Dreadful

Chapter 3

We lay silent among the sheets on Niko's bed. I listened to his even breathing, wondering if he was asleep. I lay with my back facing him, curled naked under the covers. I fingered the shirt wrapped around my wrist, begging for sleep to come to me. I jumped when a warm hand wrapped around my stomach and Niko slid close to me. He gently kissed my shoulder and tucked his head on the pillow behind me. "Don't cut yourself anymore." His voice was soft, but it still had a commanding tone underlying it. I wanted to argue with him, but he was right. There was something about this warm, content feeling within me that knew he was right. "Okay..." His nose nuzzled against my back, and his breath blew in hot spirals down my skin. "If you need it, come see me... Smoking is better..." The second part was tacked on, as if he didn't want me to think he was talking about sex. But he was right, smoking had been better than mutilating myself. "I know..."

...

"Where the fuck is she!?" I awoke early to a shrill screaming and crashing somewhere inside the house. Niko stirred beside me, and I looked at his clock. Who the fuck is making this much noise at 5 am? "Yuri, you idiot! How could you leave her with your pothead brother? Who knows what horrors he put her through?" "He's not a bad..." Just when things were starting to register, Niko's door burst open. I screamed, successfully waking up Niko, and made sure the blankets were securely covering my naked body. Hannah stood there, with a large club in hand, seething with anger. Yuri hovered behind her, stuck in a position that looked as if he had tried to stop her.

"What the fuck are you doing in my room?" Niko yelled, throwing a random object towards the door. Hannah ducked, letting it strike Yuri in the face. She looked at me, and a look of relief washed over her face... until she realized why I was clutching the blanket so tightly. Her eyes narrowed on Niko, and she raised her club, "You bastard!" I watched in horror and Hannah jumped over me on the bed, and swung at Niko. He pushed in the wall, and rolled into the other room, holding the wall shut. Hannah hit the wall a few times before deciding it wasn't going to budge. Panting, she sunk to the bed and hugged me. "I'm so glad you're okay. I didn't mean... I was so angry... I'm sorry!" I laughed and hugged her back. "I'm sorry too... I didn't mean to keep it from you."

Hannah pulled back from me and tried to look at me angrily. It didn't really work. "I can't believe I left you in the hands of that boy! I won't ever forgive what he did to you! Get dressed, we're leaving now." She waited, as if I would get dressed in front of her. Yeah, right. Exasperated, she sighed and got up. "Fine! But hurry up so we can leave these dreadful boys!" Before she shut the door, I saw her shove Yuri hard.

Sensing the closed door, Niko peeked back through the wall. "They're gone." He sighed and crawled back into bed. "That woman's crazy." I punched him lightly in the chest. "That's my best friend, and she's not crazy." He laughed at me, rubbing the spot where I hit him. "No... she is. You should hear the crazy sex they have." I gaped at him in horror. Hannah? Having sex? With her tutor? My expression must have been hilarious because he laughed at me even more. "Seriously, they're secretly dating. They don't know I know."

I was shocked, but I guess it could be true. They seemed to have that kind of chemistry. I sighed and shyly got out of bed to gather my clothes and dress. After I was dressed, I realized I would have to remove the "bandage" from my wrist. I moved to untie it, and Niko stopped me, kissing my hand. "Leave it on until you can bandage it properly." I blushed at the tender gesture, and really hoped he couldn't see it. I nodded and turned towards the door.

"Michelle."

Shocked to hear my name from his lips, I turned to see him looking at me with his incredible eyes and a soft smile. "Don't fake it so much... at school. It makes it worse." I opened my mouth, and then shut it. How did he know about my facade at school? "You've... seen me?" He nodded, his eyes not moving from my face. "I'm not a stalker, but I know a little about everyone... The benefits about being "the quiet guy"... Don't force yourself so much, it's not worth it." He paused, as if he wanted to say more, but didn't. I opened the door before he changed his mind. "Remember what I said last night..." If you need it, come see me... Yeah, I know. I nodded and closed the door behind me.

...

I found my way to the front door, and saw Hannah and Yuri locked in a passionate kiss, despite the angry things she had done earlier. I can't believe he was right. I cleared my throat loudly, and they broke apart quickly, pretending nothing happened. Hannah straightened herself and motioned to me to follow her. "I'm coming."