Life is strange indeed

Romeo bid his cousin goodbye, sighing to himself as he went back to his schoolwork. Kurtis was fun. He knew he was being careful right now, but as soon as he had returned somewhat to normal, he knew that the lycan wouldn't hesitate to jump him. Maybe he should stop by the apartment some time, just to see how Zaira was holding up. Not that he cared for her, but it would be nice if his little trick had worked on her. Mostly he just wanted to see Kurtis free of that relationship - it wasn't going anywhere in the future. Unless he wanted her as a mistress, in that case he might actually gain some respect for his cousin.

Zaira had managed to eat a little while Kurtis was gone. Not that she felt hungry, but it at least passed the time. She had texted back and forth with Jeremy. He knew what had happened at the hospital because she told him everything. She was sitting on the couch, curled up under a blanket as she felt her phone vibrate. Picking it up she held it to her ear, "Kurtis?" she breathed out, her heart started pumping. She just needed to hear his voice, then she could calm down.

She heard the door unlock and looked towards the door. He was by her soon enough and the relief she felt as he laid down on her was immeasurable. Wrapping her arms around him she kissed his cheek, holding him close as she buried her face in his shoulder. "You need to eat," she muttered, getting out from under him if he let her, grabbing a plate for him as she reached the kitchen. Heating up the food didn't take long, and she made sure to add a healthy amount of food for him. Returning she placed the plate on the coffee table along with a big glass of water.

He was always kinda cute when he was sleepy, or at least that was what she thought at least. Seeing him eat made her feel more at ease, sitting back on the couch, wrapping the blanket around her once more. She was silent, just looking at him eat, that was until he mentioned a banquet. Frowning she looked a little confused, "a fancy one? Like in the movies?" she asked. Sure, her mother had money, but they weren't ever really invited anywhere. Newly rich meant that most people tried to avoid you like the plague, not that she and her mother would fit in anyways. "Do you want me to come with you?" she wasn't sure if he was asking her, but she might as well ask. Reaching out she touched his hair, playing with it for a bit. It had gotten pretty long after his stay in the hospital.

Okay, he didn't want her there. The mention of Romeo made her feel weird again, letting go of his hair as he spoke about getting a haircut. Frowning she shrugged, "I like your hair," she said, but she felt so weirdly numb. Swallowing she got up, folding up her blanket and placing it nicely on the couch. "I'm gonna go to bed," she said, feeling so ... Robotic. Like she wasn't really in control even if she were. There was just something about him mentioning Romeo that made her feel weird. "Do you want to join me?" she asked, hoping it would make it sound less strange.

Zaira smiled at him, heading in to their bedroom as she got out of her clothes. She crawled under the covers, turning over so she could look outside at the sun that was slowly going down in the distance. The bedroom was illuminated in a warm orange color, but it didn't hurt her eyes. Looking out she just waited until Kurtis would join her. She liked sleeping the most if she had him to snuggle up to, especially because he was so warm.

Romeo chuckled to himself as he saw the message. So he had managed to peak his cousin's interest after all. He adjusted himself in his seat before he pulled his phone closer to reply.

[Texts between Kurtis and Romeo]
[Romeo:] I've got some errands to run in Central
[Romeo:] Why? Are you inviting me over?

Getting up from his seat he was packing away his studies for now, taking them back to the room he had at his uncle's mansion. He was quite lucky to have a room that overlooked the garden, which he appreciated a lot. Besides that he even had his own bathroom. The message from Kurtis arrived as he got in to his room, taking off his tie as he placed his notepad and book by his nightstand.

[Texts between Kurtis and Romeo]
[Romeo:] I have to pick up some books
[Romeo:] Why are you all of a sudden interested in me, dear cousin?

Sighing he shook his head. That guy was really hard to figure out, wasn't he? Sitting down on the edge of his bed he considered his reply. Maybe it was lame to Kurtis that he actually did have a life besides work and studies. Though he doubted that his cousin could understand the true pressure he was under. He thought about Eden, wondering when he last had spoken to him. Both of them were busy, but he had to admit since the weekend getaway he had thought about him more.

[Texts between Kurtis and Romeo]
[Romeo:] Well you can come with me afterwards
[Romeo:] I'm supposed to entertain some lower business partners tomorrow night
[Romeo:] And for Koric's sake, wear something decent

Zaira felt him pull her close and she smiled, wrapping her arms around him in return. "One of these days you're going to end up suffocating like that," she muttered, kissing his shoulder. He was still wearing his shirt and part of her knew why. Her hands ran down his side, moving up under his shirt if he didn't stop her. "I miss feeling your skin," she admitted. They hadn't really done much since he had gotten out of the hospital. Not that either of them seemed ready regardless, but she missed feeling his warmth against her. Her hands moved careful, not wanting to take things too fast. "Have you got any plans for tomorrow? Me and Jeremy talked about going to the movies all four of us?" she suggested.

"Plans with your father?" she asked, already feeling the dread in her. She stopped touching him, not wanting him to feel how scared it made her. It wasn't fair that she could affect him through touch. He cupped her face, and for a second she hoped he would say something more comforting. His promise was nice, the kiss on her forehead too, but she felt like she wasn't sure how to take it. "Am I boring you?" she asked. He hadn't really bothered touching her other than her face and hands. Sometimes she wished he would just touch her stomach or her back. Maybe her thigh. It wasn't like she was really ready to be intimate again after the shit with Romeo, but she wanted to feel like he still wanted her. He had always done that through touch. "I mean ... I know I haven't really been putting out," she said, looking down. Did she feel ashamed? Yeah, because they had barely been able to keep their hands off of each other before the hospital. Now it just seemed like he was just clinging on to her to be nice or because he found comfort in her being the same.

She held her breath as he spoke to her. Like she didn't know what had happened to him? Like she hadn't been there the whole time at the hospital, every day even on school days? He apologized but she shook her head, moving away from him. He asked what she wanted and she just shook her head, getting out of bed. Taking her pillow she gave him one look, one that showed how hurt she was, before she went in to the living room. Unfolding the blanket she saw his phone there. A message from Romeo on screen that said: "See you then". A sinking feeling in her gut, she placed the phone on the coffee table before laying down on the couch, curling up as she hid her face away.

She couldn't sleep like this. Not when that message was still there. Gritting her teeth she sat up, staring at the screen.

How and when she had fallen asleep she wasn't sure. But she woke up, laying on the floor next to the couch. Her neck was hurting and her shoulders were killing her. Shivering from the cold floor she sat up. Her eyes were red and puffy, clearly haven fallen asleep by crying. She hated how selfish she was. But she didn't know any better, she wasn't sure how to deal with all of this. It wasn't exactly something they covered in school, now was it? She got dressed regardless, going out for her morning run. Yeah, she had started running. It was the easiest way to stay active and get some frustrations out.
Eventually she reached back to the apartment, sweat dripping off of her as she came in. "I'm home," she called out, not sure if he had even gotten up yet. Walking in to the bathroom she turned on the water, undressing as she kept her eyes away from the mirror. Well, until she didn't. She stood frozen in time, staring at herself. She felt like she could be nitpicking about her looks forever. Zaira had always really loved her body, never been insecure, until now. Was it her breast? Where they unnaturally uneven? Or perhaps it was her arms. She wasn't sure, but she didn't like looking at herself right now. Her eyes moved further down, looking at her thighs, avoiding the area that had been touched by Romeo.
Finally she got under the water, washing away the sweat and tears, just taking her time getting clean.