Chapter Sixteen

I woke up at about 10 the next morning, later than I'd been planning, and immediately checked my e-mail. Daniel hadn't responded. I hadn't expected to see anything from him, but I had still hoped. I was starting to feel desperate for assistance.

Rolling out of bed, I peeked into the hallway. I didn't want to make too much noise in case Charles was still asleep, and with yesterday being so rough that I had just slept in later than I had all year, I would have honestly been surprised if he wasn't. I crept down the hallway and into the bathroom. I even held the knob so the latch wouldn't click shut before thinking that, if he really was as tired as I was imagining, a noise that soft probably wouldn't do much. I showered, shaved, and made my way back to my room on damp tiptoes.

The real trouble now was going to be stalling. Until I heard back from Daniel, there wasn't much I could think to do. Luckily, I had the day off, so I wouldn't have to worry about leaving Charles alone in the apartment. Maybe we could even get out together, see a movie or something. First, though, was the matter of breakfast. My stomach wasn't used to going so late without food, and it was starting to demand an explanation.

I walked back down the hall and peered around the corner to see if Charles had woken up yet. The pillow and blanket I had given him last night lay scattered on the couch, but Charles wasn't there. I stepped further into the living room to ensure he wasn't standing somewhere out of my field of vision. He wasn't. He wasn't in the kitchen either. I doubled back down the hall; he wasn't in the bathroom. I opened the front door and checked around the building. There was no sign of him.

Some time during the night, Charles had left. I thought of the week or so of fighting we had shared and every time one of us had walked away without saying a word to the other. There was no fight now; as far as I knew neither one of us was upset at the other. Still, this was starting to feel all too familiar.