The Holes in the Surface

Chapter 5

~Image not mine~

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It was about thirty minutes later when Hazel's head snapped up, her dark eyes full of discomfort. "Nico..."

"Yeah?" Nico looked to her. "What? What happened?"

She wrapped her arms around herself, her skinny frame even smaller than Nico's. "I feel...weird... I don't feel right."

"Uncomfortable? Like you should be somewhere else?" Nico guessed.

Hazel nodded. "What's that mean?"

Nico closed his eyes. He had his knees bent at the wooden beam, hanging from it with his arms crossed. "They moved your body."

"I feel it, too." Frank's voice was barely heard. "Where are they moving us?"

Nico shrugged. "I just know I got it when they moved my body away from where I died. It'll go away in a little bit."

"Promise?" Hazel asked. "I...I hate this..."

"I know, I did, too." Nico rubbed his neck. "I did, too. You'll get over it."

"How soon?" Hazel wondered. "Not too long...right?"

"Right." Nico opened his eyes to watch the two lovebirds. "Probably about ten minutes. Just relax and give it time."

Hazel looked to Frank. "I wonder where they're taking my body..."

"We're together," Frank assured her. "It doesn't matter where our bodies go. We're together."

Nico gagged. "Could you be any more cliche?"

Hazel giggled. "We could if you really want us to."

Nico shook his head. "No, thanks. I know it's because I'm the third wheel but it's disgusting."

Hazel rolled her eyes. "You act like you've never been in a room with a couple before."

Nico sighed, letting his arms fall limp, the two limbs hanging by his head. "I haven't. Not since before my mom died. My parents were the only couple I was ever around."

"Oh..." Hazel cleared her throat. "I'm sorry for saying that."

"It's fine..." Nico let himself disappear, let himself leave the attic. He liked Hazel, liked having her there. But after so many years of being alone, it was hard to get used to her and Frank, hard to get used to the fact that someone could see and hear him.

Hard to get over the fact that he had been hugged, that someone actually cared enough about him to hug him.

The last time he was hugged...it was Bianca that had hugged him. She had been his sister, that was her only reason. His mother had hugged him because he was her son, that was just what you did. But Hazel? She hugged him, a stranger. Hugged him because she actually cared about how he felt.

It was new, it was hard to get used to, but he accepted it. He found comfort in it.

Maybe he wouldn't be alone for eternity after all.