Chapter 12

Isa POV

I force Temi to go on walks with me for the rest of the weekend. Of course, she protests and grumbles and makes snarky comments throughout, but I put up with it because I know it's beneficial for her in the long-run.

As usual, we would walk together in silence. I try to make conversation, but Temi wouldn't reply. So I'd stop talking and just bask in the silence instead.

I have gotten used to it. I've even gotten used to Temi and her fits. I know firsthand that grief often manifests itself in different ways, and Temi's anger is just one of them. Being on the receiving end of her anger is something that is definitely not ideal-but it is something I just have to deal with, regardless.

The new week starts and, as usual, I follow Temi to classes, staying stationed outside of the building for the entire duration of her class periods. Temi doesn't attempt running off again, which I am thankful for.

Temi's last class period for the day just ended. I watch her as she comes out of class; her eyes rest on me for a few seconds before they instantly turn hard and she walks past me as if I'm not there.

At least she's alive. That is the most important thing. Right?

I continue to sleep on Temi's bedroom floor each night. I am not as bothered by the hard, cold floor any longer, and I have grown accustomed to the sound of Temi's breathing. I would suddenly wake up at points during the night to make sure that Temi is still there and has not run off again.

Thankfully, she is there each time and I would slowly fall back asleep listening to the sound of her breathing. Sometimes it is steady and calm. Most times it is labored and heavy, usually when she's having a nightmare.

Regardless, I don't do anything. I can't do anything.

"I want to go study in the library."

I am seated in the living room and Temi is standing directly in front of me with her arms folded over her chest, frowning at me, while simultaneously blocking out the Animal Planet program I am watching.

"Did you know the ocean is part whale pee?" I say, ignoring her previous comment.

Temi's expression only grows angrier. "I don't care about fucking whales."

"I'd like to think not. Not only would that be gross, but I'm pretty sure it's classified under animal abuse."

I watch with a satisfied smirk on my face as Temi's facial expression morphs into one of horror.

"You're disgusting."

I ignore her. "Did you know whale vomit is used in perfumes?"

"My vomit will be your perfume in the next few minutes if you don't stop."

My eyes widen in shock slightly as I stare at the angry girl standing in front of me. My shock isn't about the fact that she has just threatened to throw-up on me, but more so about the fact she just made a joke.

"What?" Temi says after a while of me staring at her in bewilderment.

"Nothing," I quickly respond. I realize Temi is talking to me. This is one of the few times she has ever instigated a conversation. I quickly rack my brain of something to say to keep her talking, but not piss her off that she just walks off. "You usually study in your room. Why do you want to go to the library now?"

"Seriously?" Temi says, rolling her eyes. "You're always the one telling me I shouldn't stay cooped up in my room. Now you're questioning me?"

She has a valid point and I can't think of anything to say in response. So I settle with an 'okay' and go to grab my jacket.

It's evening time and fall is fast approaching. It's windy as Temi and I walk to the college library, and I watch as Temi pulls her sweater that's a few layers too thin closer to her body.

"You can borrow my jacket if you want," I say.

Not surprisingly, Temi does not respond to me but keeps on walking as if she had not heard me speak.

I sigh but follow suit. It's clear that Temi has no intention of talking to me again. 

We make our trip to the library in silence and I let my mind wonder. I think of Alice for the first time since our breakup. I expected that she would have tried to reach out to me in some capacity, but at the same time, I'm not really surprised. It's Alice, after all. I'm not bothered by that fact at all. A part of me feels relief. Besides, I have bigger things to deal with.

At that moment, Temi and I arrive at the library. It looks like any other library. A huge plain colored building, and nothing but desks and bookshelves on the inside. There are some students littered around the library, but not much, seeing as it is a Friday night. Most college students are probably at a party getting blacked out and making decisions they will regret the next morning.

But not Temi.

I watch as she makes her way over to one of the desks, spreading her belongings over the table before sending a glare my way, to make it clear she doesn't want me sitting with her.

I can't help but smile. There's something almost endearing in the lengths that Temi goes just to make it clear to me just how much she detests my presence.

I decide to acknowledge her wishes, and take a seat at a desk a few feet away from her. However, I make sure to sit facing her. Temi notices this and her scowl deepens, which only causes my smile to widen.

I realize how weird it appears for me to be seated in a library doing nothing, so I grab a random book from one of the bookshelves to keep myself busy.

Minutes go by, and I occasionally glance up at Temi to see her typing away on her MacBook. She seems deep in concentration, and I study the way the lines form on her forehead, and her mouth takes the form of a pout as she works.

Temi suddenly looks up, and I quickly avert my gaze back to the book I'm reading to avoid being caught.

A few more minutes go by when Temi stands up from her seat. Mirroring her actions, I stand up as well and walk towards her. I notice she has not packed up her laptop or her backpack.

"I'm just going to the bathroom," Temi says once I'm close enough, "no need to follow me in there like a freak."

"Freak, suicide watch bodyguard... tomato, tomato." I reply, which earns me a premium scowl from Temi.

"I'm serious, don't follow me to the bathroom."

Of course, I follow her because I don't trust her, and Temi is not at all happy about that.

"I told you not to follow me," she says once we arrive in the bathroom. "Why the fuck did you follow me?"

"Hmmm, let me think," I put my finger on my chin and tilt my head to the side, "first, I don't take orders from you. Secondly and more importantly, I have zero trust in you."

"I'm going to the bathroom. What do you think I'm going to do? Sneak out of the fucking bathroom window like this is some fucking action movie?!"

At that moment, there is a loud flush and a brown-haired girl emerges from one of the stalls. She has a nervous expression on her face, and the awkwardness is so heavy in the air as she goes to wash her hand at the sink, which happens to be right in between Temi and I.

The girl murmurs a 'sorry' as she quickly washes her hand and rushes out of the bathroom. I can't blame her.

Temi does not say another word to me but stomps towards one of the bathroom stalls, slamming it hard behind her. I lean against the bathroom wall with my arms folded, hoping that nobody heard the bathroom door slamming.

A few moments later, Temi reemerges. Her face is angry, and her eyes are bright. She avoids my gaze as she goes over to the sink and washes and dries her hands.

Without a word, she stalks out of the bathroom, and I follow behind her. Temi goes back to her desk and I go back to mine. I watch her typing away angrily on her laptop before I go back to reading my book.

The tension from the whole bathroom incident hangs heavy in the air on our walk back to the apartment. Temi is walking fast, to avoid walking next to me and I find myself preferring the times when she would lag behind me.

"Temi, slow down," I finally say. I can't believe how someone of her size can cover as much distance in a small amount of time. My legs are longer than hers, but still Temi seems to have an advantage over me.

Obviously, Temi ignores me. If anything, she only quickens her pace.

I rush to keep up. It is nighttime now and there's barely even light on the street. The only thing that seems to guide our path is the light reflecting from the moon.

"Temi, stop." I reach out, grabbing hold of Temi's arm in an effort to halt her. My grip on her is weak, and she aggressively shrugs me off before walking off again.

She hasn't taken up till five steps when she trips over a rock she doesn't see in her path.

I am getting angrier by the second, but that all disappears the moment I see Temi start to fall. In a moment, I am in front of her, catching her before her body comes in contact with the ground.

Temi, who had been trying to push me away just moments ago, gasps, and clings onto the front of my jacket.

Time seems to be at a standstill as I hold her in my arms. The whole situation is awfully cheesy, but I'm not able to tear my eyes away from her face. The moonlight hits her perfectly and her dark skin reflects it, shining brightly.

The flyaways from Temi's hair, which is packed in a bun at the top of her head, frame her face, brushing against it softly in the wind. Temi feels so small in my hands. I find myself thinking of how much I had underestimated just how small she is. Most of her body is usually hidden away in the baggy clothes that she wears, so this is my first time getting an actual feel of her.

I watch her large eyes that have widened and the way her mouth opens, my eyes constantly slipping to her full lips.

I lick my lips unconsciously.

This seems to snap Temi out of it. She struggles in my arms till she's upright on her feet, and she pushes me away rather aggressively. I watch as she awkwardly pulls her sweater around herself, scowling slightly but avoiding my gaze.

A feeling that I can't place passes through me. It's not a feeling I like.

"I wish you would fuck off," Temi says, turning on her heel and walking away, "just leave me the fuck alone."

I stand there for a moment after her, waves upon waves of confusion coursing through me. It feels like no matter what I do, I can never get through to her.