Part 12 (1/2)

I like how he said we. It made the icy ball in the pit of my stomach start to thaw. I didn't feel as alone as I had earlier.

I wandered into the room. I tossed my bag onto the bed and looked around. The room was unusually clean, as if Trevor hadn't even been inside. The bed was neatly made, there were no shoes or dirty clothes tossed on the floor or draped across the chair in the corner. The only indication that anyone was staying in the room was the army green duffel bag lying on the rug against the far wall. Trevor was even more of an enigma than I had previously thought. I wondered what his deal was, but I was much too tired to ask. Besides, I didn't think he'd offer up the information all that easily.

Yawning again, I went into the adjoining bathroom and took care of the necessities. After, I washed my hands and my face, scrubbing my skin hard. Staring in the mirror, memories of what I'd done to Josh flashed in my mind. I couldn't get the stunned look on his face out of mind--the one that he had while I had tried to suck the life out of him. I rubbed at the mark on my neck where Trevor had injected salt.w.a.ter and wondered what would've happened if he hadn't showed up. Would I have eventually gone back to normal, or would I've stayed that way forever?

s.h.i.+vering, I pushed that from my mind and went back into the bedroom to change into sleeping clothes. Once I'd unzipped my bag though, I remembered that I didn't pack any jammies. All I had to sleep in was a tiny t-s.h.i.+rt and my undies. With Trevor in the next room I didn't feel comfortable like that. What if I forgot where I was, and wandered into the next room with just my hipster red undies barely covering my a.s.s.

I stepped out into the living room. Trevor had resumed playing the video game. He looked up at me.

”Um, I need something to sleep in. Do you have a s.h.i.+rt I could borrow?”

For a few moments he just stared at me. His gaze flicked over me from toe to head. I wondered what he was thinking in that look, because I sure couldn't tell. Was he a.s.sessing me wondering if his s.h.i.+rt would fit, or was it something else? I didn't get a sense that he looked at me other than someone who was a nuisance, some girl who he had to baby-sit.

After a few more seconds ticked by, he stood, tossing the game controller onto the chair and walked past me into the bedroom. I trailed behind, nerves suddenly making my stomach ache. He bent down to his duffel bag, unzipped it and came away with a dark blue t-s.h.i.+rt. Standing, he tossed it to me.

”Thanks,” I said clutching the s.h.i.+rt in my hand. I didn't know why but I was shaking. It seemed like something had occurred between us but I couldn't name it.

Without a word, he left, shutting the bedroom door behind him.

I quickly shed my jacket, camisole, jeans and socks, and then slipped Trevor's t-s.h.i.+rt over my head. His scent clung to the fabric and I took in a deep breath of it. He smelled like darkness--and everything that came with it, like the shadows that crept across the ground on a cool crisp autumn night.

I clicked on the bedside lamp, then padded to the door to flick the main light switch off. I padded back to the bed, pulled down the covers and slid under the sheets. The fabric was cool on my skin, but soon warmed to my body as I snuggled down under the blankets, tucking it under my chin. I yawned again, and without another thought, I switched off the lamp, closed my eyes and fell instantly asleep.

Considering what I'd been through in the past week, it didn't surprise me that my dreams were disturbed.

I was in a hospital, walking down a long, narrow, deserted hallway. The walls were glaringly white as was the floor and the ceiling. I had an urge to s.h.i.+eld my eyes as I walked. I looked into every room I pa.s.sed, but every bed was empty. Barren, devoid of anything resembling life. I came to the end of the hall and looked into the last room.

This bed wasn't empty.

Cautiously, I entered the room and approached the bed. My stomach cramped. My throat ran dry. I knew who was going to be lying on the hard clinical mattress.

Eyes closed, face gaunt and pale, Josh lay strapped to the bed, an IV stuck into the back of his hand. There was little resemblance to the golden boy of Boise High in the immobile concave form. He looked like he'd aged seventy years and his bones could no longer sustain any muscularity. He was a skeleton of his former self.

And I'd done that to him. It was my fault.

I stood over him, watching him breath in and out with the help of an oxygen tube. I wondered when he'd wake up and if he'd still be Josh, still have his memories. Or if he'd forget everything, including himself. I wasn't sure what I wished for most. Either way the life I knew was over.

A single tear rolled down my cheek, off my chin and landed on Josh's thin blue lips.

His eyes snapped open.

Stumbling back, I nearly knocked over the IV pole.

His hand lifted from his side, reaching for me. I grabbed it and squeezed, frantic for him to wake up. ”Josh? Josh? Can you hear me?”

He opened his mouth to respond. It gaped wide but all that came out was deafening garbled static...

Clamping my hand to my ears, I stumbled backwards and screamed.

Breath catching, I bolted straight up in bed. My heart hammered against the inside of my rib cage. Pain exploded from my chest. I rubbed at the spot between my b.r.e.a.s.t.s, concern filling me that the organ might explode out of my chest.

I rubbed and rubbed until my skin was red and sore. But at least I could breathe a little. I no longer had to suck in huge mouthfuls of air to get the much needed oxygen.

Lying back on the pillow, I blinked back tears and the sweat that was dripping into my eyes. Running my hands down my torso, I realized that my t-s.h.i.+rt was soaked as were the sheets covering me. I didn't know how long I'd been asleep-it hadn't seemed that long-but it must've been lengthy enough for me to sweat right though my clothes and covers.

I glanced at the big curtained bay window and saw that it was still full dark. I couldn't have been asleep any longer than a couple of hours. I was still tired, but I didn't think I could go back to sleep. Not now. Not with the remnants of my dream still lingering deep within my mind, and the hiss of static still persistent in my ears.

Rolling out of bed, I stood and shuffled to the door. I'd just peek out and see what Trevor was doing. Maybe he was still awake and we could play some more video games because I needed something to take my mind off things. I'd go crazy if I had to sit in the room, in the dark, with my thoughts. I didn't even have my DS. I'd forgotten to pack it.

Gripping the doork.n.o.b, I slowly turned it and pulled open the door. I peered out into the living room and that's when all the warmth in my body dissipated, leaking out from the bottom of my feet, leaving me icy cold and shaking uncontrollably.

Chapter 16.

”Well, well, Trevor, I think you've been holding out on me. I didn't know you were keeping some for yourself.”

Thane's voice jabbed at my senses. The sensation made my stomach clench then roll over like a tidal wave.

That's when I leaned over and puked on the rug.

Thane laughed. ”I think you plied her with too much alcohol.”

Trevor rushed to my side, and maneuvered me toward the chair where I could sit with my head between my legs. I took in one greedy gulp of air after another trying to calm my queasy stomach, but it proved difficult sitting close to the guy that ruined my life.

I kept my head down not wanting to look at him again, but a magnetic pull urged me to raise my head, to take in his magnificence. Before I could though, Trevor was pus.h.i.+ng on the back of my head to keep it down and placed a cold wet washcloth on my neck. Relief was instant and I sighed.

He maneuvered a gla.s.s of fizzing water into my quivering hands.

”What is it?” I asked.

”Alka Seltzer.”

I took a sip and cringed at the taste. Lemony bubbles fizzled on my tongue. It nearly made me gag all over again.

”Where did you pick this one up? I don't remember her at the club.”

My head came up with a snap. ”What did you say?”

One eyebrow lifted and he smiled at me. He looked amused. I couldn't believe the b.a.s.t.a.r.d didn't remember who I was. He'd only tried to kill me a couple weeks ago.

”Oh, she has some fire. Maybe when you're done with her, I can have her for a bit.”

Fury propelled me to my feet and I dropped the gla.s.s of alka seltzer on the ground. Trevor was at my side in an instant, grabbing my arm and keeping me in place. ”Nah, you don't want her. She's not as exciting as she looks.”

”a.s.shole.” I struggled against the grip he had on me, but he held me firm. I glared up at him, but he didn't bother to meet my gaze. He was watching Thane.