DIANA NOLAN

I have been asleep for a week. I HAVE BEEN ASLEEP FOR A WEEK. It is what spooked through my mind as I sat down in the bathtub. My knee is high above the water while Mama is washing my hair.
     "Did I miss anything this last week?" I question. My mother hums in response, probably thinking of her answer. "Cillian didn't stray from your side," she replies, gently scrubbing the shampoo in my hair. It honestly warms my heart. "He did?" He stood by my side for days?
"We had to force him home because he hadn't slept in days. He didn't want to leave you," she clarifies. "So, your father promised him to call right away if you happened to wake up when he wasn't there. I took him home, he slept and ate before I brought him back to you." He didn't want to leave my side. I remember hearing his voice. I did not hear every word of it, but thinking back...
"The moment ... your monitor flatline, that image will forever haunt ... as long as my feelings ... develop. I do not know ... hear me, I hope you ... because I ... a fool. I would be a ... for not wanting a relationship ... I know what you have told ... Olympics ... but ... I couldn't keep my hands off you ... I can't keep getting my ... off you. That is why ... holding your hand. I just want to be near ... I cannot ... breathe without you ... fucking pathetic and desperate."
     "Diana?" My mother's voice pulls me back into reality. "Hmm?" I hum as a response. "You should hold on to him," she advises. "I can see the loving look in his eyes. That man is smitten over you." My heart flutters at her comment before I reply: "He has asked me on a date, after the surgery." I couldn't see her face, but I just knew that she was smiling. "I accepted it, now the Olympics are off the calendar." "That is really good."
Mama assists me in drying my hair before putting me in bed. I stare at the ceiling, not feeling tired at all. I hear footsteps coming up the stairs, but I do not bother looking at who it is. From the corner of my eye, I see Cillian enter my room. "I'm more of a sideways sleeper," I mutter. A chuckle ripples from his throat, before pulling his shirt over his head. I catch myself staring and look away in shame. He lies down on the mattress next to my bed and we stay silent. I ponder the question of whether he wishes to lay next to him.

"Cillian?" I question. A nervous knot forms in my stomach as my heartbeat elevates. "Diana?" he questions in return. "Will you come and lie down next to me?" I question, waiting for either rejection or agreement.
     "Is that what you want?" he questions. He sounds unsure and hesitating. "Yes," I answer. Another silence but then I hear him grab his pillow and within a second, he lays next to me. I snuggle closer to him, allowing him to put his arm around me. I hear him sniffing my hair and I succeed in suppressing a chuckle.
"I smell better now," I mention. He huffs a chuckle in my hair, his warm breath prickling my scalp. "It does not matter, my lady." My heart flutters whenever he calls me his lady.
     "I cannot comprehend with the fact that I have missed a week of my life," I say. "What did I do? Nap?" "You were healing from a near-death experience, my lady," Cillian reasons gently. I turn my head to look at him, meeting his eyes. Even though his eyes are as cold as ice, I find a warm glow in them. I understand why my father casted him for this film.
     "All we are relieved the know that you are awake. The media does too," he adds. The news? "I have reached the news?" He nods and says: "I guess the media interviewed your teammates and they investigated the rest of the situation. Besides ... I am also quite uhm famous, meaning fans have spotted me in the hospital." Oh right, he is an actor. "Ohh, right. I forgot you were famous," I chuckle. I turn my head, glancing at the ceiling once again.
"Has the media already spread rumors? Starring actor in the newest Batman movie seen with gymnastics Diana Nolan." I phrase with my hands. He agrees it was something like that and I couldn't help but chuckle. It felt hilarious.

A comfortable silence settled. I turn my head to look at Cillian, but I am surprised when his lips meet mine. My eyes widen, and my body locks in. He pulls away before firing different apologies. Fear flashes in his eyes, obviously not meaning to do that. However, my heartbeat elevates as he literally takes my breath away. My eyes shift from his eyes to his lips. A wave of desire flows through my veins, needing to feel his lips once again.
"I am so sorry, I wanted to kiss you on your forehead. I did not mean-" I grip his chin and press my lips on his. He and I melt into the kiss, not knowing how much I needed this. For a moment, I forget everything. Everything around us, everything what has happened. Life is good for that split moment. I pull away and look him in the eyes. He has a loving expression in his eyes as if he wanted to do this for a long time. He is smitten over you. My mind reminded me of my mother's words.
"Kissing before the first date huh?" he questions, obviously teasing. He succeeds in making me chuckle before I reason: "Everything is out of order because meeting family before the first date?" I arch an eyebrow as he scrunches his nose. He is so handsome. He leans in and rests his forehead against mine. Then I remember his confessing words, deciding to come clean with him.
"I have heard your sweet, confessing words, Cillian," I whisper. "And I admit that I am intrigued by you but I have a feeling that you are several chapters ahead. That we are reading the same book but you are further in our story than I am."
     "Oh, my dear Diana," he whispers. "You had other priorities and it was more than understandable that I fell earlier for you than you for me." His words warms my soul. He fell for me. "And you do not need to confess or anything if you aren't ready," he adds. He is too precious, I can cry. "You are too sweet, Cillian," I whisper. I pull away and cup his cheek with my left hand. He covers my hand with his, staring in my eyes. Butterflies fly around in my stomach as my heart flutters under his gaze.
"I only wish to treat you well and have you by my side as many times as possible. And I am here to win your heart," he whispers. "Well, you are doing a great job at doing that," I whisper. He leans in and presses a short kiss on my lips. I know gymnastics as my addiction, but...
"Good," he whispers. "Because I'm not good at sharing soon to be my property." There goes my female dignity. These words being said with an Irish accent ... Being his property sounds oddly provocative, if you ask me.

I am still comfortable lying in Cillian's arms while I listen to his steady breathing. I have been sleeping for a week and I do not feel tired. I think about making a silent, similar confession as well but then I remembered the plane situation. He woke up and he heard me. A shiver runs down my spine when I remember hearing his low voice after I spoke.
"You better not wake up, Murphy," I murmur softly. "If I may admit, my thoughts of you start as soon as I wake up. Every night, every day. I go to sleep with you on my mind. And I actually despised it. I despised it how you easily corrupted my focus, but I simply couldn't stop thinking about you. My thoughts of you never end." I stare at the ceiling and my heartbeat elevates as I feel Cillian's grip tighten. However, his breathing remains unbothered.
     "I might not be on the same page as you, but if we are reading the same book ... I will fall for you as hard as you fell for you because I do feel something between us. I feel a spark, a flash of chemistry. I tried to hold you back, but you were stronger. My only chance is giving up the fight. I feel like I win when I lose," I whisper, caressing his hand with my thumb. "I mean, it must be love. I am defeated and you won the war. The game of winning my heart. Finally facing my Waterloo." I stop talking and close my eyes.
     "It is love and I promise to love you for ever more." Bastard. His voice causes my heart to speed up. I turn my head to see his eyes closed, but a smile lingers on his lips. "You bastard," I mutter and a chuckle ripples from his throat. "You should be asleep," I scold.
     "Your angelic voice awoke me," he reasons, opening his eyes. I quit confessing with him in the room, 'asleep'. It is too dark, but I can see a dim glow in his blue eyes. "You should stop waking up at my voice whenever I wish to make a silent confession," I scold.
     "I will try harder to stay asleep," he promises. "Why aren't you asleep?" he adds. I turn my head and glance at the ceiling. He nuzzles his face in my hair, sending shivers down my spine. "I have been asleep for a week," I say and of course, a yawn escapes my lips. "Hmm, I almost believed you," Cillian says, his tone dripping with sarcasm. I roll my eyes and sigh.
"You are impossible, Cillian," I sigh, which only makes him chuckle. "Come to sleep with me," he suggests. "I will have you in my arms, you will wake up in my arms." I then agree with his suggestion. "Alright," I sigh, finally closing my eyes.
     "Sleep tight," he whispers. "Sleep well, Cillian," I say. I listen to his breathing and after a while, my eyes start to feel heavy. I finally drift off to sleep.

The light in the room awakens me, as usual. My eyes flutter open and it takes me a moment to realise where I am. I then feel a pair of arms around me and I start to panic before I realise it is Cillian. I turn my head to see him peacefully asleep. My fingers cautiously try to detangle Cillian's fingers to release me from his embrace, because I am in a need of the toilet. I succeed in detangling his fingers and I try to leave the bed. However, Cillian renews his grip around me, pressing me against him.
"Please, don't leave me," he mutters. He sounded anxious? "Please, don't," he pleads. I turn my head to see creases in his forehead. I lift my arm to lay my hand on his cheek. "I'm not going anywhere," I whisper. He seems to calm down and the creases disappear. Then no toilet... I continue to look at his peaceful expression for an unknown time.
"You aren't staring at me, are you?" Cillian's voice fills the silent bedroom. My heart skips several beats. Totally busted. "No..." I speak slowly, but then he opens his eyes. I am met by his beautiful eyes. I watch the corner of his mouth curve into a smile.
"Goodmorning, beautiful," he speaks gently. His voice is yet raw and hoarse. Blood rushes to my cheeks as I fail to suppress a smile. "Goodmorning, handsome," I reply. His eyes twinkle at the word handsome and it is simply adorable to see.
"Did you sleep well?" he questions. I nod. "Even though, I have slept quite some time ... It was good," I reply. "Your energy is used for healing your knee, which means you will need sleep," Cillian reasons. "You know what I need?" I question. He arches an eyebrow and tilts his head.
"A cozy two movie marathon with you," I smile, pressing my lips onto his. I feel his lips curve into a smile and he simply restarted my dying flame. "Harry Potter?" he questions. "Harry Potter," I confirm with a smile. He presses a short kiss on my lips.
Waterloo, knowing my fate is to be with you. Finally facing my Waterloo. Finally facing commitment to Cillian.