If Only You Knew

6 - Human Again

April 2nd, 2015 - Cassia's House, England

Cassia helped me out of my ruined gown and into the bath, then proceeded to wash my hair and then dry it as I lay in the hot bath, topped with bubbles. She brought me a pair of clean jeans and loose green paisley-patterned shirt. I pulled them on, and she helped me do up a bra she gave me. I thought corsets were complicated!

I said as much, and Cassia laughed. "You'll get used to it." She was so kind to me.

"No doubt I will catch on soon enough," I give a small smile, my pale porcelain skin glowing.

"Your hair is lovely, Alice," she smiles as she combs her fingers through my hair and then brushes it until the delicate waves are separated and sit nicely. 

"Thank you Cassia," I give her a huge smile in the mirror, my eyes sparkling.

"How old were you when, you know, it happened." She seemed hesitant to say I died, but I didn't mind. It's not everyday you bring someone back from the dead.

"I was 17. Almost 18." I shrug my shoulders slightly. "But it doesn't matter anymore, I'm back and that's the only thing that's important at the moment."

"Nice attitude, you'll need it," Cassia gives me another warm smile and we both laugh slightly. "You ready to go out?"

I give a small nod before we walk out the door and down the stairs to the living room, where Matt sits in an armchair, tapping his foot on the floor. He stands when we walk in.

"How are you feeling, Alice?" His expression is concerned as he looks at me, Cassia still beside me.

"I feel amazing, Matt," I smile, a little breathless.

"I'm really tired. So I'm going to go to bed." Cassia can hardly contain her giggling as she speaks. "Matt, the spare room is all set up for Alice, can you just show her where it is?" Once she gets a nod in response, she gives me a quick hug before going up stairs.

I take a step forward, before Matt meets me, wrapping his arms around me. I put my arms around his neck, my fingers twisting in his hair as he holds me tight. I smile into his chest as he rubs the small of my back.

I don't know how, I don't know when, but we end up on the couch. Him sitting against the end, with me leaning on his chest and his arm around me.

"This is weird," his voice shatters the silence and I sit up and look at him, my gaze questioning. "Not you, uh. I - I've just wanted to hold you for so long and now I can."

We both stare at the floor for a moment, basking in each other embarrassment until I lean on him again and he begins to stroke my hair.

"What now, Alice?" His voice is quiet in the almost empty house, a whisper on the wind.

"I don't know," I mutter. "I can't just turn up at your dorm. I'm not even enrolled in the university."

"We could enroll you for next semester?" He gives a small shrug before wrapping his arms around me again.

"I suppose so, but I honestly have no interest in going to university. I can read and write, that's all I really need, to be honest." I shrug a little, looking at the floor.

"Well, you don't have to go to university, but where are you going to stay?" As he speaks, his chest rumbles against my cheek and I smile weakly.

"I don't know, Matt, can we just worry about that in the morning?" I sigh and close my eyes.

"If you're going to fall asleep, can I at least take you up to the spare room?" His torso rumbles under me as he chuckles and I sit up.

"Alright," he takes my hand and leads me up the stair and past Cassia's closed door to a small room with plain white furniture and a bed with fresh green sheets on them.