Third Person P.O.V
Nothing in life comes easy.
Nothing including relationships. Each relationship goes through many obstacles and overcoming those obstacles together makes the relationship more cherish-able and meaningful.
Keeping bonds intact requires initiative and drive. Both of which were forgotten in despair by Adelaide and Carson.
Carson did not know why he had come to Adelaide's place. He did not know what brought him to her house, but all he knew was that he wanted to be with her at that moment.
Arriving at her doorstep he waited awhile in contemplation and hesitation. Not arriving at a conclusion, Carson mindlessly rings the doorbell.
He waited patiently and nervously at the door while eyeing the intercom. Carson looked at the door when it opened to reveal Adelaide who looked lost in thought as she did not even glance at him.
"Don't you ever open the door without checking, again."
His voice sounded more normal than he thought. Adelaide on the other hand, knowing well that she knew no one except Carson and his family here in Italy, she didn't really expect anyone to pay her a visit unless it was any official business pertaining to her which wouldn't be the case until tomorrow, wasn't even too surprised by his visit.
But she for sure felt relieved by just seeing him visit her. Her face lit up as she moved aside and opened the door wider, motioning him to come into her house.
As Carson entered, Adelaide closed the door behind her and followed him into the hall.
"You never learn do you?" -Carson stated as he moved towards the open windows.
"Learn what?" -Adelaide asked puzzled by the first words that left Carson's mouth after coming back to see her. She saw him move towards the window and close them shut followed by locking them.
"Uncle always told you to lock the windows in the evening. Seems like you are still in the habit of forgetting to do so." -Carson finished his sentence by drawing the curtains and then turning around to face Adelaide.
Adelaide smiled gently. She was filled with warmth as she recalled how she bickered with Carson back in the days about postponing the task of shutting the windows close in order to hide the fact that she had actually forgotten about it.
"Old habits die hard I guess." -Adelaide replied as she looked at the now shut windows which did not let any light to pass through.
Oddly enough the atmosphere in the room wasn't tense but both of them feared the storm that was unpredictable. They stood there trying to make out each others expressions in the dark. Truly a futile attempt on their part.
Adelaide's P.O.V
"Liking the dark these days?" -asked Benjamin.
It was evident to me that so far only he had tried to start a conversation, to keep us going at this very hurdle. It was time to do better, at least for Papa who would've wanted the same.
"Nah, maybe not so much from now on. Where's the switchboard?" -I couldn't make out whether I was trying to act a little more like my normal self or was I actually myself right now.
"I doubt you will find it even if I told you."
When Benjamin spoke, it almost felt like we were back to our usual selves. The 'us' who often fought, always laughed and always had each others backs. The us who were inseparable until we decided to take a healthy break from each other.
"Why don't you try me?" -I challenged him.
"Maybe next time. Wouldn't want you falling over something and breaking your nose in the dark now would I?" -he replied as I felt him pass by me.
I closed my eyes shut as I felt blinded by the sudden light. Slowly I opened my eyes and adjusted to the now bright room.
"Way better isn't it?" -Benjamin spoke. His voice was rather hearty and light.
"Yup! but..." -I trailed off
He was now looking at me with his eyebrows raised.
"But?" -He questioned with a rather amused look on his face.
"But..." -I was starting to enjoy dragging this knowing that I would annoy him with my answer.
"Spill it already." -he said with a smile. Looks like he was enjoying it too.
"But I am..." -I looked at him with a teasing grin.
"You really are going to doing this?" -was he losing his patience? I couldn't make out with how his expression contradicted his tone.
"Seems like it for now. Maybe you could guess what I am about to say? That way it'll get over sooner." -I felt so light headed all of a sudden that it made me ponder whether all I needed was good company all this time. The type of company that diverted my mind and just let me feel emotions other than grief.
"Okay, done." -Benjamin replied along with showing the okay hand sign. Before I could even ignite the annoyance in Benjamin again, he decided to be a party-pooper.
"My first and last guess is that you're hungry." -he flashed a smile at me as he answered. A smile which looks innocent at first glance, but is really evil deep down.
"You- you knew all along!" -I said defeated and disheartened.
"Of course I did! I've known you for nearly two decades now." -he replied, amused with my reaction.
"Ugh! And here I thought I could get a good show." -surely I was a little down as I missed a good opportunity of seeing an annoyed Benjie, but hunger defeated the unnecessary emotion.
"How does black truffle pasta sound?" -I saw him scrolling through his phone as he questioned me.
"Delicious!" -I replied as I imagined the beauty on a plate before me.
"Anything else?" -he asked as he looked up at me from his screen.
I was baffled and highly taken aback.
"You expect me to be content with a plate of pasta?!" -he had to be kidding me here. A plate of pasta couldn't possibly even satisfy a healthy rat!
"Maybe? You tell me. Would it be enough?" -there was something cheeky about him as he played with my food loving heart.
I thought about it for a moment before replying.
"Make it large. That should be reasonable."
He laughed before replying- "Done. It won't take long until the order arrives why don't you at least change and freshen up?"
"Ah yes! I should do that, I feel disgusting as it is." -I replied as I moved to fetch my suitcase which surprise! surprise! was still near the doorstep. I sighed as I recalled how this wouldn't be here if it weren't for Benjamin coming in like a serial killer at that time.
"I'll get that." -he said as moved from behind me and carried my suitcase to my room.
"Thanks!" -I chirped as I felt lazy.
For some reason, as I followed behind Benjamin, all of a sudden I had started to not want this night to end. After a rather eventful morning, afternoon and evening, this calm night which reminded me of the old days soothed me so much that I did not want it to ever end or at the very least... never change.