Chapter 33

Avril blinked a couple of times to gain some awareness. She was still in Thomas' room. Why?

She couldn't remember falling asleep here. Her hand reached out to other side of her. The bed was cold, no sign of him.

"Morning."

She saw Thomas sitting at a table in the far corner of his room. His entire attention on the morning newspaper, cup in hand.

"I don't remember what happened last night." She said grudgingly, instantly becoming aware that he was seeing her sleep-laden eyes, morning hair...which was not pretty considering the thickness and wavy nature of her hair.

She was more thankful by the second than he was not staring at her.

"That's because you fell asleep half an hour into the movie." His voice was cold.

"Damn. I am sorry." She apologized, she guessed she hadn't realized just how tired she had been after countless sleepless nights of studying.

He gazed at her then. "No. It's my fault, I was selfish. I didn't allow you ample time to rest." His eyes were unusually intense that morning. The way he looked at her sent chills down her spine. She shook her head in the negative, pushing the hair that had fallen over her face aside. His gaze made her acutely embarrassed by the way she probably looked. Before she could respond to Thomas, he spoke.

"Any plans today?" He asked.

"Actually yes. I promised Sarah I would meet her today. She said something about a surprise." Avril indulged.

"That works out, I won't be home for most of the day." He said, drawing his attention back to the paper.

Avril wondered if he was angry at her. "Where are you going?" She questioned.

"Funeral." He answered. His tone was colder than usual. She realized that was the second time for the morning she thought of his

"My condolences. Someone you were close with?" Her voice careful. She didn't want to make unnecessary assumptions without trying to fully understand Thomas' change in demeanor.

"I don't get close to anyone." He responded a bit harshly. He picked up his cup and made his way downstairs.

"Okkkaaayyy." Avril said to herself after his body disappeared.
At least now she knew why he was in such a bad mood. She didn't buy that crap about not getting close to anyone. She saw firsthand how much he cared about the people around him.

Maybe some space was what he needed. She checked the time...of course, she had slept late, she threw her legs off the bed, took a few minutes to remake the bed, and closed the door behind her.

She climbed down the stairs poured herself a cup of coffee, the effect of it calming her.

She heard the shower come on and hoped maybe he would feel a bit refreshed...she prayed for his temperament to improve. While she wanted to be understanding his attitude was triggering to her. She hated not knowing whether she would wake up and get warm Thomas or harsh Thomas. She hated the imaginary eggshells.

The landline rang, Avril leaned off the counter, rested her cup of coffee down, and picked up the call. Living here the past months, it became second nature for her to answer the house calls.

"Hello?" She breathed politely into the phone.

She heard complete silence which warranted another greeting from her. She wasn't sure if there was a bad connection or anything of the sort.

The person on the other line seemed to have come to their senses.

"Hi. Is Thomas Lynne available?"

It was a woman. Her voice reflecting mixtures of confusion and interest.

Avril turned her attention to the sound of the shower echoing.

"I am sorry, he is currently unavailable. Is there a message you would like me to pass to him?" Avril questioned.

"I am sorry, is Trish no longer a part of the household?" The stranger questioned.

Avril was taken aback, perhaps this was someone close to the family. "She is, she is also not available at the moment."

"Oh." The voice on the other line hinted that the owner of the said voice was considering something important.

Avril started to feel a bit impatient.

"Would you like to leave a message?" Avril repeated the question.

"Yes, please tell Thomas that Lilith called and that I hope that he can get back to me."

"I will." And without any more words, Lilith ended the call without so much as a goodbye.

Avril removed the phone from her ears and stared at it.

"Even his friends seem self-righteous," Avril commented to herself as she put the phone down. . She stared at the clock and realized that she was late. She ran to the bathroom to shower and get ready.

She came out of the shower. There was a note stuck to her door. She pulled it down and unfolded the paper as she entered her room. The neat elegant lines told her that he would be gone by the time her shower was over. She stared down at the note. She placed it on her dresser as she hurried to get ready.

She didn't even get to tell him about the phone call. She tried dialing his number while she combed her hair. It stopped on the second ring.

It didn't even go to voicemail.
Avril scoffed. "That jerk!" She said to her cell.

"So much for that promise to always answer my calls." She threw her cell on her bed. Her mood completely ruined. She didn't know if she had done something wrong or if he was just in a mood.

***


"So, what's the surprise?" Avril questioned as she and Sarah drove into the parking lot.

"You'll see." Sarah said as they made their way to her apartment. They both didn't plan to go back home for the holiday especially since the break wasn't that long. Sarah's exams hadn't begun yet and her classes were still ongoing.

Avril felt a bit happier that her exams occurred earlier. It gave her some extra vacation time.

They got into Sarah's apartment and then suddenly a pair of arms embraced Avril from the back. Her body froze and any sound that she was capable of stuck in her throat.

"Happy birthday!!" Avril calmed down at the voice. She turned around to see a smiling dark-haired friendly face.

"Sam!" Avril shrieked.

Sam was Sarah's older brother. The three of them grew up together.

"What are you doing here?"

"We never miss each other birthday's," Sarah commented.

"Lil sis is right." Sam pitched in. "Besides I have been away for so long, scared you girls will replace me." Sam placed a hand over his heart and feigned panic.

"Spoken like a true girl." Sarah rolled her eyes. Avril giggled.

"I grew up with girls...the environment lowered my testosterone levels." He rebutted.

"Can you stop fighting and just give me my cake?" Avril stepped between the both of them.

***
Avril twisted and turned. She craved sleep but the fact that it was after midnight and Thomas was yet to get back home made her restless. The more she wanted not to think about him, the more her mind disobeyed.

She jumped off her bed angrily. She looked around on her table for a book to read, something boring, perhaps it would put her in a daze.

She heard the echo of something shattering. The sound faintly traveled up to her door and caressing it.

Everything went silent. Avril even forgot that her original intention was to fall asleep. She decided to find out the source of the sound.

She came out of her room and made her way downstairs. The entire way was lit, so was the living room, the only shadows came from the kitchen. She picked up a lamp from the living room while walking to the kitchen. She saw darker shades in the corner of the cabinets. Her hands fished around for the lights, her eyes never leaving the object.

As the lights drove out the remnants of the darkness, she saw Thomas slumped on the floor between the cabinets, and next to him was a broken bottle of what used to be Whisky.

One of his legs stretched straight out in front of him while the other was bent, foot firmly on the floor, his hand resting on the knee, while the other was tangled in his hair.

Avril placed the lamp on the counter and took to steps to stand in front of him. He gave no indication that he knew she was even there.

"Thomas?" Avril looked down at him. His eyes met hers in an instant of nonrecognition.

"Avril." He finally spoke. "Go back to bed." His voice was almost inaudible.

"What's wrong?" She moved a bit closer and saw him press his eyes closed.

"Go. Away!" This time his voice was louder, harsher and if it was anyone else they would have had the decency to be scared but this had the opposite effect on Avril.

"I am not going." She steeled her voice to show him that she was just as stubborn as he was, but inside, her heart ached for him. His hair was tousled, his clothes wrinkled and disheveled.

But it was his eyes. His eyes seemed empty, devoid of emotion.

"Thomas..." She breathed as she reached her hand out to touch his face. He grabbed her hand before it made contact with his skin. She gasped at the force of his grip.

He then pulled her closer, burying his face into her stomach, he let go of her arm and wrapped his arms around her waist.

Avril didn't respond for a while. She waited for the shock to wear off. She then placed her hands in his hair, stroking, giving him the comfort he needed.