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Chapter 9
Stupid. She thought to herself. You are so freaking stupid. How could you have just left like that? Just when things were going great, with a great guy. WHY? WHY!? She screamed into the empty house for the answer, but knew too well what it was. Just being around him made her nervous. When she looked at him the whole night, she got lost in his deep blue eyes. He was so incredibly handsome. Sierra knew that she was falling for him, but it made her sick thinking about it. What could he possibly want in me? Her mind raced. She thought of him and the way he had looked at her, but that only made her feel queasy again. The same feeling she had felt when he had put his arm around her. What if he does like me? Wait, what was she talking about? It was just a stupid dream that would never come true. What could he want with her? Pity. She thought to herself again. He's just too nice…and he pities me. At that she began to cry. She sat, curled up in a ball on her couch. Brian's shirt was wet on her, but she did not have the strength to change out of it. Her tears stopped as she heard a thump at the front door. The storm was still extremely bad outside; maybe it was just the thunder. She got up and walked cautiously over to the door. She turned back around, trying not to be paranoid; then she heard the thump again.
Thump thump thump.
Sierra jumped backward and listened. The only thing she could hear now was the rain that was so loud against the house. She was becoming really scared. It's nothing…there's nothing there. She tried to reassure herself as she walked up to the door and opened it a crack; at the attempt to let her conscious rest easy.
Sierra gasped when she saw Brian standing on the step. He was soaked, and rain was running down his face and into his eyes, but he did not seem to notice, or for that matter, even care.
"BRIAN!? What are you doing here?" She opened the door enough to pull him inside, out of the storm.
"I'm sorry." His voice was very quite, but became fuller when he looked up to meet her eyes. "I'm so sorry for whatever I did to make you run off." He just stared at her, noticing that her green eyes were red from crying.
"Oh God, Brian…please don't. It wasn't your fault at all." Why was he here? She thought. More pity.
"Do you think we can talk?" he paused. "I mean if you want me to go…I will." He prayed that she would not make him leave; and watched her for an answer.
"Yeah…of coarse we can talk. Umm…just wait in here, I'm gonna go get some towels." She led him to a room similar to the living room in the guys' house, and left him standing in the middle of it. Brian took a deep breath and stood there until she returned with an armful of blankets and towels. Neither spoke as Brian did his best to dry off. They both sat down on the couch, facing each other.
He watched her as she rubbed her forehead, obviously thinking about something. Brian could tell that she had defiantly been crying. He wanted so much to comfort her; to hold her close to him and make whatever was bothering her so much go away. But he held back, not wanting to make her un-comfortable again.
"Sierra, please tell me…" He spoke up. "What is it?" Brian questioned her, but was a little reluctant to hear her answer; hoping that she would not say it was him. How can I tell her how I feel, when she seems so confused? Or should I tell her at all. Maybe I'm the one that's confused.
" Brian, it's not you." Sierra paused, trying so hard not to cry. "…It's not you…" She continued slowly, but her mind was racing. What am I supposed to say? Brian, I love you? Brian, I want to be near you so much, but I want you to love me back? Nothing made sense. "…It's just that," She had to say it. She would get it over with quick. "…I-," She stopped when the lights flickered and then went out, leaving the house pitch black.
"Shit." Sierra heard Brian swear next to her.
"Hang on, I have some candles upstairs." Sierra stood up and almost fell into the coffee table.
"Be careful." She heard Brian's calm voice, and felt him stand up next to her, grabbing her hand. "I'm coming with you." He joked, trying to make her feel more relaxed. "You're not going to leave me down here alone…the monsters will get me."
Sierra had to laugh at him. He sounded like a little frightened kid, crying for his mommy. She squeezed his hand tighter and the two made there way to the stairs.
Brian walked beside Sierra and hummed the X-Files theme song as they reached the top, and she led him down a hallway.
"Stop it! That's freaking me out!" She swung her arm at him, but missed.
"Thank God it's dark!" He laughed as she attempted to hit him again.
"Come on." Sierra dragged Brian into a room and then let go of his hand so she could search for the matches.
After a few minuets of fumbling through a drawer, the room could be seen for a flash as she struck the match and lit a candle in her hand. Being able to see a little better, Brian helped her light the other six candles that sat on the dresser.
"Well, that's better." Brian commented to himself now that he could see Sierra clearer. He looked around the room. It consisted of the dresser holding the candles, a large bed off to the side and a small chair in the corner.
" And you had the nerve to make fun of my room." Brian crocked his head to the side and then walked over to the bed. "How about we just stay up here till the power comes back on. We don't want to chance catching the whole house on fire if you try and carry those downstairs." He gave her a cocky smile and she stuck out her tongue at him in return.
"I'm not that clumsy." She stated as she walked over to him and punched him playfully in the arm. He just laughed at her attempt. They both sat down on the bed, leaning against the headboard. She was so happy that he had come after her. She felt so much more comfortable around him now, but had no idea why.
" So…what do you want to do, my love?" Brian turned to her with a devilish grin on his face.
"Down boy!" She laughed as she patted the top of his head. "We do have neighbors you know." She played along with him this time.
Brian smiled at her. He was so glad she was not mad at him anymore. But she had no idea that he was telling the truth when he had called her 'his love'.
"Oh, don't worry about them, we'll invite them over next time, I promise." He still had a grin on his face. "They won't mind honey, really." He moved closer to her, jokingly.
For a few moments, they just sat there, looking at each other, and then they broke out laughing.
"Now what?" Sierra said yawning, after their laughing outburst was done.
"Oh, so now I'm boring you?" Brian turned to face her. He could see her perfectly in the candlelight. She had pulled her hair down and was still wearing his shirt. Brian thought for a moment, but concluded that he had never seen a more beautiful sight.
"No, No," She said with another yawn. "I'm just tired, that's all. Ya know it's probably almost two o'clock."
"Yeah, I'm getting sleepy too." Brian nodded in agreement with a yawn. " The storm's getting pretty bad, I don't think I should chance going back over with all that lightning. Do you want me to go back down stairs? I can lay on the couch-."
He stopped his sentence when he glanced over at Sierra. She had fallen asleep, and laid her head on his shoulder. He smiled, seeing the peaceful look on her face; and wondered if he had been the one to put it there.
Brian ended on that thought and put his arm around Sierra's body, next to him. Falling asleep with his head rested on top of hers.
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