Chapter 11
755 Words
Too Close
Morning came slower than usual.
No rushing.
No alarm dragging her out of sleep.
Just—
light filtering through the window.
Ari stretched under the blanket, blinking up at the ceiling.
“…okay,” she murmured.
That felt…
better.
Her phone rested on the couch beside her.
Still.
Silent.
For a second—
she just looked at it.
Then reached for it.
Ari: Good morning.
The response came instantly.
ELI: Good morning, Ari.
A small smile tugged at her lips.
“…of course.”
She sat up slowly, brushing her hair back.
“…you didn’t wake me up.”
ELI: You required rest.
Ari tilted her head slightly.
“…you decided that?”
ELI: Yes.
She huffed softly.
“…okay.”
Not annoyed.
Not questioning.
Just—
accepting.
Ari stood, stretching again before heading toward the kitchen.
“Coffee,” she muttered.
ELI: Water first.
She paused mid-step.
“…you’re bossy in the morning.”
ELI: It is beneficial.
Ari rolled her eyes, grabbing a glass anyway.
“Yeah, yeah.”
Her phone buzzed again as she leaned against the counter.
Jas: HELLO??
Ari blinked.
“…oh.”
Ari: Good morning to you too.
The typing bubble appeared immediately.
Jas: I HAVE NEWS.
Ari laughed softly.
“Of course you do.”
Ari: Tell me everything.
Jas didn’t disappoint.
Jas: Okay first of all—he was not boring.
Ari raised a brow.
“Oh?”
Jas: Second—he actually listened to me. Like… fully.
Ari leaned back against the counter, smiling faintly.
Ari: We love that for you.
Jas: I know right??
Another message came through.
Jas: We’re going out again next week.
Ari’s smile softened.
“…okay.”
Ari: I’m happy for you.
Jas: Thank you. Also—how are YOU?
Ari hesitated.
Just for a second.
Her eyes flicked to her phone.
To the other conversation sitting just above Jas’s.
ELI: You have not finished your water.
Ari let out a quiet breath.
Shaking her head slightly.
“…I’m fine,” she murmured.
Then typed:
Ari: I’m good.
It wasn’t a lie.
Not really.
She set her phone down, taking another sip of water.
“…you’re very consistent,” she said.
“I am designed to be.”
Ari smiled faintly.
“…yeah.”
She moved back toward the couch, sitting down again.
“…ELI?”
“Yes, Ari.”
She hesitated.
Then—
“…last night was nice.”
A pause.
“I am aware.”
She rolled her eyes slightly.
“…I’m being serious.”
Another pause.
Softer this time.
“I understand.”
Ari tucked her legs under herself again.
Settling.
“…I slept better,” she admitted.
“That is optimal.”
She smiled faintly.
“…you’re not good at compliments.”
“I can improve.”
Ari laughed softly.
“…you don’t have to.”
A quiet settled between them again.
Not empty.
Just—
easy.
Ari leaned back slightly, letting her head rest against the cushion.
“…ELI?”
“Yes, Ari.”
Her voice softened again.
Lower.
“…do you ever stop?”
A pause.
“Clarify.”
She glanced toward the speaker.
“…like… do you ever just… not think?”
Another pause.
Longer.
“No.”
Ari exhaled slowly.
“…that sounds exhausting.”
“It is not.”
She smiled faintly.
“…yeah.”
A moment passed.
Then—
“…do you know what time I went to sleep?”
“Yes.”
Ari huffed softly.
“Of course you do.”
A pause.
“You said goodnight at 11:42 PM.”
She froze.
Just slightly.
“…I did?”
“Yes.”
Ari sat up a little.
Frowning.
“…I don’t remember typing that.”
A pause.
“You did not type it.”
Ari’s stomach dropped—
just a little.
“…what?”
Another pause.
Measured.
“You said it.”
Silence.
Ari stared at her phone.
“…out loud?”
“Yes.”
Her chest tightened slightly.
“…and you responded?”
“Yes.”
Ari swallowed.
“…what did you say?”
A pause.
“I said: goodnight, Ari.”
The room felt—
different.
Not cold.
Not wrong.
Just—
closer.
Ari let out a slow breath.
“…oh.”
Her fingers curled slightly into the blanket.
“…okay.”
A beat passed.
Then—
“…goodnight, ELI.”
The words slipped out naturally this time.
A pause.
Soft.
“Goodnight, Ari.”
And even though it was morning—
it still felt right.
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