The Perfect Storm 2

Chapter 181

I open my eyes a little but everything is so blurry, the room that I recognized yesterday is now so blurry. 

The white around me is bright, so bright and I can finally open my eyes enough to tell that the window is open, cold air is flowing into my lungs, making it much easier to breathe while the light blinds the witness in the room, causing it to be impossible to see anything. 

My mind quickly jumps to yesterday night when I woke up a few times, short of breath it was as if my throat collapsed somehow and I couldn't breathe. I feel weak; so weak and I want to cry, I'm crying.

"Miles?" I question into the air but no one is in the room. I thought I saw him yesterday but then everything went black again. 

I thought I saw Stephanie too; heard her but everything went black before I could speak or open my eyes. I hear the door open and close and only then I seem to be able to fully open my eyes to his. Miles.

"Madison." He rushes by my side, letting the jello in his hands slide on the white table beside me, letting it fall only to get closer to me as qucikly as he can.

"Are you okay?" He kneels by the bed and his worried eyes search my face desperately.

"Yeah," I say, my voice hoarse and sleepy. I attempt to sit on the bed but Miles's arms quickly grab me and help me do so.

"I, uh, I got jello for y—" He looks at the jello on the floor and we both burst into laughter.

"I'm sorry, baby." His voice is sweet and familiar. I want to wrap the sound all around me and listen to it without an end.

"I'll get you a new one." He says and I nod as he hurries out through the door. My back leans against the soft cushioning of the bed behind me, supporting me fully. I hear the door whoosh open and I look to see a nurse wearing a long white robe and a name tag that I can't really see.

"Madison." She smiles.

"I have your results here with me . . ." She looks down at the pile of papers in her hands.

"Have you experienced a lot of anxiety lately?" She looks down at me, her brow raised.

"Maybe a little—" I stop as soon as Miles gets into the room. The nurse eyes Miles and it's clear that she knows exactly who's the cause for my anxious nerves.

"I'd like to suggest a good diet for you if your comfortable with that and to do something that relaxes you a few times a day, have some 'you' time." She nods with a smile at me and I return it with understanding.

"Is your work or school causing you any anxiety?" She asks and I shake my head.

"Okay, well then please try the methods I told you about, a lot of our patients come in from some kind of stress and it's important to learn to give yourself some relaxation." The nurse smiles and I nod, "Okay then, I'll leave you two alone and when you're ready, you're allowed to leave." She smiles and I give her one last nod before she leaves the room.

"So the jello's probably useless after all." Miles smiles at me and I can't help but giggle. I stand quickly to my feet and grab the jello from his hands.

"Thank you, Miles." I smile genuinely at him. I've missed him. Miles takes a large water bottle that was next to the bed and with his other hand he grabs my hand and I slowly make my way toward him. He's on edge, ready to jump if I fall; if I hurt. He opens the door for me and my eyes instantly go wide. I want to run, hide, anything. Cody's eyes stare back at me, the green full of concern as his dirty brown hair is scattered all over the top of his head, as if he didn't bother to look at it in a mirror before he came.

"Cody--" I begin but as soon as I do, Miles's eyes dart up to him like a lion that just saw a zebra after being starved for months.

"Cody," Miles says, right after me.

"Madison—" Cody's hands go open for him to approach and give me a hug but Miles quickly flips around the bottle he's holding, and points it to Cody's chest, holding it harder and harder against him.

"Miles—" I try but he interrupts.

"We're good," Miles tells him with a smirk. Cody grabs the bottle and Miles lets go, giving the water bottle to Cody.

"Hey, Madison!" Cody tries but Miles only looks at me.

"Should we go?" He asks and I nod.

"Dude!" Cody says loudly but Miles's eyes keep on mine. That's the thing about Miles he only does what he wants to do, he doesn't bother to turn to look at the person speaking to him.

"We should go," Miles says and with that, he takes my hand, further and further away from Cody.

SITTING NEXT TO MILES WHILE we drive toward his house feels weird somehow, it's something I haven't been allowed to get used to in the past few weeks; something I've been trying to forget even though I didn't really know I was trying to put it all away.

"I heard what she said about the food and nutrition or whatever the fuck." Miles tells me and I can't help but let it place a smile on my lips.

"You did?" I ask, hoping he'll somehow continue and tell me more, I'm so interested in knowing more; I'm interested in hearing him talk, to listen to his voice for longer as long as I can before he has to leave. Does he have to leave?

"I did." He says, his voice playful and butterflies flutter under my skin.

"And I'm going to take care of you, Madison." His tone has now turned more serious and I can't help but look at him in awe.

"I heard what she said about you being anxious, and . . . I need to own up to some of it." He explains as he parks the car and then his eyes dart straight to his feet. I forgot that he got his cast removed. I forgot everything. I barely see him anymore.

"I'm going to stay here, in Washington. At least until we figure things out, I shouldn't have left like that." He says and I nod, feeling the feeling of calmness rush over me, maybe that's all I needed; Miles. Because everything related to him; him, is what makes me feel like me.

"Okay," I tell him, my voice a whisper. He finally looks up at me with a smile and I can't help but notice the way his eyes shine so well into mine.

"So what now?" I ask him and a smirk appears on his face.

"Dinner and the pool?" He raises a brow and I bite my lip to hide the smile and blushing cheeks that are trying so hard to appear.

"I've missed this." He tells me and I nod as his hands approach to hold mine. He gives me a small smile and before I know it, we're making our way out of the car. The wind is perfect on my skin and the sun isn't overheating me completely. Our feet meet the pebbles and rocks on the Stoney driveaway as we get further and further away from the car. Miles's warm handhold mine as we finally get into his home.

"Yo!" He shouts and when no one answers, he turns to me and gives me the cutest side smile.

"I guess we're all alone." He raises a brow.