The Crystal Chronicles: Book 2

Terrible Lier

The burning need to relieve myself wakes me from a dreamless sleep. Keeping my eyes closed, I try to drag my sleepy body from the bed only to be stopped by an immovable force.

Confusion floods my brain as my eyes dart open. Seeing my safe house's ceiling above me I quickly search for what is stopping me. Seeing an arm wrapped around my chest, my confusion turns into alarm. Turning my head to see who is trapping me, I gasp as I see Matt's sleeping face. Last night's events come flooding back to my foggy mind. How could I forget about him?

      Looking at our entwined bodies we are laying in a variation of the half spoon cuddle. I'm lying flat on my back with Matt's uninjured arm under my head. Matt's laying on his side with his injured arm wrapped protectively around me and his leg draped casually over mine. Gently pulling my arm free from under him I brush his black hair away from his closed eyes. Seeing him like this makes him look like a teenager. The weight of the world has been lifted off his shoulders when he sleeps. My eyes dart to his lips and I gently brush my fingertips across them. Shivering when I feel the seductive little bursts of electricity touching him cause, I smile.

      My eyes remain glued to his peaceful face. I could almost be content lying with him like this. However, like a powerful wave the unrelenting need to pee floods my body again. Then I begin to feel the pins and needles shooting up and down my legs. The perfect moment is gone. I need to pee. I need to get up. Gently lifting Matt's arm from my torso, I hear a soft growl and pause. Looking at Matt's face, his expression is the same. Weird, maybe I'm imagining things. Lifting his arm centimeter by centimeter to not wake him up. I hear a louder growl and gasp as I feel his arm come crashing back down onto my torso. Looking back at his face I decided that moving his body isn't going to work. Instead, I try to slowly shimmy my body away from his, but once again I'm met with a growl and his grip tightens around me.

      "Stop moving." Matt's hoarse voice growled.

      "You're awake!"

      "With the way you're moving around of course I'm awake. Now go back to bed."

      "No! Get off." I demanded in exacerbation. Instead of complying Matt's grip on my waist grows tighter. "Matt, I need to go to the bathroom please let me up." Matt doesn't say anything else. Instead, he holds my body like it's some kind of lifeline. Growing more and more impatient my body reacts without thinking and I smack his covered wound. Matt's face cringes in pain before he quickly releases me and rolls onto his back. Oh, no... what have I done!? Bolting up in concern,

      "I'm sorry... I wasn't thinking it was a reaction..." I mumbled in horror while I slowly reached for him. My hand freezes above his uninjured arm. Matt's eyes are closed, and he says nothing to me. Snatching my hand away, how can I possibly fix this situation? The simple answer is I can't. I eventually decided to give him some space and head to the bathroom.

      I come back into the room with a glass of water. Matt's eyes are still closed. However, unlike earlier his expression is no longer peaceful. Instead, it's hardened and cold. Reaching the side of the bed I set the glass on the little table and tentatively set my hand against Matt's forehead. Matt's eyes bolt open at the touch of my fingers, I avoid his gaze and feel for a temperature. The corners of my lips instinctively turn upwards. His fever has gone down significantly. Satisfied that the poison has left his system I focus on his arm.

The entire time I'm checking him, Matt refuses to speak a word. So, neither do I. Even though the events from the last few days bombard my mind. I'm sure Matt saw my eyes the night I left. Why does he want to be close to me now? Shaking off my skepticism I slowly begin to unwrap the gauze. Once his arm is free, I reach for the clean bowl of water and rag. Gently cleaning his arm, Matt doesn't move or speak once. Instead, I feel his hot gaze trail every move I make. However, I can't bring myself to meet his prodding eyes. I wouldn't say I'm afraid... well actually... Shaking my head I push thoughts of Matt from my mind. I quickly applied some Neosporin to the wound and rewrapped his arm.