thing while we were staying at the hotel a few months back. But I don't want you to hold yourself back just because of that."

He turned onto his side, facing her, his eyes locking with hers. "I want you to do what your heart tells you to do. If you want to give Chris a chance, you can go on a few dates with him to see if it'll work out. If not, then you can just tell him." He offered her a small, reassuring smile, but his eyes betrayed a flicker of something else – a hint of sadness, perhaps, or a quiet resignation.

Heather nodded, her mind a whirlwind of conflicting emotions. She had decided that she would give Chris a chance, a chance to explore the unfamiliar territory of a potential romance. She needed to understand if her feelings for Rhys were truly romantic or merely the comfortable affection of a lifelong friendship, amplified by the close proximity and shared experiences of the past few months.

After Rhys left, the silence in her room seemed to amplify, a heavy, oppressive weight. Heather went through her nightly routine, the familiar rituals a soothing balm to her restless mind.

The nightmares that had plagued her sleep after her return from the hotel had gradually subsided, replaced by a sense of quiet unease. She could now sleep without Rhys's comforting presence, but she still kept the bedside lamp on, a small beacon against the encroaching darkness.

The morning arrived with a pale, gray light filtering through her window. Heather reached for her phone, her fingers hovering over the screen. A text message from an unknown number caught her eye. Assuming it was a spam message, she ignored it and went to the bathroom, the sound of running water filling the silence.

Over breakfast, Heather discussed her schooling plans with her aunt and uncle. The new academic year was approaching rapidly, and she needed to find a school to continue her nursing studies. Having completed two years of the program, she only needed two more years to graduate.

They searched online for schools near their home that offered nursing, discovering one conveniently located just three blocks away from Starlight Entertainment. Marjorie and Heather decided to visit the school to inquire about the enrollment requirements.

The following days were a flurry of activity, as they gathered the necessary documents, including her transcript of records from her previous school. Once enrolled, they embarked on a shopping spree, acquiring textbooks, notebooks, uniforms, and the essential nursing tools.

Finally, with everything in order, Heather could finally breathe a sigh of relief, the whirlwind of preparations subsiding.

"Auntie, who will take care of Dave when I go to school?" Heather asked, her voice laced with concern.

"Why, I will, sweetie," Marjorie replied, placing a cup of frappe on the table for Heather. They were at her aunt's coffee shop, a cozy space filled with the aroma of freshly brewed coffee.

"You only have a few classes a day, so while you're at school, I can look after my baby," Marjorie reassured her.

"Right. I'll just come here after school then to pick up Dave?" Heather confirmed.

"Yup," Marjorie replied, her eyes twinkling.

***

The first day of school arrived, a mix of excitement and apprehension swirling within Heather. Marjorie dropped her off at the school gates early, allowing her to familiarize herself with the new surroundings.

The professors, aware that it was the first day, were lenient, allowing the students to socialize and get to know each other after introductions. Heather quickly befriended her seatmate, Bella Hernandez, a petite woman with black-brown curly hair and a warm, infectious smile.

As the school day ended, a crowd of female students had gathered near the school gate, their eyes fixed on something outside.

"What's with all those girls? Why are they gathered there?" Heather asked Bella, her curiosity piqued.

"Not sure," Bella replied, shrugging her shoulders.

Another student, her voice filled with excitement, chimed in, "Apparently, there's a really handsome guy waiting in front of our school. They said he's a really, really handsome guy!" She squealed slightly, her eyes filled with a dreamy expression. "I wonder who he's waiting for?"

Heather and Bella exchanged glances, deciding to avoid the crowd by walking along the side of the gate.

A sleek black car was parked near the curb, and a tall figure leaned against it, checking his watch. As he looked up, his eyes met Heather's, and a wide smile spread across his face.

The girls erupted in a chorus of excited whispers and gasps, their attention now fully focused on Chris, who began walking towards Heather.

Chris, dressed in a crisp navy blue polo shirt, black pants, and polished black shoes, stopped in front of Heather, his smile unwavering. "Hey," he said, his hands casually tucked into his pockets.

"Uhm... Heeyy?" Heather replied, her voice barely audible. "W-why are you here?" she asked, her eyes darting around at the curious onlookers.

"I came to pick you up. Didn't you get my text?" he asked, a hint of confusion in his voice.

"Text?" Heather asked, pulling out her phone and scrolling through her messages.

She found Chris's text messages, her cheeks flushing slightly.

[Hi, this is Chris. I got your number from your Aunt.]

[How are you?]

[I have free time today, is it okay if I come pick you up after your school?]

"Sorry, I don't usually check my text messages," she said, offering him an apologetic smile.

"Oh, that's alright," he replied, his smile widening.

"Boyfriend?" Bella whispered in Heather's ear.

"He's not my boyfriend," Heather replied, her voice low.

"Yet," Chris interjected, winking at her.

"Bella," Bella introduced herself, extending her hand.

"Chris, nice to meet you," he replied, shaking her hand. "Shall we go?" he asked Heather, his eyes filled with anticipation.

"Sure. It's alright if we drop her off at her home?" Heather asked.

"No problem. Let me take your bag," Chris offered.

Heather instinctively stepped back, surprised by the sudden gesture. "Sorry. It's alright. It's not heavy, I can carry it," she said, forcing a smile.

Chris opened the car door for Heather and Bella, before sliding into the driver's seat and pulling away from the school grounds, leaving a trail of envious glances and hushed whispers in their wake.