Resisting Him

Chapter Twenty One

                I opened my eyes to what I thought was going to be a fire-y hell.  Instead, a blinding white light from all directions attacked me.  I used my hand to block most of it until my eyes adjusted and I grunted.  It felt like I had been lying on something hard and flat.

                “How I would love to bitch slap you.”  A voice echoed.  I knew it too well.

                “Anna,”  I giggled, “I’ve waited too long to see you again.”

                Her angry form appeared before me; her red hair, black dress, nose ring, and the tapping of her spiky heels.  Nothing had changed.  “Too fucking short, if you ask me.”

                I frowned and began to talk, but she interrupted me.

                “I can’t believe you!  Taking your own life!”  She scoffed, “You were never as pathetic as me.”

                “Anna—“

                “If I had known about this whole “werewolf” thing, I would have stuck around.  What if I had a mate?”  She dreamed about it.  Oh, right; Anna was human.

                “Take mine.”  I interrupted her thoughts.

                “I was wrong.”  Anna admitted.  She never did, which was weird.

                “About?”  I hesitantly asked.

                “Ryan.  He’s changed.  He’s perfect.  He loves you.”  She said way to fast.

                “But—“

                “I made you a promise to never let him hurt you, but the moon goddess—who seems so cool—must have been in on it too, because she made you mates!  I know now that he’ll never hurt you.  That’s why you have to accept him.”  Anna urged.

                “Thanks for your blessing.”  I said sarcastically, “But I happen to be dead.”

                She rolled her eyes.  “Anything’s possible.”

                Then, Anna’s fifteen year old form started to fade.  “Wait!”  I had so much to say!  So much to catch up on!

                “Ryan is forgiven.  You will always be in my heart.”  Was her final farewell.

                My whole body jolted when I merged back into reality.  My arm was hooked up to an IV and something was monitoring my heart rate.  Beep…Beep…

                I was alive.

                I can’t believe you almost killed us! 

                I know, I agreed with the voice—this one time only.

                There was a soft knock at the door, and I found myself strong enough to shout “Come in!”  The most freaked out nurse cracked the door and screamed “She’s awake!”

                Six people busted into the room at the same time.  Ryan, Trevor, Ryan’s parents…and mine.  “Hey guys.  Blake, Martha.”  I smiled at his parents, who grinned hugely.  I turned to my parents, “Get out.”

                They were surprised at my command, and were about to angrily protest when Ryan announces, “Could I have a minute in private?”

                As people started to file out, Ryan stared at me.  When we were alone, I said, “Hey,” like nothing had ever happened.  He rushed over to me and I accepted his hug and giggled, “Glad to know you’ve been showering,” because he smelled clean.

                He chuckled and dragged a chair next to my bed.  “It’s you who needs a shower.  You’ve been in a coma for a week.”  He said delicately.

                “New record,”  I joked, “Damn, it felt like ten minutes.”  I glanced around.  “What are all the balloons for?”

                Ryan held up one finger and exited the room.  He came back as I was resting my eyes.  I opened them to see a cupcake.  “Happy eighteenth birthday, Lauren.”

                I laughed, “That’s sweet of you.”  I held the plate in my hands.  “That’s…too sweet…”

                I looked at Ryan and he was focused on my hand or something and would not look at my face.  I evaluated him; his clothes looked a little wrinkled, his hair was messy, and his eyes looked tried.  He may have been showering, but he wasn’t doing much of anything else.  Was he that worried about me?

                “Ryan…”  I started, and just blurted it out, “I had a dream or a vision or something…and I saw Anna.  And she forgives you.  And by the way she talked about this…she wanted me to get together with you.”

                Now he was looking at me.

                “And with all I said and did, I wouldn’t hate you if—“

                After he was done kissing me, I swore to myself I was going to yell at him and tell him to stop doing that when I was talking.  It wasn’t rushed or heated; it was soft and sweet.  I cupped my hands to his face and touched the outside of my hip.  I smiled against his lips, but forgot everything on my mind.

                “Mine.”  Ryan whispered, and as much as I wanted to say it back, I was too embarrassed to.  The only thing I wanted to use to respond to that was yours.