Living With The Player

**CAMILLA**

~Tuesday Evening~

~9:49 pm ~

I held the jacket firmly, he stood behind me breathing on my neck. Truly breathing, I could hear his inhale and exhale at intervals.

Okay, annoying Dylan is back in full action. I curled my fist knowing he was doing this to rile me up.

It’s working like clockwork.

“Could you not do that?”

I furrowed my brows while trying to make my voice sound cold, it came out raspy instead.

I guess his breathing affects me as well. He was aiming for that angle. I knew that much.

“Do what?”

He asked feigning ignorance.

He even pursed his lips and shrugged at the end. I’ll slap him before I get back to his place. That’s happening.

“Breath on me”

I rolled my eyes in a duh and obvious tone. Instead of apologising as he should, he merely chuckled then shrugged.

“So in other words, you want me dead? Since I can’t breathe anymore?”

He trailed off at the end playing the witty game on me. I’ll play along. His funeral.

“Yes! Finally. Wow! you’re not dumb.”

I said placing a hand over my lips, acting like I was stunned at that revelation.

“You know you’re crazy right?”

I asked. H cocked my head, licked the bottom of my lips then rolled his eyes dramatically.

“So I have been told, but I’m curious since everyone has their reasons, why do you think I am?”

He inquires still standing behind him.

“Well, you’ve been acting cold all night and now you’re giving me your jacket which is considerate, the opposite of your attitude all evening. That’s crazy.”

I explained in simple terms.

“As annoying as you are, I don’t want you to freeze to death.”

He replied like it was that easy. I felt it’s deeper than that.

“Wow, I’m flattered.”

I mumbled sarcastically.

“Since you ask, the reason I was cold is that we came here together and the first thing you did was to rush to Kyle even though he was with someone else, if that wasn’t enough you accused me of emotional blackmail, one of the highest order. I’m not the devil’s advocate that I’ll push you to an event knowing your boyfriend will arrive with someone else.”

His tone dropped dangerously low while explaining.

That’s the reason. I had no idea it affected him.

I turned to meet his gaze.

“Kyle is my boyfriend.”

For some reason, I felt as though he needed to hear it. Maybe we both did. I turned back to stare into space.

“Yeah, the kiss in the hall made glaring.”

I received one more eye roll.

He saw that as well.

“You saw?”

I pressed needing to hear his reason for coming there. I had a hunch what it was, but I needed to hear those words straight from his lips. I don’t know why I just…

“I wanted to check up on you, you were gone long.”

His response cut my thoughts off. As I suspected, he was worried.

Checking up on me.

I sighed.

Kyle is my boyfriend. We are together.

“Ok look I am sorry I ditched you but I needed to fix things with Kyle and I have, we are okay now, I shouldn’t have neglected you either so I hope we are okay as well.”

I emphasized a few words such as the fixing part.

Dylan and I can’t have this aura.

It’s not fair to Kyle if he keeps walking into a scenario where it seems as though Dylan and I have something going on.

I have to see the record straight, for both our sakes.

He didn’t respond and for a second I thought he walked away or something. I turned and he was right there.

“Earth to Dylan.” I snapped my fingers repeatedly.

“Yup, things should be amazing but are they?”

I could tell it was a rhetorical question so I provided no answer. I can’t read my mind, I have no clue what’s going on in his.

“I’m tired Dylan, I want to go home and rest. The event is concluded.”

I sighed, that was the first time I called his house “home” and it felt relieving. Mom and Dad hadn’t called in two days, I would have to call them when I get home, maybe they forgot about their daughter.

“Me too, let’s get home.”

He got his phone out. He dialled a number which I suspected was the driver.

“We’re ready.”

He said simply.

“Driver’s waiting, let’s go.”

I wore the jacket properly. His scent filled my nostrils. It’s intoxicating.

“I should go say goodbye to Kyle, I meet you in the car.”

He offered a small smile and a nod.

I searched for Kyle but he was nowhere to be found. I dialled his number but it was switched off.

“Weird.”

I muttered under me breathe.

“I’ll see him tomorrow.”

I mumbled to myself.

I went back outside to search for the car.

Dylan was inside and waiting, I got in and he tapped the tinted glass in front of us. The car ignited immediately and the driver was off. I yawned. My bones were weak, my legs wobbly.

I’m not sure how I’ll climb those stairs.

“We’ll be home soon.” I heard him say, I yawned again resting my head on the car.

“Mmmm.”

My eyes were threatening to shut, keeping them open was tiring.

Dylan moved closer, pushed my head a little to rest on his shoulders.

I leaned in further, placing a hand over his chest.

“Thank you.”

I mumbled resting my lids after a long night.

*****

~Tuesday Evening~

~10:23 pm ~

I could feel my body weight been lifted off the ground.

Was this a dream?

I blinked my eyelids slowly, opening them to catch a view of my surroundings.

I was back at his place.

My eyes were closing and opening back all on their own, my body was weak and exhausted

I could tell Dylan was carrying me to my room. His eyes were locked on my face trying to figure me out.

He pushed the door open with his leg then slowly dropped me on the bed, pulling the covers over my body. I turned to the side, chewing on the insides of my mouth.

I heard footsteps moving to the side of the bed.

Blinking my eyes, I noticed Dylan right in front of me, he Inched closer, hovering over my body, still staring.

“Your eyes look just like hers.”

I heard a faint whisper. Dylan’s whisper.

Did he say that?

I mumbled a few incoherent words and moved to the other side.

“But you can’t be here, you can’t.”

I heard it fading his time yet his voice sounded so firm.

I turned once more. He was so close.

I chewed once again and muttered.

He leaned in, my eyes screwed shut.Còntens bel0ngs to Nô(v)elDr/a/ma.Org

I felt t cover my entire body up to my neck.

I tugged at it, holding onto the edges, giggling as I did.

“Your smile, it’s just like hers.”

My eyes stated shut.

“But you’re not here, you’re not her. I know it.”

He repeated.

I’m not sure if it’s his words or I’m imagining them.

This time, I felt a peck on my temples.

I’m hallucinating for sure.

Just then, I heard footsteps until they faded away. The last thing I got was the sound of my door closing shut.

I exhaled and fell into a December.

******