TEN: Speechless

the way you walk around me/ the way you talk around me/you act so speechless/you've got nothing to say

"Don't you think that the dress is absolutely gorgeous?" Caitlyn murmured as she engrossed herself in the visual feast presented before her on the large screen.

"I didn't choose the film specifically for that dress" Nick shot back as he grinned widely, shaking his head. "Besides, you're asking the wrong person"

"Oh yeah... I guess I forgot" Caitlyn replied a little sadly as she looked back at the tall blonde sprawled lazily on the couch in just his emerald green robe. "Do you think that June will be up with us to watch Speed?" she wondered hopefully.

Nick clenched his fist briefly as guilt passed over his passive features. He strained a smile when Cailtyn's green eyes bore into him for comfort. "Uhh..." he stuttered. How am I supposed to give an explanation for her best friend avoiding me? Ever since the realisation from the help of his friends the day the girls had arrived, Nick found it difficult to venture back into his usual 'vegetable' state.

It seemed as though a heavy and unyielding weight had been placed on his conscience, too advanced for his own world.

"Nick...are you sure your okay...? You look a little... white" she commented, frowning. She crawled up onto the couch and made herself comfortable next to him. Nick gulped as he shifted away a little as she placed her hand methodically on his forehead.

"I'm fine" he spluttered nervously as he faked a small sneeze. "I guess I have a little cold, nothing a couple of aspirin won't be able to fix" he lied quickly as he shot up from the couch abruptly.

What's up with him? I just ask about June and he gets all jumpy... Caitlyn wondered to herself as she eyed Nick chug down a large glass of water whilst popping two small white cylindrical capsules into his mouth. Wiping his mouth with the left sleeve of his robe, he shot her a self-conscious smile. "Got milk?" he quoted cheekily as he waddled back to the couch.

Maybe I was just being paranoid...Caitlyn decided as she settled back on the couch.

"Anyone for an adventure with a bomb on an LA bus?" Nick asked cheerily as he bent over and popped the rectangular prism into the VCR.

"A bus, no, but Keanu- anytime" she yelled, just as cheerily.

Nick sighed as he settled back into the plush couch. The weight seemed heavier than ever now, eating his inside away like a person seeking food after a hunger strike. There seemed as though there was nothing to relieve it. Except the truth.

Moving down to the plush carpeting he sat cross-legged across from her, as he licked his lips in anticipation.

"I…" he started hesitantly. She stared back expectantly, eyes wide with innocence, whilst wisps of her light coloured hair framed her face.

"I…" he stumbled as he stared almost hypnotically into her eyes. Man, she's beautiful...no, no  he cursed himself as he tried desperately to grasp onto the right words. I have to tell her about the bet… I can’t do this… not now, anyway.

"Nick?" Caitlyn prompted as she edged closer to him and brushed a few stray wisps from his eyes. He stared back at her blankly for a few moments; then as if there had been an intangible magic force floating in the room, it beckoned him to edge closer to the tantalising figure before him. Carter... this is not right… it's a game, remember?

"I…" he stuttered once more. By now, they were only inches away from each other, the tips of their noses slightly touching each other. To hell with it he thought as he pressed his lips softly against her's, resting his eyes briefly to savour the moment. His fidgety hands finally found their way around her waist as he pulled her toward him, whilst her fingers ran through his tousled hair.

This feels so good… he thought to himself as he began exploring her whole face with his kisses.

The pair pulled away, staring guiltily at the other, as like two toddlers who knew they had done something wrong.

"Uh…" Caitlyn was the first to stutter. I wanna do that again! But instead, she just twirled the silver band around her finger self- consciously. Alex she reminded herself. Right, Alex. she repeated.

"I" he stuttered What have I done? "I'm sorry" he apologised as he looked to the ground. "I don’t do that all the time… I don't know what came over me" he blubbered as his cheeks turned pink with embarrassment.

"That was unexpected" she agreed as she looked back up into his blue eyes. She thought she saw a flash of guilt pass his features, but brushed it off. He's probably just as stunned as I she rationalised.

"So who's better- me or Keanu?" he questioned in attempt to alleviate the heavy tension in the room.

You… definitely better than Alex.

But instead she replied "Keanu"

There's always tomorrow he rationalised, as he fell unknowingly deeper into a world of deceit and denial.


June tossed uncomfortably between the thin white sheets, reeking of artificial lemon and powdered detergent. She glanced around the darkened room created by two heavy curtains drawn across the large terrace window over looking the skyscrapers and smog of New York. 

I can't stand this any more! She kicked the flimsy material to the foot of the bed, allowing it to cascade down into a pile of fabric on the creme carpeting.

She heard laughter emanating through the thin wall echoing into the room where June had imprisoned herself since morning. She noticed heavy footsteps pass her door, and two voices speaking childishly.

She tiptoed quietly to the door, dragging her oversized dressing gown to the floor and pressed her ear to the door.

"…up…watch…Speed?" June heard as the voice drifted unevenly loud, then soft, followed by a brief silence. Time ticked by; then she heard a sharp, quick sneeze. She frowned as she pressed her ear harder to the door. Damn these hotel doors… they're so useless! She tapped lightly, on the door, as if to make it more hollow. She stopped abruptly as she heard footsteps subdued on the plush carpeting, then a sudden gush of water pelting the fragile tin sink.

She heard more laughter as she noticed the footsteps putter past her door again. She sighed resignedly, and trudged back to the bed, pulling her blankets up to her chin. She stared blankly up to the high ceiling, coloured a conservative dark green. He'd probably like this colour she mused as she took her eyes off the ceiling, while she pulled her two legs up to her chest and closed her eyes.

She drank in the sounds swirling around the room like a dishwasher in motion; the noisy cab drivers of New York City honking impatiently at the slow traffic; tyres squelching from the sudden u-turn made by a truckie on the road, along with the occasional obscenity, sworn without consequence. A sharp turn of the door-knob suddenly slit through June's meditation.

"June?" a soft voice queried as the door eased open with a slight creaking sound, pouring the strong afternoon sun into the gloomy interior. "Are you up yet?" A soft shadow cast upon her visitor's profile, and as they took a step closer, the dark engulfed them like a mother welcoming a newborn into the world.

"Hmm?" June answered as she slowly prised her eyes open to see her visitor, whose hair was flying unruly against her face. She pulled on a weak smile as a greeting when she noted her visitor's worried expression.

"You up for tonight?" 

"Uh" she coughed apologetically as she covered her mouth. "No, maybe not quite yet" She thought she saw a brief flash of relief cross over her visitor's sympathetic face, but wasn't quite sure.

"I think you should go ahead Cait…have fun tonight" June encouraged as she sat up slightly, propping her pillows behind her.

"But he expects you there" she argued indignantly. "You've barely seen him since you got here…come on" she coaxed half- heartedly, furrowing her eyebrows forlornly.

"Is he still here?" June asked as Caitlyn nodded. "I'll just apologise now " she shrugged almost carelessly as she pulled a brush through her hair, as she began to make her way to the door.

"Don't do that!" her friend shrieked hurriedly. June turned around to face Caitlyn, in panic.

"Why not?" June queried as she proceeded to make her way to the door.

"He…. he… kissed me" her friend confessed.

 

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