Blindsided

Part 27

Melanie

I concentrating on him too much. 

I've been studying the last few minutes, providing him with my undivided attention. Simply listening to the sturdy flow of his breath is doing more than any meditation app ever has. 

I feel like this should be freaking me out more. I, Melanie Flores, am lying in a hotel bed, right next to Bailey Whitlock, my longest standing rival and dare I say... crush? God, I sound like a middle schooler. 

Maybe it is okay to hate yourself sometimes.

And, paired with what Tilly said to me at dinner, about how he apparently 'looks' at me, I don't think my emotions have ever been running this rampant, so out of control. I'm Melanie, the girl with no emotions. 

Maybe I'm just hallucinating. 

With a soft change in his breath, my eyes spring open, and I turn my head in his direction. His eyes are wide open, a soft, curved smile dancing on his full lips. 

Nope. Definitely not hallucinating. I may be insane, but not hallucinating quite yet. 

Give me a day.

"Tell me something about yourself. Like a bedtime story." I can tell my question catches Bailey off guard by the way his eyebrow furrow slightly, and the way his eyes leave mine, tracking towards the roof instead. 

"Why?" Thankfully, he doesn't seem enraged at my potentially invasive question, just curious. Well, I presume he's just gotten used to having to answer things he doesn't particularly want to, bring around me for four years. Four years that will just... end in another month or so. Just, like, that.

"Because, after all this time, I still haven't found out your deepest, darkest secrets." he eyes me warily, still unconvinced. "Oh come on, have you never been to a sleepover? This is what you do! Stay up late trading Government tier secrets, overdose on sugar, and then crash at 3."

"I haven't been to a sleepover since I was 9, and anyway, guys don't do that stuff at sleepovers. Well, none that I've been to, anyway." I giggle, bringing my knees up to my chest as I shiver slightly, a flow of cold air exiting the vent above me suddenly. Seeing my goosebump-ridden skin, Bailey sits up from where he's laying, moving towards me slowly. My heart skips a beat as his eyes stare into mine, his fingers moving nimbly to pull a discarded blanket over my shivering body. Much to my disappointment, he steps backwards once he's finished, laying back down in his original position.

"Well, it's my room, my rules. Let's play." I'm able to regain my composure enough to form a sentence, although my brain feels like it's on the brink of falling out of my ear. No, I'm not exaggerating. 

"Isn't it my-"

"Shut up Whitlock."

He chuckles loudly, like I'd just told the funniest joke in the world. I have to bite back a large smile at the sound of it, knowing it will only reveal the feelings I'm trying my hardest to conceal. 

"Hurry up, I haven't got all night."

After his laughter dies down to a sufficient level, Bailey turns quiet again, eyeing the roof. His mouth opens

"What kind of-"

"Whitlock, literally anything. Tell me anything. God, you are the worst person to play this game with, I swear."

"Ok, ok fine. Just give me a second," his eyes turn thoughtful again, a small light shining in his pupils. "Okay, for my favorite little Melly's bedtime story, I'm going to tell you about the time I had... drumroll please... cancer!"