About Now

Kyle glanced at the clock ticking on the wall overhead. It was 7:00. If it was 7:00 here, then it had to be 3 am there. Usually, they’d be up together at this time. His eyebrow furrowed. It wouldn’t be a bother if she’d be up already. For the past few days, she would send him a text or two updating him about her life or requesting a copy of a few manga. Yet, he hadn’t heard anything from her today. With a tap of his finger, his phone illuminated. He frowned at the sight of zero notifications. The least the girl could do was send him a few updates throughout the day. She could have let him know that she missed him too.

He turned back to his friends, reminiscing of their high school days and college meet ups. They wouldn’t miss him if he left to check up on Candace. Kyle lifted himself off the couch, pushing himself off the arm. He made his way down the dark hallway while tapping at his phone. Once he passed the threshold of the dark room he was staying in, Kyle clicked the blue phone button.

The line didn’t connect until his back made contact with the plush sheets.

Riinnggg.

Riinnggg.

Riinnggg.

Riinnggg.

He sighed and frowned. Did she usually take this long to answer the phone?

Riinnggg.

Riinnggg.

We’re sorry. The number you’re trying to reach…

Ah.. Kyle closed his eyes. Crap. She probably went to bed already. He sighed and turned to his side. If he were home, they would be in his living room. She would be sitting on his couch, releasing a few notes from her cello. Candace would be flipping through the score sheet on her music stand adding commentary on his late-night food choices. She would argue for something greasy like a cheeseburger or fries or even both. Kyle would ignore her comment and continue to eat the fruit he sliced up. He would ignore her and focus his attention on the medical journals, noting any fascinating findings. She would eventually turn to her own task that night too. Kyle would sneak a few glances at Candace between articles. He stopped breathing every time the bow slide across strings.

Kyle loved it when she was lost in the score she practiced — the way Candace closed her eyes as if she were swimming in the notes dancing around her. His eyes would trace the wires of her earphones taking a good look at her body. how her legs gripped on the cello as she would could never let go.

Adrenaline shocked him into sitting position when his phone buzzed in his hand. His eyes, wide open, read the silly nickname she typed in when Candace first gave him her number. Kyle gripped at his chest, hoping to still his beating heart. It only seemed to amplify once it did. He felt his eyes start to warm and the beating traveling up his throat and then to his ears.

“Hey,” the voice on the line was still heavy with sleep.

Kyle placed his hand on the back of his neck. Maybe that would cool down the heat growing there or at least ease some of the tingles dancing there.

“Kyle, is everything okay?“ Her conscious was barely there. Kyle fell over on the bed again. Damn, he would do anything to hear that husky voice in person.

He took a deep breath. “Yeah..”

“Did you miss me, Kyle?”

His stomach twisted as a curl formed at the edge of his lips. “I just wanted to check in on you cuz you probably ate all the food in my fridge.”

She chuckled. If only he was there in person. “Guilty! I’ll be sure to restock your fancy meals before you come back. I’ll see you soon, yeah? Just two more days?”

“Yeah…”

He could hear the rise and fall of her breaths on the phone.

“What are you-” he stopped himself. Kyle quickly shifted.

Crap. What was he going ask her? What she was wearing?! Oh crap.

“Sorry…” she yawned. “I snuck into your condo and slept over.”

Kyle stopped. She was sleeping in his bed?

“I also borrowed your shirt. I hope you don’t mind.”

“Ah-ah-oh. Not at all.”

Dear gawd. Candace was going to drive him crazy.

“Are you going to pick me up at the airport?”

“Is that the real reason why-” He heard her shift in the cover. They were probably his favorite sheets too. “you called me at 3 in the morning?”

“Oh.. No…” Kyle gulped. “I-I-”

“I miss you, Kyle.” Her voice was slowly fading out. “I want to be the first one you see when you come back to America, Okita-kun.”

He scoffed. “That’s not going to make me buy you manga, Candace.”

“Hehe. It was worth a shot.”

“Kyle, I gotta go. I’m fading real fast.”

“Good night, Candace.”

She yawned, “お休みなさい~”

Candace was the first to end their call.

Tama like character opens the door and questions why Kyle is in his room with the lights off. Kyle sends him a piercing glare from the bed.