Willow in the Woods: Guarding the Willow

Chapter 7

Willow

Willow hadn't been expecting to be alone in the room when she woke up. Andrew had been there but wasn't saying much other than to asked her how she felt and which hurt worse her pride or her body.

At the moment it was her body. Once again she woke up sore and stiff everywhere. Especially her back and shoulder. But her head. Oh man! It throbbed like she was hung over and her eyes were swollen as well from all the crying.

After balling her eyes out yesterday, Willow actually felt better about everything mentally. She figured she was just under a lot of stress, from having glass pulled from her body, to finding out her biological father had died and left her everything in his will. Then there was the whole running away from home thing. Which had been exciting but not without it's trials like the robber and the cold weather. Perhaps she had just gotten overwhelmed, but had been pushing every little thing that had happened to, and around her, down for so long that the top to that particular jar, finally popped off. And Marcus was just the final straw. So even he wasn't that big of a deal.

Willow hoped this morning she would get to talk to him and explain everything. Not that she wanted to for her own desires that she had for him or anything. Willow just wanted that particular part of her life left in the past where it belonged and if Marcus was going to be a part of her future like as a friend or whatever, then she didn't want him to be dwelling on her past any more than she did. Just as soon as Willow got to the ranch she would mail that ring back to Nate. She hadn't thought about it and now deeply regretted not taking the little bit of time to close out that disturbing chapter.

As Willow got dressed into the thermal pants with faded blue jeans on over them, and a loose dark green v-neck top, there was a knock on the door.

Andrew got excited sitting in the chair next to the bed. " I bet it's that beefy hunk that brought Sylvia in last night! Girl you really missed that! That man is massive! Even bigger than Mr. Tie me up and Toss me Around. Quick, how do I look? "

Willow rolled her eyes and smiled. Both of which hurt her head. " Fine." She said with a grunt. " And how do I look? "

"Well the outfit isn't bad. But would it hurt you to wash your face and beat your hair back with a brush?!" He rose from the chair and pretended to have a whip in his hand "Back tigress! Back I say." He was doing an impersonation of someone, but like many references he made of people and places that you would actually have to leave your house or apartment to know, it went straight over her head. She didn't go out unless she had to, like that Galla the night Nate proposed. It was way to much anxiety for one lifetime, being around that many people and not knowing when or who to talk to.

"One minute!" Willow called out and cringed back as her head began to throb again.

"Hey." Willow whispered to Andrew. "Go check and make sure I can talk to them would you? While I do something with ... This." she pointed to her hair and her face.

"I got you boo. I'll help keep the riffraff out while you get all dolled up. But hey! Put on some extra eye liner for me?" He said with a wink as he made his way to the door and Willow made her way into the bathroom. She had just gotten the knotts out of her hair and was putting it up in a light ponytail when Andrew poked his head in through the bathroom door. It startled Willow a little but she was pretty used to it. At least she wasn't doing eyeliner.

"I was right! It's the Really big guy!" He whispered excitedly, though Willow wasn't sure why he was bothering to whisper at all. It wasn't like anyone could hear him other than her. "And a suspicious looking maid."