The Clone Mansion

What's Wrong With Me?

The first thing I notice when I regain consciousness is the feeling of my head being hit by a hammer, despite no actual hammer being present. I lazily open my eyes, then snap them shut again. I turn away from the bright light above me.

"You're awake!" A soft, cheerful voice reminds me I'm not alone. I don't expect to be as comforted as I am by this. I'm so used to being alone.

I try my eyes out again. "I'm awake." I spare her a pathetic smile. "What happened?"

She bites her bottom lip nervously. "You've been in here too long."

I chuckle. "That's true, but how did that cause me to faint?" I stretch my arms to calm the fire ignited in every single one of my bones.

She sighs. "You're going through withdrawal."

As she says this all the pieces of the puzzle start to fit together. Grant is an addict. He must've been going through withdrawal when we swapped bodies. I had a strong feeling he was trying to quit for her. I should've done better research on Grant before initiating all of this. I'm disappointed in myself.

"Oh. I'm sorry if I scared you." My voice comes out small.

She waves her hand dismissively. "It takes a lot to scare me." I assume her words are meant to trick me into believing she's not worried, but they don't. I analyze the details of what people say and she said that it takes a lot to scare her, not that she isn't scared. I mean, going through withdrawal from who knows what with nothing anywhere near to treat the withdrawal? I'd say that's a lot.

"I'll just walk it off." I inch to the edge of the couch, attempting to stand the way I knew Grant would.

She shakes her head and places her hand firmly on my arm, stopping me from getting up. "Nah-Ah-Ah." She clicks her tongue at me. "Here, drink this." She twists the lid on a water bottle and hands it over.

I obliged, I just met her and I already know better than to argue with her.

"Thank you." She grins, exposing her pearly white teeth. "Let me give you a massage."

"That's not..." My thought is cut off by her soft hands massaging my neck. It feels strange to have someone taking care of me and it makes me feel connected to this nameless stranger in a way that's undeniable.

"Can we please at least get some medications in here? I know you care about him you no-neck witch!" She raises her voice, frustrated.

I chuckle. "It's okay, I'd rather die than have to spend anymore time with these weirdos."

She sends me a death glare. "Don't you dare talk like that, you're not going to die! You're going through withdrawal and I'll make sure you get what you need to get through that."

This little lady makes me so weak. She's spoken to the romantic in me. I feel loved, cherished, understood. My eyes trail her body, in amazement. Who knew I could find love in such an unexpected place? The walls I spent building come crumbling down around me after just a few hours with this angel.

"You know what would really help me right now?" I met her starry eyes with my lustful ones.

She gives me her full attention. "What?"

"Kiss me." The two small words carry a huge weight and the silence in the room that's been present the whole time suddenly becomes noticeable.

Her expression switches from concern to desire. "That's the most Grant thing you've said all day." As she leans in to grant my request, the door flies open.

In comes Elijah on his little gray scooter. "I LOVE MYSELF AND MY BIG BROTHER!" His pretend deep voice booms, making me have to work to contain my laughter. Grant would be annoyed not amused.

I squint at Elijah. "For the last time, I'm not your brother!" I am not as angry as I sound though, this is an ongoing joke in the clone mansion. Elijah is actually a clone of Grant's younger brother so we all enjoy when he refers to himself as Grant's real brother. Grant isn't as entertained by this notion and never fails to call Elijah out, which Elijah always ignores. I think it bothers Grant because he can't tell whether Elijah is actually just a clone of his brother or if he is really his brother gone mad and the person he thinks is his brother (the normal one) is the clone.

Elijah is carrying a box on his lap, that he scoots over to me. "My big brother needs some drugs!"

I smirk. "Wow, you're first time being right about something, congrats."

"You brought them!" Grant's prized possession claps her hands together excitedly and runs to Elijah. "Thank you!"

The fact that she's so excited that he brought something that will help me warms my heart, but also makes me envious. Why can't Wishes care about me like that? One-sided love is exhausting!

"I'm just a big man who delivers love." Elijah nods at her. She is completely unaware of this, but Elijah just admitted he was falling for her, which makes me like her even more.

"Thanks Elijah, goodbye." I say in a dismissive tone. I know she isn't into Elijah in the slightest and has no idea he's even flirting with her, but I'm still jealous for some reason. I want, no need, all her attention on me.

She doesn't even wait for Elijah to scoot out of the room before she's on me. "Here, take this." She hands me a little white pill and a water.

I smile and watch Elijah leave.

"Grant?" She repeats, irritation coating her voice.

I smirk and bring my eyes to her. As much as I want to take this pill and make this make diminish, I know Grant would put up a fight. "I'm okay babe."

"Fine if you won't take it, I will." She lifts the pills to her mouth as if it's no big deal.

I just stare at her. "You're not going through withdrawal."

My point doesn't faze her at all. "So?" She pops the pill into her mouth before I can stop her.

Panic sets in instantly. "Why would you do that?"

"I'm just trying to be as ridiculous as you are." She shrugs.

"Dillion, Wishes come here!!!" I start yelling.

She starts laughing and leans in and kisses me. I kiss her back and pull her deeper into me.

When she leans back, she's laughing. "You're so predictable."

"Huh?" Is the only sound I can manage.

"While you were grabbing my a**, I transferred the pill into your mouth."

She tricked me. "You're good." I chuckle, thankful that she saved me from any more of this insufferable pain.

"The best." She whispers in my ear.

She crawls onto the couch and lays next to me. "Now we just lay here and wait for it work."

I wrap my arms around her, pushing the dangerous thoughts I'm having to the back of my mind. She's not mine, I can't want her.

"You're thinking about it aren't you?" She questions my silence.

I lay my head next to hers. "Thinking about what?"

"Sleeping with me." She says confidently and almost amused.

If I had anything in my mouth I would've choked. "Do I do that a lot?"

She smirks. "All the time, you tell me about it constantly."

I want to know why this has happened, but I am sure Grant would know. I am also sort of worried that she is setting me up, that she knows I'm not Grant and is trying to prove it. I tread lightly with my next words.

"All of our waiting is going to pay off." I smile.

She smiles back at me then, turns away as she says, "yeah, if you can make it that far."

"Are you implying I'm weak?"

She is fast asleep and never answers my question.