Velma's apartment - same day,Late afternoon
The TV was on now- low volume, playing some reality show neither of them were watching. Velma sat at one end of the couch,legs tucked under her, sipping the last of her juice. Daniel sat on the other side,his fingers slightly drumming the armrest. There was something suspended in the room. Not tension exactly,not comfort either. Something in-between. He leaned forward to set his empty bottle on the table and didn't lean back fully. Just stayed there,elbows on knees,eyes fixed on the screen like it meant more than it did. Then, without a word,he shifted sideways. Closer,not dramatic just enough for his arm to touch hers. Velma didn't move . The silence between them held space like it had its own breath. "You still keep your space as a library",he said glancing at the rows of stacked books,the folded throw pillow,the faint scent of vanilla and clean linen. "I like where everything is",she replied. He nodded then paused,"I missed this kind of quiet". She looked at him " your quiet" ,he added. He turned more fully now,his knees nearly brushing hers. He said a joke and they both laughed softly then the quietness returned. But this time ,it was empty.
He reached over and took the edge of the throw blanket, brushing her arms as he adjusted it on both their lap. Velma's fingers tightened briefly on her bottle ,then relaxed. Still,no one said anything . He leaned closer,this time with purpose. Not to kiss her,not to ask for anything just to make his shoulder touch hers,to let their warmth bleed into the same space.
Neither of them moved away and for the first time,being close didn't feel dangerous. It felt honest.