The Firefly

40°

I stayed with my face sunk in the crook of his neck.

I kept feeling guilty.

I wasn't being honest with myself or with him, but my pride kept me from noticing.

-If we stay here any longer we'll catch cold.- He said in a rough voice, but did not make the move to get up first.

-I don't care.- I managed to whisper. -But you should.- His voice was ragged, like his mood I guess.

He stood up slowly grabbing the white stick that was lying on the grass at his side. -Come on let's go.- He said holding out a hand to me as his white eyes stared blankly beyond me, no trace of a smile.

I grasped his hand which helped me up awkwardly, as soon as I was on my feet instead of clinging to my arm as usual he encircled my waist and pulled me to him at an impressive speed.

-I'm not running away.- I said feeling my cheeks getting hot. -You never know.- He replied, despite the darkness I could see the small, elusive outline of his smile.

Darkness and silence.

I was surrounded by nothingness and could not move anything but my eyes.

Two white pupils watched me from the bottom of the bed, but they did not approach.

They did not seem to have bad intentions.

For a moment I had the strange desire to get closer to that being, but it was as if I were chained to the mattress.

Minutes seemed like hours and nothing changed.

Those two eyes watched me incessantly without ever blinking, and little by little I began to think it was some reflection on the mirror that was right there, but there was no light to cause it.

Then, finally, the first noise, like a thud. The two pupils changed from white to red and, as they got closer, grew larger and larger.

When the creature jumped, I shouted.

-Amber! Amber calm down!- Two hands shook me by the shoulders and the two white eyes were set on me, panicking.

-Let me go!- I screamed at the creature, untangling myself.

My breathing was heavy and my heart was beating so fast that it caused a stabbing pain in my chest.

When I realized who was really by my side everything in me seemed to relax.

-Jake...- I gasped grabbing his hands and squeezing them.

 -Are you all right?- He asked me confused. I took my head in my hands; I was shaking and had begun to emit uncontrolled sobs.

He did not understand, he was motionless beside the bed with wide white eyes and an indecipherable expression.

-Brat...- He said softly looking for me with his hands stretched forward, when he found me he wrapped his arms around my body resting his face in the hollow of my neck.

I shuddered in response. I should have frowned at that contact after my choice, but I just couldn't seem to do it.

-Are you all right?- he asked again. He was worried, I could tell. I wiped away a tear by sniffing.

That feeling of dread was now the norm, but with him it seemed to have faded I had to admit.

-Yeah, don't worry.- He didn't move an inch and the spot where our skins touched was getting warmer.