Not Real. Not Imaginary.

PART FIVE: NINA. [Tension]

I looked up at her. I could feel my eyes were open wide as I did, my heart beat started to race as I saw her face, and the gentle yet seductive smile that her lips wore in that moment. She held my hand gently and, just as gently tugged me towards her. Her eyes were fixed in mine, and there was something in her eyes, that kept pulling me in; so, I didn’t find the strength in me to pull away, or tell her to stop when I realized what was going to happen next.

Her face kept getting closer; she kept gently pulling my hand until I was less than half an inch away from her; our bodies were almost touching, and I had her face so close to mine...I could feel her warm breath tickling my face, brushing against my lips. It was so…inebriating.

I felt like a little animal, like…a mouse…being hypnotized by a snake, about to be devoured, and unable to escape, so mesmerized, that my body didn’t respond. I could hear Greer calling to me. But her voice seemed so far away, I could barely recognize it was her voice calling.

Something inside me was telling me to be careful, to get away, but at the same time…I just wanted to keep getting lost in those honey-colored eyes.

Our lips were almost touching. I could feel my breathing becoming more agitated, while Robin’s remained so calm the entire time. We were so close that it was inevitable, I was certain that her lips and mine would end up meeting, any moment....

I closed my eyes, and I could almost feel her triumphant grin, in the minuscule space that still separated us. Her hand loosened its grip and released my hand, and the next second, I felt it on my cheek, gently cupping it, although…it also seemed, she was trying to make sure I wouldn’t escape.

I swallowed nervously, and was expecting to feel her lips on mine the next second, but suddenly, the door opened and I heard a familiar voice joyfully announcing her arrival.

“Surprise Kitten~.”

The door practically flung open as Terry barged in the apartment joyfully.

I heard Robin click her tongue as Terry came in and interrupted us…but to my surprise, I felt relieved that she came in.…

“T-Terry! What are you doing here?” I smiled awkwardly and got up as fast as I could looking at her with a guilty blush.

“I wanted to surprise you, I brought ice cream.” She seemed to not be bothered by the scene. I assume it was because she didn’t really saw what was happening....

“Well, you certainly surprised me…” I replied giggling as I walked towards her, oddly cheerful. I heard Robin clear her throat as I got to Terry’s side. “Oh right! Uhm…Terry, this is Robin. We were friends back when I was in college…the only year I spent at college...”

Robin slightly bowed her head as she walked towards us; leaving her almost empty glass of water over the kitchen table, she walked to Terry and offered her hand for a shake. Terry looked down at her hand, then back at her face, she smiled and then grabbed Robin’s hand and gave it one short shake.

“Nice to meet you, Robin.” Terry said as she kept her eyes on Robin, her face seemed very serious…if I had to guess, I would say it was her business face.

“Same here, nice to meet you…Terry…” The grin on Robin’s face was both, captivating and…fearsome, somehow….

“So, you met in college. It was a long time ago, wasn’t it?” Said Terry as she kept her eyes on Robin.

“I know! It’s been almost ten years since.” I answered as I smiled, still feeling thrilled to have met my old friend after such a long time. “I had lost all contact with her…I honestly never thought I would meet her again. But, guess what?! She moved into the complex, so now we’re neighbors. Isn’t that great?”

I was a little too excited, and Terry seemed to find that adorable, because she chuckled and placed her hand over my hair, gently stroking my head as if she was stroking a kitten or a puppy.

“It is a very lucky coincidence, I think.” She adverted her eyes away from me, and looked at Robin.

In that moment I noticed, the way she looked at Robin, was very different than her usual look, even different from her usual ‘business’ look.

“It is indeed…very lucky.” Robin gave a serious look back at Terry. The atmosphere suddenly got really tense.

Greer noticed the tension, and noticed my nervousness at this situation, so she came to my side and gently took my hand, then she whispered:

“It’s okay”, and she was right; after she spoke, Terry’s face broke into a smile and she walked back to the kitchen.

“Oops, the ice cream is about to melt here. We should eat it before that happens. Maybe we can share some with our friend Robin here.” She moved to find a couple of small bowls for the ice cream as she spoke, the smile didn’t disappear from her face the entire time.

“No, I’m fine. I should get going…I was just trying to say hi to the neighbors and be…you know…polite.” Robin walked to the door and I followed her to open it, but she beat me to it, and opened it herself “I’ll see you later Nina. Maybe we can chat a little more one of these days…”

I nodded, and she closed the door behind her after walking out. I stood there, feeling awkward now that I was alone with Terry. Guilt was catching up to me now, once again, even though I tried to convince myself that nothing bad happened.

Greer was fully aware of the situation. She knew how I was feeling now. She knew far too well…and now, I was embarrassed after I realized Greer was there the entire time, seeing how weak I was and how I almost gave in.

“I’m sorry…” I whispered. She smiled and shook her head.

“It’s okay…it’s…slightly understandable. She was your crush, right?” Her tone was very warm and soothing, and I felt bad for having her go through all of this.

“Yes, but...”

“There will always be a little bit of a spark there then…you had feelings for her, so it’s normal you’re curious…and tempted, to see what it would’ve been…” She interrupted, while tucking my hair behind my ear. As her hand was moving away, she lovingly pinched my cheek “Don’t apologize…you didn’t do anything wrong…”

I nodded and then, I heard Terry clearing her throat. I looked at her and smiled shyly.

“I’m sorry…I didn’t…I wasn’t trying to…I…”

She walked towards me and hugged me.

“It’s okay Kitten. Just be careful, okay? I know she was your friend, but it was a long time ago and people change. And I…I just don’t trust her…” She gently stroked my cheek as she looked at me, but I was distracted because I heard Greer scoffing at my side, after Terry spoke.

“She’s a really good person…she always took care of me back in college, she always made sure I was okay…actually…I would say you two are a bit more alike than you think.” That made Greer laugh so hard that I thought Terry would hear her…for a moment.

“I…just…” She sighed and pressed her forehead against mine “I just want you to be safe…”

“I am, I promise.” I lied; I was still aware that I had a stalker to deal with, but I was decided not to let Terry worry about it this time.

“I agree with her in one thing. You should be careful. People isn’t always what they seem…” Said Greer as Terry hugged me.

She walked behind Terry so she was in my field of vision, and then reached up and ruffled my hair. Terry suddenly broke the hug and walked back in the kitchen, ‘dragging’ me with her.

“We really should eat the ice cream now, before it melts…more.” She said as she opened the container and noticed it was already softer than it should be. I giggled at her face of deception and she smiled at my giggle. “I am glad my pain causes you such joy.”

“I’m sorry…it’s just that when you act this childishly, it’s so refreshing…” I reached up and this time, it was me the one stroking her head, as you would do to console a child that just dropped her ice cream on the playground.

I looked at Greer, and I saw a pained expression on her face for a moment, like a flash… it was there, momentarily, but I am sure it was there. I looked down feeling guilty again as I moved my hand away from Terry.

Terry looked up at me puzzled as if she was wondering why had the ‘petting’ stopped. I smiled at her and then walked away to get a pair of spoons to scoop some ice cream and put it in our bowls.

I spent the rest of the day with Terry, finishing the ice cream and watching movies. When she left, I basically ran into Greer’s arms and nestled myself there as we sat on the couch, not saying a word, or moving at all. It was as if she knew, I needed to collect my thoughts and recharge after the eventful day, before I could move.

My eyelids started to feel heavy, and only then she moved; I felt a pair of caring, strong and protective arms lift me up as I dozed off, against his warm chest.