SEBASTIAN
We lay under the "stars" for three hours in total, making small talk in the meantime. We mostly sat in a comfortable silence, gazing up at the ceiling in awe. By the time we came out, the sun had begun to retreat.
"Thank you." I grinned. The roads started flooding with cars, the streets swarming with people, all aching to get home in the hell we call rush hour.
"What for? We just lay in a room full of stars for a couple hours." She tucked her hands into the pockets of her jacket.
"For showing me that. Physics is something that you love, and you let me see a part of something you love, even if we 'just lay in a room full of stars for a couple of hours'." I thanked, gently nudging her with my elbow.
"Yeah. It's a first for me too. With Margo it's different, she's my sister so she feels it's her duty to know what I love. With Libby, it's more declaring I love physics, gasp at a thousand pictures of the galaxy and that's it."
"What do you mean?" I ask as we begin crossing a bridge over the highway.
"We don't really get involved in each other's career choices. Our friendship is different, based on acceptance and compatibility." She shrugs.
"You speak about friendship like it's a science." I chuckle, my gaze was drawn towards the cars.
"How would I know? I only have one friend, Margo not included." She replies, "But anyway, with you it's different. I don't know what it is but, I wasn't afraid to show you the planetarium, I wasn't afraid if you would call me weird or a nerd. I don't know, I just felt like I could show you."
We stopped when we reach the middle, leaning our forearms on the balcony. We stood in silence, the whooshing of the cars beneath us became louder. Footsteps, chatter, bicycles, skateboards, each sound became increasingly louder.
"I always find it strange, how there are so many stories around us. How each twinkling light in every apartment or room is the stage light for a story, completely different to our own. This feeling of sonder sometimes drives me mad." She chuckles, shaking her head.
"No, I get it. You are very in touch with your thoughts." I commented, the roaring of the traffic below almost drowning out her voice, something I suddenly felt the need to hold onto.
"Believe me, Sebastian, I have had no one but my thoughts." She smiled sheepishly, "Come on, we should get going."
"Where to?" I asked, confused. I met her at the cafe, we lounged about in the planetarium for about three hours, what else can we do?
"I'm taking you out for dinner. You need it." She answered, angrily mumbling the last bit under her breath.
I have no idea when she contacted Lewis but he was waiting patiently by the time we got back. We slid into the car and were on our way in no time.
The ride there was silent, the lamposts and scenery a blur. It was only until we approached a street I recognized that I knew where we were heading. I held my breath as we approached the glistening glass building, luxurious even for us - her apartment block. Seriously, how much did this building cost? What about the rent?
We walked in through the automatic doors (which were also made of glass), saying our farewells to Lewis as we left the car. Audrey nodded to the secretary before making her way to the restaurant.
"I'm happy that this time you're not wearing a disguise. Do wouldn't believe how many questions I was asked about that." I could feel waves of amusement radiating off her.
"But I did get you chocolate." I reasoned with a smirk.
"You did get me chocolate." She confirmed, throwing a thankful smile my way.
A waiter who was slouched over his phone somehow sensed Audrey's arrival as he perked up, ramrod straight, and began to lead the way to a table. He passed us the menus and waited patiently for our orders.
As I watched his retreating back, I felt a hand cover mine. My gaze moved to see her hand on mine, my brows furrowed in confusion.
"I'm seriously concerned about you. Not just as my client but as a... a friend." Her voice sounded strained and laboured - as if she weren't used to it.
"Of course I'm," I started, suddenly halting. This felt wrong, it felt wrong to lie to her, "No, I don't think I am. I don't know, maybe I'm just really tired." I resumed, ditching my automatic response.
"yeah, you look like you could use a few more hours of sleep." She nodded, the corners of her lips slightly turned upwards.
"Wow, thanks again, that's twice today." I replied sarcastically, "You must think I'm mad."
"Don't worry Sebastian," she assured, "Because somebody will fall in love with your madness."
AUDREY
To say I wasn't worried would be a lie. As I momentarily glanced at him, I couldn't help but see the redness lining his eyes or how pale his complexion seemed. It was almost like looking into a mirror, seeing the me from my early teenage years. The me who lay in a hospital, not our hospital, a hospital.
I wanted to help him because no one was there to help me until I collapsed.
I felt the urge to try and save him. To want to save him.
I wanted to make him happy because maybe that might make me a little happier, is that too selfish?
He sat across from me in silence. He didn't talk unless I spoke to him. This isn't like him, this isn't like him at all. The worry began churning in my stomach, growing stronger with every second. It became apparent that there was nothing I wanted more than to see to see his smile.
This thought disturbed me, I didn't get close to people, didn't get to know them. I saw them strictly as a client or a human being, yet here I sat, across from Sebastian, wishing for him to smile.
"Sebastian, please, talk to me." I pleaded, I didn't care about other's opinions right now, I was too concerned.
There was a moment of hesitation, his eyes a glimpse into the internal conflict. He took a deep breath, almost as if he had lost any to begin with. I waited patiently, a gulp followed by silence.
"I feel lost. Like I don't know what's going on. The world is turning, life is carrying on and I feel like I can't catch up. I don't feel like I'm meant to be here." He admits, eventually.
"Maybe you're homesick." I guessed, he shook his head.
"I don't know what home is. Home is meant to be something you return to at the end of every day. A place where you feel safe and welcomed. A place to belong." His voice was quiet, fatigue creeping through the cracks.
My heart twisted inside of my chest.
I knew this all too well. I felt the humming of pain, the song my heart hated to sing. The beat of a broken drum. I wanted nothing more than to comfort him, to see him smile again - to find his home.
My work may last longer than I intended.