Squidward Is a F*ucking Mindreader

18. Waking up

*Becca's POV*

I awoke with a start. My eyes flung open and I sat up quickly. I was breathing heavily and beads of sweat had formed at the top of my face. I realised I was in bed.

Hide under the bed till papa comes to get me.

I swiftly climbed off the bed and rolled underneath, sitting and waiting.

"Rebecca!" Someone called from downstairs. Then the sound of footsteps echoed through the open door and into the room. I drew my knees up to my chest and sat there, shivering and shaking from fear, silent tears burning down my face and my eyes, wide with terror.

The footsteps grew louder as the person neared the room, and soon enough some large feet covered in Squidward themed socks walked through the doorway and towards the bed. They stopped short next to where my body was, leaning over the bed.

I could feel the dip of the bed as the person placed their hands on the bed. I was confused until I realised they were checking how warm the sheets were.

"Becca? I know you're here somewhere the bed sheets are still warm." Came the voice. It was a man. But it wasn't papa.

I hadn't realised I was mumbling until the man knelt down and lifted the bed sheets.

"Don't move until papa comes to get me. Don't move until papa comes to get me. Don't move until papa comes to get me. Don't move until papa comes to get me." I chanted quietly, over and over and over again. The bed sheets slowly lifted until the man's face came into view.

Daniel.

He reached under the bed, gently grabbing my elbow and easing me out from under the bed.

"Oh Becca." He said, is voice soft and quiet. I wrapped my arms around his waist and held onto his shirt tightly in my fists as I cried into his warm hard chest.

A violent sob racked through my body and my breathing was hard and uneven. Daniel wrapped his arms around my shoulders, engulfing me into his warmth and security. He lightly kissed the top of my head and whispered "You're ok" Into my ear, his breath also warm.

Everything about Daniel was warm, from his body to his looks. He was a generally warm/hot person. And he was safe. He had this air of security about him. Like a lock.

He lightly kissed the top of my head before pushing me back, out of the warmth.

I felt a little dejected but when he looked me over, concern caking his face like Jackie's make-up I knew he was only making sure I was OK.

His hands moved from my shoulders to my cheeks and he cupped my face in his large warm hands, his thumbs rubbing my cheeks as he frantically scanned my face for injury. His eyes were so worried. He just looked so scared, anyone would think he's the one who was just under the bed.

He pulled me back in and we just stood there, me wrapped up in him. It felt like hours.

 And it probably would have been if it weren't for Josh's big ass feet to come stomping and banging up the stairs like a fucking elephant screaming, "SPONGEBOB! SQUIDWARD! I NEED SOME HEEEELLLPPPP" At the top of his lungs. He came storming into the room, his head barely visible because of the hoodie that had gotten tangled over his head. His arms were waving around in the air and his face was peeking out through a sleeve he'd managed to bunch up under his chin, with his face inside while the other sleeve held is arms captive above his head and his waist stretched out the neck, with the hood hanging limply at his crotch.

"What the FUCK, Josh!" Yelled Daniel, his arms still wrapped around me in a hug and his head turned to the side rested on my head. I buried my face back into Daniel's chest and I could feel the vibrations of his speech.

"Oh, I'm sorry. Did I step on your moment?" He said, quoting Natasha Romanoff from Marvel. Then he was back to screaming again.

"I'M FUCKING STUCK AND I NEED TO PEE!" Josh screamed, his voice sounded strained as he tried to hold it in. Daniel scoffed loudly and my face vibrated.

"Can't you see I'm a little busy right now? Just hold it while I put Becca back to bed and then I'll help you ok?" He said, his voice sounding tired and adult.

Josh let out a strangled scream of frustration and I could feel the glares on my back.

"Becca can put herself to bed. I can't get myself out of this, especially since I switched on all the taps in the house before I got cold and I can't switch them back off again." He said the last part quietly, I could hear the shame in his voice. I turned my head to look at Josh. He was seriously tangled and his legs  were clamped together, trying to hold in his pee.

I turned my head again, this time, to look up at Daniel. "Help him, Daniel. I'll be Ok." I said. Daniel looked down at me, a soft look replacing his scornful one.

"Becca. I'll help him, but I'll be straight back to put you back to bed Ok?" He said, hope filling his eyes. I nodded and pulled away from his warmth. I instantly felt cold, and held a shiver so as not to concern Daniel.

Josh yelled "FINALLY!" and walked out of the room. Daniel took one last look back at me, before following Josh out of the room.

I thought back to the dream I had. It was more like a memory. Memories of impromptu games of Hide and Seek swirled around my head as I stood in the centre of the room, quiet yells from Daniel and Josh downstairs floating in through the open door.

 I just stood there, unmoving, as I remembered the four days I spent under the bed, and the blood I found my mother lying in on the fourth day. The sirens of the ambulance ringing in my ears as if I was there again. Sitting in a pool of my mother's blood, my father no where to be found, paramedics and police officers swarming my house as I sat, silently, covered in thick red blood. My eyes full of unshed tears, as I willed myself to cry. To scream. To call out. To do anything-feel anything. But instead I sat in total silence, my face expressionless as the paramedics pulled me out of the blood. And police officers asked me questions. Where was my Father? What had happened? Where was I when the incident occurred? Was there anyone in the house? Did I hear anything?

Question after question as I answered each one, emotionless. I felt nothing. I didn't feel sad, or the loss of a "Loved one" I willed myself to feel something. Anything. But instead I felt nothing at all. I was just fine. Fine.

I was fine.

I'm fine.

I'm fine.

Right?