Stupid Exchange

Chapter 10- Secret

When I got home, I was lying in my room.
My whole body still hurt from the punches.
I sat down in a corner and my breathing became heavy.
I could hardly get any air into my lungs and my heart started racing again.
I started to cry and I almost ran out of air.
I was alone at home, so I let it all out.
I cried and I cried loudly.
I tried to get some air.
I managed to do so when I was able to calm down.
I was so tired that I stayed in the corner and fell asleep.

...

AT THE EVENING (11pm)

"Navs, what's wrong, are you okay?
Why are you lying in the corner?"
Kayla was standing in front of me with concern and worry.

I look at my surroundings, I was really lying in the corner and I was briefly afraid that Kayla would see the scars, but I was wearing an oversized sweater and jeans, so my body was completely covered.

"Oh, I must have fallen asleep here..."
I answered.

Kayla made a 'I don't believe you' face.
"Navs, you can talk to me, you know that, right? I'm always here for you!"

Of course I knew that I could talk to her about anything, but not about this thing, no one was allowed to find out.
I smiled warmly and tried with all my might to stop my body from shaking.
"Yes, I know that, Kay, I was just tired today and then fell asleep while reading..." I said.

"You should lie down in bed and get some sleep," she said as she helped me to my feet.

I lay down in bed and she closed the door.
I heard a voice from downstairs, it was Jace.
I wondered what he was doing here, but I fell asleep again very quickly.

HIS POV (JACE)

Josh, Kayla and I just arrived at Kayla's house. They had a date but picked me up afterwards because Josh wanted to spend time with Kayla and I didn't want to be alone.
I know I'm like a little puppy who flies around everywhere, but it's pretty lonely when you're all alone in a huge mansion while your parents are away on business like usual.

We entered the house and my eyes immediately looked for Navy, but I couldn't see her, she was usually baking something and lying on the sofa or watching Netflix.
It was unusual that she wasn't downstairs.

"Where's Navy?" I asked.

Kalya answered immediately, she was worried herself. "I don't know, I'll check upstairs."
She went upstairs and opened the door to Navy's room.

I heard Kayla talking to someone, Navy.
I recognized her voice immediately, her voice was sleepy and sounded so... different?
As if she had just woken up from a hundred-year sleep.

"Bro, you really like her, please don't break her heart" Josh said while looking at me.

"Man, I know what everyone thinks of me, but with her I feel something different...she's different."
Josh patted me on the back.
I didn't know what was wrong with me, I felt different with Navy.

Kayla came down and I had to ask her right away what was wrong with Navy.
I never used to worry about health or any girl, but this time I did, with Navy.

"She fell asleep in the corner of her room, it's never happened like that before, a little weird, but she said she fell asleep while reading"
Kayla said on the way down.

Josh looked confused, as did I.
"In the corner?" he asked.

Kayla nodded, also confused and worried.
"But she's in bed now and fell asleep right away. I've never seen a person fall asleep so quickly when they're tired" she added.

Josh and Kayla sat down on the couch and made a hand signal for me to come over to them, but I had to check on Navy, even if she was my enemy.
"Guys, I'll go to the bathroom!" I called over to them.

They both nodded at the same time and grinned at each other with the 'Oooooooo' face.
They knew exactly where I was going, but they weren't supposed to.

I rolled my eyes and headed upstairs.

I tried to climb the stairs as quietly as possible so as not to wake Navy.
The door was open a crack, not really far, but still wide enough to hear little things like noises coming from outside.
I didn't want to go to the bathroom, of course, just to check on Navy.
She was already fast asleep, her head on the pillow, her feet covered by the blankets, but her upper body not.
I approached her and pulled the blankets up to her chin to keep her warm.
She was wrapped in the blankets and I just stood next to her, admiring her, she was beautiful.
If she were any other girl, I wouldn't even bother to worry, but Navy had managed to make me worry a lot just because she wasn't the first thing I saw when we entered the house.

I gently stroked her cheek and caught myself grinning.
She was sleeping so peacefully and I didn't want to disturb her any further.

"Good night, clumsy,"
I said before I left the room and closed the door behind me.