Tomorrow

Chapter 4

The weekend flew by, Tracy gave Chevy the okay to go shopping. She would finally graduate from hospital gowns to real clothes that fit her. Unfortunately, I had to go shopping too.

"Riker, we'll get the necessities. I promise we won't be there forever," Tracy assures me.

"Whatever." I know better. I don't know how many times Rydel's asked me to take her to a store, promising me she would only be twenty minutes. We'd leave three hours later. I smile at the memory. My sister could load up a cart faster than you could say 'are you done yet?' It didn't take me long to start taking something with me to pass the time. I figured this shopping trip would be no different, so I grab my notebook.

"Are you writing songs?" Tracy asks.

"A little bit," I admit.

"That's great, Riker," she says. "Did you call the band yet?"

"No Trace, I didn't. They're ideas that have been bouncing around in my head," I say a little too quick.

"Okay," Tracy exclaims, holding up her hands.

Chevy sits back and smiles at our exchange.

"What?" I ask.

"Nothing," she replies.

We get to the store and manage to get in and out fairly quickly.

I can tell that Chevy exhausted when we get home later that afternoon.

"Hey, you wanna watch a movie with me?"

"Sure, can I lay down?"

"Yeah, that's fine."

I grab two of my favorites, "What do you want to watch, 'That Thing You Do' or 'Crazy, Stupid, Love'?"

"You pick," She says.

I pop in 'That Thing You Do' and go sit down. I can't get comfortable in the chair.

"What's wrong?"

"I can't get comfortable."

"Come lay up here," she suggests, patting the spot next to her on the bed.

"No, I can't." I shake my head. I can feel my cheeks getting hot.

"Riker, This bed is huge, and I don't move much."

"Are you sure?" I ask, looking at her.

"Yes," she insists.

I go around the bed and kick off my shoes. I lay down next to her.

"God, I miss my bed," I mumble. I haven't slept in it since I met Chevy. I yawn and let my eyes close as my body relaxes and sleep consumes me.

When I wake up Chevy's pressed against me, her head resting on my chest. It feels good to hold her and to feel her warmth next to me.

I glance down at her face. Most of her cuts are almost healed. Her facial features are beautiful. I've asked myself a million times who she is? Does she have a boyfriend? Is her family worried sick about her? What am I going to do with her? Besides healing physically, she isn't getting any better.

Maybe I should have taken her to the police station.

I did like having her around. She was witty, smart, and funny. It's nice to always have someone around.

Her arm snakes across my waist pulling herself closer to me.

"Please don't do this," Chevy mumbles and flinches in her sleep. She jumps and her blue eyes pop open.

"What's wrong?" I ask, looking at her, she's shaking.

"I had a dream," she say, placing her hand on her chest.

"About what?"

"I don't know... there were a lot of people in it," she says.

Chevy looks at me and her eyes get all wide when she realizes she's lying on me.

"Oh my Riker, I'm soo sorry! How did we even get like this?"

She starts to try to move away and wince in pain.

"Stop," I say softly. "You don't want to hurt yourself. It's okay."

I hold her tight and she begins to cry. She cries for a few minutes.

"It's so hard because I don't remember anything. Then I have a dream and I think it has to do with what happened that day but I can't remember when I woke up," she explains.

"I know," I say quietly.

"I feel helpless like I'm taking advantage of you. And when I get physically stronger a little bit I start having nightmares."

"It's okay." I rub her back.

"And I'm attacking you in my sleep," She adds, "I am mortified!"

"Would you stop it?" I roll to meet her eyes.

"I don't care how long it takes for you to remember, or get better. I don't care if I have to carry you around all day and makeup stories about you. I want you to get healthy, and be happy, that's it." I gaze into her eyes.

I never noticed how red and plump her lips are. They part a bit, it's like she's begging me to kiss her.

I sit up shaking the thought out of my head. Even if I did kiss her, it would hurt her, and I didn't want to cause any more pain than she's already in.

"Riker, I was practically on top of you," She points out.

"I know Chevy, and that's the last thing on my mind."

She laughs a little, looking away.

"What?"

"That's a kind way of telling me you're not interested, huh? Is it because I'm a black and blue mess and can't move? Or because I have no idea who the hell I am? Or do you not find me attractive at all?"

"Are you for real?" I ask her amazed.

Girls. You try to be a gentleman and give them time and space and they turn it into a 'you don't like me' thing. Why are women so insecure?

Chevy stares at me with big round eyes.

I lean over and kiss her. She runs her fingers through my hair. I try to pull her close but feel her jerk in pain. Stopping myself before I hurt her anymore.

"Wow!"

I smirk. "Do you feel better now?"

"Did you just kiss me to shut me up?"

"Ohmigod!" I exclaim, crawling off the bed. I can't win.

I go to the door shaking my head in disbelief.

"Riker!"

I ignore her going outside on the patio, I take a deep breath. I look up at the sky.

I've never been a patient person. I can't understand why women do that to themselves and men in general. I know there are a lot of women like that, but I don't get it.

My sister, Rydel, isn't like that, thank god. Rydel's one friend was really bad. Every five minutes she was asking if she looked okay, if you were mad at her or if you thought she was ugly. She needed outside validation for an inside job.

The few girls I dated were okay with themselves.

"Riker," Chevy says, coming to the door.

"What are you... how did you..."

"I'm sorry. I flaked on you." She comes over. "I'm that insecure little girl. It's because I've been down and out and not feeling or looking my best."

"You don't need to apologize or explain anything to me." I look at her.

"Okay," she starts, placing her hand on my chest. "but I want to be honest with you. I'm attracted to you. If you're interested, I wouldn't mind seeing if there could be something between us."

I look at her, unable to hide my shock. Maybe she's bipolar and needs meds?

I laugh. "It's late, Chevy. Let's get you back to bed." My arm snakes around her waist as I help her towards the door.

"But I want to talk more..."

"We will, tomorrow!"