World Against Us (Unleashed #1)

Chapter 11 - Rosalina

R looks peaceful.

The drive is long and with nothing to amuse or calm me, I decide to turn on some music. R sprang up, his eyes wildly darting to ffind the noise. I choke back a laugh. "Relax, it's just the radio station." I put a hand on his shoulder, rubbing comfortingly. "Next time, warn me." He mumbles. "Oh, shoot." I say, glancing at the gas meter. "What is it?" He asks, leaning towards me. I gently push him back, biting my bottom lip nervously. "Nothing, go back to sleep."

Bad idea. R yanks the steering wheel, the car swerving. "Dammit, R!" I curse. "We're almost out of gas." He observes, throwing me a look. "I guess we are." I say solemnly. He sighs and got out. "What are you -" I start to say. I felt a jolt behind me and slam my head into the steering wheel. A resonating horn blares. R set the car down and opens the driver's seat. He tugs me to sit in the back. "Please don't do anything rash." He says before shutting the door.

Again He picks up the back and rolls it. An hour later, he stops, setting it down. I awoke from my sleepless state. He stops at a gas station. Clever, I thought. After filling it up, he got in the driver's seat. "R, no. I'll drive." I offer weakly. He glances at me and says, "I'm driving." After that the day or night, whatever went by fast. We agreed at staying at a hotel. R however told me to lock the dorr and that he'll be back. I took this opportunity to clean myself of this horrible day. I closed my eyes, forgetting the worries and everything around me. It was just me and the water.

...

"Rosalina! Rosalina! Wake up!" R shakes my shoulders. "R?" I say, dazed. I was well aware that I was and that he pulled me out of the bath. "Rosalina. don't scare me like that." He says, mussing out his dark brown locks. He threw me a towel, covering his eyes. I wrap it around myself, the heat blooming on my cheeks. "You didn't answer the door, so I thought...Damn, Rosalina. I thought you tried to kill yourself." I nod silently and wait a couple of seconds. When it was clear he was moving, I say, "R, I'm going to finish up, so can you please -" R was out of there in a flash. I grab some stuff and enter the bathroom, swiftly shutting the door, locking it.

Later, feeling refreshed and tired, I left the bathroom, seeing the bedroom empty. Even though it shouldn't, I feared R left me. Nonsense, chastised at myself. I'm sure he wouldn't have. I fling my hair with my towel, trying to wring most of the water out. I took my contacts out and deposited them in the trash can. Yes people. I don't have perfect vision. Suck it up.

"What are you doing?" R asks, already in bed, looking at me with inquiring eyes. I jump back, startled. "God, R! Didn't anyone ever tell you to not to sneak up on a girl?" He doesn't answer, only continuing to stare at me with those unnerving eyes. I shove his shoulder and he cracks a smile. I plop myself on the bed that he's not on. I close my eyes, smiling. "Were you going to -" He starts to ask. I sigh. Why does he have to ask everything.

"Contacts, R. Contacts." I look at him, my lips turned up in a smile again. "Not everyone could have perfect vision as you." He throws a pillow at me. I laugh still as it hits. my head and his mouth drops open. As he checks for damage, I think to myself. I miss this. I missed our laughter. His mischievous smiles. Just us two, fooling around. Now all that is plagued with stress and worries. In our playful fight, I accidently roll onto the remoter and the TV flickers on. Our laughter dies down.

"...yes. Her boyfriend kidnapped her. She tried to jump out the window to escape him...we just couldn't catch her in time." R stares blankly at the screen. At Steven, as if he actually cared. Wow, he kept his word and called the police. Sixteen - year old, missing makes big headlines. R's eyes were turning, specks - dots of red swirl in his caramel eyes. His fist clench, jaw set in anger. I fumble to switch it off. but the stupid remote starts to put the volume up. "Sorry, sorry." I mumble, my heart beating fast in fear.

I stop trying to turn it off though because Rachel stood there crying, Steven comforting her. He gave a smirk - a quick one at the camera. I wanted to shatter the TV. I turn it off - finally and drew my knees up, burying my face. R still was stares at the screen. Now everyone knew. My photo - oh god, the hotel knew. I got off the bed, reaching into my duffel bag and picked out a pair of scissors. There was no turning back. I shakily open the bathroom door and not bothering to shut it. I wanted to cry. I wanted to - god why? Why me?

I went to the tub, cutting it. Snip, snip, snip. Was I doing it right? I wasn't. I wasn't ever going to do anything right. No, I did it wrong. This is my fault. I had to change my look so they couldn't find me. Find us, I correct myself. I bit my lip so hard so I didnt cry. I am determined for them not to break me. No. The scissors slip from my clumsy fingers. I sink, leaning against the wall. Tears, sobs rack my body, breaking me down. I don't remember when R came in to comfort me. He whispers softly. "Rosalina, we'll get through this. Don't cry. I'll always be here to protect you. I'll always be here." He promises. That makes me cry more, because no one was really there for me before. I was always alone, not even he was there.

He helps me cut the rest of my hair - all eight and a half of it. I cut the rest into an inverted bob and the look doesn't look bad on me. I took another shower just in case the hair - cut strands were still in the newly cut hair. I was tempted to burn all my clothes because it was from them. But I didn't because then I'd have nothing left. I'd make it through this

I am curled up next to R now. Well not exactly curled up. His arms are wrapped protectively around me, my face under his chin. A little intimate I suppose, but like I said before, we aren't all that. I'd rather feel safe than not at all.

My eyes drift close, grateful that R was finally staying.

...

It was around midnight. I awake in cold sweat. R wasn't here. In panic, I got out of the bed and searched turning on the lamp. He was in the corner, panting heavily. "Rosalina, stay away." I ignore that and touch his shoulder, groggily reaching for his hand. He looks at me, fangs lengthening. His eyes are completely red. "R." I say quietly. It feels like one of those movies where you are watching this happen and you squirm in your seat, completelyy afraid but the people in the movie aren't afraid. I'm not afraid. "Rose, please. Get away." He pleads, scrambling away from me. His eyes are glowing now, fangs bloody. It clicks. "R, it's okay." I say, crouching so I could get a better look. He shakes his head, struggling to fight back. I offer my wrist. "I know you're thirstly. R, it's fine. Drink from me."

He looks at me incredulously, pupils dilating. "Do you know what you're doing? No, you don't know." He says fiercely. He's still refusing to taking it, weakly pushing away my hand. "If I drink from your blood, we'll be bound. I could read you mind. I will be more so protective than ever. I'd...die for you. I'd know if you were in trouble. I'd -"

I interrupt him. "Is there away so we aren't bound? Is there?" He hangs his head. "I can't drink from you. But yes, the effects wear off in a day if I don't drink from you again." I smile at him, still not moving away. "R, you're my friend. I won't mind. I trust you."

He hesitantly places his cool lips on my wrist. He bites down, swallowing. The flow of blood goes to his mouth and he drinks greedily. I close my eyes. I feel at peace, happy almost. The sensation - as quick as it comes, starts to fade.

"Your wrist is healing." He says lowly. I smile, looking at him. He licks the blood clean off his lips. It was still smeared on the corner of his mouth, slightly on his cheeks. As usual, I reach to wipe it off, but he grabs my hand. "Don't." He says, and I left it at that. He carries me to the bed and lays me down, smoothing my hair over. He wraps his arms around me, kissing my hair. I switch off the light. Unconsciously, I kiss his cheek. "Thank you." He froze. I snuggle into him, falling farther and farther into slumber.