Laira is the leading authority on David, and as it turns out, David indeed showed up a few hours later offering his most sincere apologies.
I'm not going to lie, being called a fuck up by my friend, stung more than I thought it would.
At the end of the day, it doesn't really matter.
Since Laira has a soft spot for David, I decided to let it go, and move on.
When Laira looked slightly more alive, I took my leave and returned to my room.
Spending the rest of the day with my nose buried in books. Mostly to distract myself from the intrusive thoughts pecking at me.
Once again, the reprieve from the usual turmoil has come to an end. But this time hasn't struck as hard as it did before.
I guess, I'm finally developing thicker skin. It is about damn time. Honestly, I'm not the biggest fan of weepy Lily but sometimes not even my stubbornness can keep her at bay.
Adjust to yet another notion of normal in my life. Mason and I will have to keep our distance for the time being for the sake of appearances.
He can't show up at the academy on a whim, and I most certainly can't just pop in at home for a quick visit. Not without rousing suspicions.
A knock on the wall drags me out of my musings. I check the time, and it's just a bit after four in the afternoon.
As I make my way to open the hatch, I wonder who has decided to pay me a visit.
Usually, the other students either fear me or ignore me. While the faculty, most of the give me the impression that they would prefer to eat dirt rather than teach me anything. Hence the relentless ambition to surpass their expectations.
I find Frankie staring up at me with a disgruntled look on her face, carrying a considerable-sized bouquet of imperial lilies and a red envelope in her hand.
" Do you know how much it creeps me out that you still live in that dusty loft?" She asks, but she has said it to me countless times.
" So you have said on several occasions," I lower the ladder and begin my descent. I know she will refuse to come up. Frankie hasn't set foot in the loft since the day she assigned it to me. And even then she lasted only five minutes.
" And for the record is not dusty anymore. And I have a pet spider. I named him Leggy," I know that will send her running for the hills.
Frankie shudders, " You scare me sometimes," She hands me the flowers and the card, hugs herself and looks up with fearful eyes.
" You know they say old Peter haunts that loft, right?" Also, something she has said to me repeatedly. I sigh and look at the envelope. It's sealed but not marked. No name. Nothing. I already know who is it from.
" Also, something you have said, on more than one occasion. You have to do better if you want to scare me," I smile at her and she shakes her head in disapproval no less.
" Well, it seems that in spite of your creepiness and weirdo behaviour, you have gained a secret admirer. They have been delivered to reception a while ago. There was no addressee," I nod as she carries on, while I patiently wait for her to finish rambling.
" Aren't you going to open it? I have to say I'm curious about whose eye have you caught. Most students are afraid of you," Good. I smile at her and she sighs.
" Not in front of you, I won't. I guess you'll have to go to bed not knowing who is my secret admirer," Frankie chuckles, and I sigh.
" I have my ways you know," She winks at me and I regret challenging her. She is on good terms with Sissy. If Mason asked her to order the flowers then she would tell Frankie.
Swallowing the knot lodged in my throat, I look at Frankie with a displeased look," And why would you probe into my life Frankie? I made friends with a ghost. Do you really think is such a bright idea to poke at me? I might send old Peter to haunt you," Frankie looks genuinely scared. I guess my poker face is better than I thought because she turns on her heels muttering under her breath about crazy people and other things. No, I wasn't crazy but Mason is playing a dangerous game when impending doom is looming.
Sighing, I lug the bouquet of flowers up into my den, pull the ladder behind and close the hatch. The sweet scent of lilies floods the entire room and envelopes me in their sweet aroma. They were my mother's favourite. I'm not sure, if she named me after them. Or they became her favourite after I came along. I preferred to believe the latter because I knew my mother. And in spite of the fact that once she was associated with Micah. I liked to believe that my parents were good people.
After setting the flowers in a vase on my bedside table, I plop myself on the bed and stare at the envelope. Angst mixed with anticipation blossoms within my chest, and the desire to open the envelope, to hear his words grows increasingly stronger with every second that ticks by.
After a very short deliberation, gently I peel open the envelope and pull out the sheet of paper. It is a letter. I expected a note. Something simple, but yet he'd written me a letter.
I suppose if we're going to be stupid about this might as well, go all out.
You risk nothing. You gain nothing.
His words float to the forefront of my mind, and I find myself agreeing with him for some odd reason. We rarely agree on anything. We move at a different pace. Almost always out of sync. And that often makes me question if we even belonged together.
Pushing away that thought I unfold the paper, revealing his neat writing, perfectly spaced lettering with a slight slant, all written in a fluid cursive.
It indicates that he'd taken great care when he crafted the letter and he must've tried a few times, because there is a little ink smudge in the corner of the otherwise immaculate paper.
Breathless, I begin reading and I feel like he is next to me saying those words. I can see his brows furrow, and how the corner of his lips tilt up when he finds something amusing but tries to hide it.
" My sweet Lily,
I will start this by admitting, that I have made mistakes but I have learnt from them and I'm still learning. I'm still discovering all that is you, and I promise to give you my undivided attention when it comes to this new and wonderful creation that is us. We have had our fair share of troubles, and I do not intend to disregard all that troubles you. When you spoke, I heard you. Even when you are quiet, I listen.
Your fears aren't without grounds and I understand. Have faith in me, Canim. Have faith in us, have faith that we will overcome all the obstacles in our way, and in the end, we will come out stronger. Do not let this break your spirit, and darken that beautiful heart of yours.
For I still have hope. For I still love you. Words fail me to say how much. For I still adore you with everything that I am.
You have every right to be angry about what I did. And once again, I failed you and I failed us.
I'll admit, I have many regrets, but you are not one of them. I once told you that you are the most beautiful mistake I have ever made, and that still stands true. Truer than ever before.
Always,
Yours truly,"