Chapter Nine

Kacey didn’t wake up until about ten in the morning. Ada and Tanya spent most of that time in the living room surfing the channels on TV for something to watch. Luckily, most of the news channels were reporting on more current stories instead of lingering on “The Most Devastating Robbery” to happen in town. There are still mentions of it here and there, unfortunately, but it’s nothing like the circus it was a few weeks ago.

Tanya was sitting next to her daughter, eating some cereal. “Have you heard from Emma lately?”

“No,” Ada responded. Uninterested in the direction the conversation has taken.

"She’s been going through quite a bit late—"

“Mom, no offense, but I don’t care. I know you still talk to her mother because you both are friends and all that, but I just want to leave it behind me.”

Tanya stared at her daughter grimly. “Okay.”

Once Kacey was awake, Tanya started doing chores, making herself busy so the girls could have their privacy.

“When did you wake up?” Kacey asked Ada with a fatigued voice, still wiping the sleep from her eyes.

Ada smiled. “I never went to sleep.”

“Why?” Kacey asked as if Ada had just offended her.

“I just can’t get much sleep lately.”

“Is it because of the…” Kacey pursed her lips, making kissing noises teasingly.

Her face started burning. “Yes and no.” She said silently. “Sleep has just been very hard to come by.”

Kacey stopped smiling, able to tell that she hit a sore spot with her ragging. “You could’ve waked me up. Now I feel bad that I didn’t stay up longer.”

“Girl, you were asleep before you even hit that pillow.” Ada laughed. “I wasn’t gonna wake you up.”

“Well…” Kacey retorted. “Still, I wish I could have stayed up with you. I know that had to be boring.”

“Eh, I kept myself busy,” Ada said, waving her hand.

“Oh. You mean Ewan came to visit.” Kacey smiled jokingly. “So, tell me what happened.”

Ada could feel her face becoming hot again, thinking about the mortifying moment she shared with Ewan. “Nothing interesting happened.” She said shortly. “We just walked to the park, talked for a couple of minutes, and then I came home.”

Kacey looked at her skeptically.

Ada’s eyes started to sting as they started to form tears that threatened to fall down her cheeks. “I just made a big ass out of myself.” She said softly, as she wiped away the tears that escaped. “I asked about the kiss at the lake; if it meant anything. It turns out it was nothing.”

Kacey gawked at Ada in disbelief. “I’m so sorry, Ada.” She replied in displeasure. She couldn’t think of anything to say that would make her friend feel any better.

“Eh, it’s whatever. I was stupid to think anything but.” Ada states, trying to force herself into believing that didn’t hurt as much as it did.

“No, you weren’t! I 100% believed that kiss meant something!” Kacey continued in disbelief. “I mean you two were naked for goodness sake!” She says loudly.

“Hush!” Ada says in alarm, waiting for her mother to come in screaming.

“Sorry.”

“I guess we were both wrong.”

The room fell into silence for a few minutes.

“Hey, let’s just forget about boys for now,” Kacey states as she gets off the couch. “Let’s go have some fun.”

*****

Kacey stayed for a couple of hours but returned home by three. Tanya and Ada were in the house together, taking this time to catch up. Tanya asked about school and her friends. Ada refused to talk about Ewan and was definitely not going to tell her mother about what happened the previous night. They continued talking until it was time for Tanya to go to work at six.

“Are you sure you are okay?” Tanya asks her daughter.

“I’m fine, mom. Seriously, just go to work.”

“I could call in sick. It won’t be a big deal.”

“Mom, I know you. You would rather be at work. Even when you are here, you’d much rather be there.” She replied nonchalantly.

Tanya looked at her daughter, wounded. “That’s not true.”

“I didn’t mean it like that.” She replied apologetically. “I know you love spending time with me. You just enjoy your work is all I meant.” Ada responded reassuringly. “I’m fine, mom.”

Her mother stared at her, still upset. “Okay, well, call me if you need anything.”

“I will. Love you, mom. Have a good night at work.”

“Love you too, honey,” Tanya replied as she closed the door behind her and headed to her car.

For Ada, staying home alone is a common occurrence that she normally enjoyed, to some extent. However, it is something she dreads now more than ever. The freedom that she once felt is now nothing more than fear which escalated quickly if there was an unidentifiable noise.

Once her mother left, Ada made it a routine to check that every door and window was locked. And she would constantly make sure that they remained that way throughout the night.

After making sure the perimeter was locked up tight, Ada went into the kitchen to make herself dinner. Watching TV and eating a cup of noodles alone in the living room, she tried to forget everything that happened earlier that morning, including the night before. But above all else, she also tried with all her might to forget that she was alone in this house.

While trying to keep herself busy or sucked into the television rather, her mind wandered to Ewan against her will. She hadn’t heard from him all day. The brooding look on his face when she walked away from him made her heartache. It was unusual for Ada not to hear from him all day. Ewan always checked in at some point, whether it was for tutoring or just to see what the other was up to. Maybe he thought she didn’t want to talk to him?

As Ada tried to rationalize her thoughts about Ewan, her eyes became very heavy.

The sound of her phone woke her from her daze, along with a loud banging on the front door. She must’ve fallen asleep; it was two hours later. She jumped to her feet, shaking with anticipation. Looking down at her phone making noise, she saw the screen with a picture of Ewan and his name flashing.

“Hello?” She answered the phone, her voice shaking.

“Hey, it’s meee,” Ewan said, slurring his words. “I’m outssside yer houssse.”

Ada let out an aggravated sigh as she went to open the door.

“What are you doing?” She asks him with irritation coloring her voice. Then she smelt the alcohol. “Are you drunk?” Ada questions in disbelief.

“Mhm.” He responded with his sexy smirk.

“Oh, get in here,” Ada responded with a bit of exasperation while pulling him in the house and leading him to her bedroom. “Wait here, I’ll go make you some coffee.” She demanded after shoving him into her room.

“Okay.”

Once the coffee was finished, she hurried back to her room and handed it to Ewan. “Drink that, it should help sober you up.”

“Thank you, baby,” Ewan replied with a sly smile.

Her heart skipped a beat, but she knew that it was just the alcohol talking. Rolling her eyes, she continued, “Just drink the coffee.”

Ewan took a sip and looked at her with his big brown, sad, puppy dog eyes. “Are you mad at me?”

“No, why would you think that?”

“You just seem irritated with me. Especially when you opened the door.” He looked as though Ada had just kicked him.

“Well, I’m not mad at you. I just didn’t expect to see you intoxicated on my doorstep.” She replied, turning away from him. “In fact I didn’t expect to see you at all.” She breathed, grabbing some pajamas from her dresser. “Let me go get changed right quick and I’ll be back, okay?”

He nodded with a mouthful of coffee.

“Don’t go anywhere!” She said sternly. “I don’t want you wandering off, causing me to worry about where you are and if you somehow managed to get yourself hurt.”

Ada heard Ewan chuckled as she left the room.

Oh my God, what is he doing here while drunk? Ada thought to herself while freaking out. Why is he drunk? She wanted nothing more than to hold him; to feel him. Even though their conversation earlier that day still pierced her heart like a hot dagger, she knew he was all she had and she was all he had. Ada may have unreciprocated feelings for him, but they were all one another could trust now.

Once she finished getting in her pajamas; a thin, baby pink, silk tank top with matching short-shorts, she walked back into her room, making sure to lock the door once she entered the room.

Ada turned to see Ewan staring at her in amazement. His eyes were huge and wild.

“What?” She questioned, blushing.

“You just never wear anything so revealing.” A curious look crept into his eyes.

“I used to, you know that.” She retorted, sitting down next to him in her bed. “We did just go skinny dipping last night, so I didn’t think this would be that big of a deal.” She shrugged. “I guess I just feel comfortable around you.”

“Yeah?” His voice grew deep as his eyes scanned her over.

Ada cleared her throat. “Eyes up here, buddy.”

He smiled, looking into her eyes longingly.

“So, are you at least a little sobered up now?”

“I guess so.”

“Good. Now tell me why you showed up here drunk.”

He took a deep breath, looking away from Ada. “I’m sorry. I really shouldn’t have.”

“No, Ewan.” Ada started to become aggravated. “I don’t mean that I don’t want you here or around me, because I do want you to be here.”

“It doesn’t sound like it.” He replied a little wounded.

“Look, I’m sorry if I’m a bit aggravated.” Ada apologized. “I just want to know what made you drink. Is it because you thought I was mad at you?”

“No.”

“Because I want you to be here. I’m glad that you’re here. And I promise that I’m not mad at you.” She continued reassuringly.

“It’s not anything like that.”

“Well, does it have something to do with the nightmare you had?”

“What?” He looked at her in confusion for a moment. “Oh, yeah. Yeah.”

“Oh,” Ada said lying back on her bed. She knew he wasn’t telling the truth, but she could tell that he was adamant about not telling her what was wrong.

A few moments passed in silence.

“So, are you going to lie down?” She questioned.

Ewan turned to look at her. “What?” His eyes were wide in disbelief.

“I don’t want you leaving.” She explained. “I want you to stay the night so I know you’re okay.”

“I’ll be fine.” He replied, getting ready to leave.

“Ewan, come lay down with me, please.” Ada pleaded, grabbing his hand and giving him her best puppy dog eyes with a pouty face.

“Are you sure?”

Ada gave him a cynical look. “Why? Because I made a complete ass out of myself this morning? It’s fine, Ewan, just come lay down.”

“Ada… I..”

“Sh.” She cut him off, not needing to hear anything else from him.

They lay together, forehead to forehead; Ewan’s arm wrapped around her waist. His thumb rubbing small circles on the small of her back as they both fell asleep; neither of them plagued by any nightmares.