𝐈𝐧𝐮𝐫𝐞𝐝

Chapter Forty-Four: Samantha

I paced back and forth down the same hallway where Dylan had cornered me half an hour ago and twiddled my thumbs nervously. What am I supposed to do now? Should I go tell him? Tell him that he was right? That I did feel something? That I liked kissing him?

I closed my eyes and tilted my head up to face the ceiling. What the hell am I supposed to do? I opened my eyes and brought my head back down to stare at the Bed Bath & Beyond around the corner.

I waited for a moment before I shook her head and started walking. Screw this. I walked quickly through the doors of the store, looking around to see Dylan crouching next to his backpack with his back facing me, but he turned around when he heard my footsteps.

"Nora?" He squinted his eyes. Okay, say something.... Nora, say something... anything. God, do something!

"I-uh...Uhm, I-bye."

Dylan gave me a baffled look and opened his mouth to say something but I quickly spun back around before he could get a word out. I frowned to myself and mentally face palmed as I speed walked back to the Mattress Firm, not giving Dylan a chance to stop me.

Nice going, Nora. Way to be smooth. Once I got to my bed I plopped down and cringed again. You literally could have anything and it would've been better than whatever noises you just made.

"Hey, you alright there?"

I peeked one eye open to see Taylor standing above me with a small smirk as he leaned against the bedframe."Yeah, you know just reflecting on how brilliant I am at stringing together words to form sensible and coherent sentences," I muttered sarcastically and sat up.

Taylor snickered and sat down on the edge of the bed next to me. "Are you ready for tomorrow?"

"Yeah, we're gonna get Raine back and the rest of my friends. It's going to go well," I nodded optimistically and looked back at Taylor who smiled proudly.

"That's what I like to hear," he quietly cheered. I laughed.

"You gonna get some sleep?" he asked a few seconds later. I turned my eyes away from him and looked down at my hands. "Nora, I know last night scared you, but you need sleep if you're going to be able to do this tomorrow," he said encouragingly.

"Yeah, I know. I just, I don't want to go back there. I can't go back there. And if that means I don't sleep tonight, then..." I trailed off, keeping my eyes on my fingers.

"Well, how about this? You fall asleep and since I am a very light sleeper and won't be in bed until a little bit later 'cause I still have some more work to do, I'll wake you up if I see you start to have another nightmare."

I hesitated for a moment. What if he doesn't wake me up though? What if he forgets or doesn't notice? Then I'll be stuck in the nightmare. But I should trust Taylor. And besides, I won't be able to do what I have to do tomorrow if I don't sleep tonight.

"Okay," I muttered, looking back up at Taylor.

He beamed down at me. "Okay!" he said enthusiastically, placing a comforting hand on top of my head. "Sounds like a plan! Goodnight, Nora." He glanced over his shoulder once before walking out of the Mattress Firm.

"Goodnight, Taylor," I murmured before allowing the sleep to wash over me once again.

I could feel myself starting to wake up so I snuggled closer into the pillow beside me.

Please let me fall back asleep. Pleeeeease. I laid there for a minute longer before I gave up and sat up, groaning. I checked my watch.

4:12 am. Great. I looked around the room to see everyone else asleep, although Taylor was leaned up against the headboard and angled to face me.