Tears of July | √

4. Fall

Chapter 4

I felt a smooth, cold cloth being placed on my forehead then I sensed the warm towel wiping my arms, my face and my mouth. Blinking, I let out a loud moan and tried to get up, but strong hands gripped my arms and forced me back on the bed. Finally, I opened my eyes and found the familiar room bathed in warm, yellow light. I immediately recognized the drapes on the curtains, the neat arrangement of soccer trophies on a shelf, and of course, a photograph inside a dusty frame that was taken a year ago.

I was in Lyle's room.

"Lyle-" I started, my voice coming out raspy and messed up.

"Rest, Cassandra. You're heating up." he said immediately as I saw him come into view. His hair was damp and messy, and his face was filled with so much worry.

"I'm okay. Sorry about what happened, I-"

He gave out a sigh then handed me a glass of water and a few capsules. "Here, take these."

I took the medicine gratefully and sat up as I gulped down the whole glass of water. Lyle handed me another glass as I looked around his neat room. It always amazed me how he was more of a neat freak than I was. I slowly sunk back on his warm bed and looked at him as he sat on his plush chair, clutching a damp cloth. I gave him the only smile I could muster despite the fact that I had zero energy left. I closed my eyes, facing Lyle. I didn't even want to think what I looked like, but then again, since when did I actually care what I looked like to him?

A few moments later, I felt my glasses being tugged away from my head and felt another wave of sleep cloud my thoughts. But before I actually fell into darkness, I felt a brush of lips, light as feather, on my cheek. I didn't know if I imagined it or what, but I was too tired to even think about it.

☂☂☂

I snapped my eyes open and found my vision blurry than ever. I had to knock a bottle on the floor as I reached out into the desk beside me and slipped my glasses on. The drapes were dark blue, preventing sunlight from entering the huge, cozy room. I had actually forgotten I was in Lyle's room, and all I got from memories of last night were hazy images.

A body stirred beside me I almost screamed like a freak.

I turned my head and found Lyle beside me, his face looking tired but peaceful as an angel's.

All the while my subconscious was whispering; he is such a cutie.

I raised my eyes and stared at Lyle's strong face. Strands of his silky, black hair fell on his eyes, and his breathing was rhythmic. His eyelids fluttered as he snored quietly. My eyes fell to his body and found him shirtless, revealing his...abs.

I had seen Lyle shirtless countless times already, but him being shirtless with the both of us in his bed seemed like another story. I was about to get up when I realized his hand was on my stomach, and his leg was intertwined with mine, preventing me from leaving. Suddenly, he stirred and I felt butterflies flutter inside me as his hand brushed the bare skin on my stomach. My shirt was raised just underneath my bra now, and I felt my cheeks flush in embarrassment. There was no way I was going to get out of bed without waking him up now. Suddenly, he mumbled something I couldn't hear so I inched my head closer to his and listened to what he was saying.

"P-pancakes"

I froze and stifled a laugh.

He suddenly moved, his hand on my waist as I turned to the side.

Crap.

He moved once more, and I knew he was going to get up any moment. So there was one thing left to do.

Pretend to be asleep.

Slowly, I tugged my shirt lower to cover most of my skin, but failed. Lyle was already awake by the time I was just about to raise my hand. His eyes were wide open as I opened an eye to look at him. He let out a silent sigh then closed his eyes once more, his hand lingering on my waist, and his leg knotting closer into mine.

That idiot.

"LYLE NEIL FERGUSON!" I shouted, and he immediately sat up, pulling the sheets to his bare body. I snorted at him and smacked him on the head.

"HOW DARE YOU TAKE ADVANTAGE OF ME!" I shouted again, clenching my fists as I tugged my shirt down, standing up in front of him.

"Wha- you were awake?" he faltered, his cheeks staining of the color red.

"I was well awake and I was about to get up when your leg was tangled on mine, and your hand was touching my stomach!" I exclaimed, waving my hands above my head.

"So you were awake and you didn't even bother to wake me up too?"

"Alright, sorry. I was too tired. And it's all because I had to take care of you."

"Oh yeah?" I snap at him. "Who took me to the club in the first place?"

He pursed his lips and ruffled my hair afterwards.

"You know what? You should've thanked me for tending to you last night. I could have just left you there on the bathroom with poor Nathan dragging you away from the dance floor before you could throw up at someone."

Suddenly, I tasted something bitter in my mouth and ran to the bathroom, Lyle immediately following me as I felt the color drain out from my face. I knelt in front of the toilet and closed my eyes before throwing up, the awful scent of alcohol entering my nose again, causing me to throw up thrice more until I felt my stomach contain nothing. Suddenly, Lyle was behind me, handing me a towel as he rubbed my back, his face full of concern.

"I shouldn't have brought you there." he said as I slumped on the cold tiles, feeling as if I had puked all of my insides out. I groaned weakly as my head spun, Lyle's hands were on my arms, pulling me to him as my head rested on his chest for a moment. He wiped off the sweat from my face and tried not to make a face as he looked at me. I must have looked like a total mess. Suddenly, my stomach growled and Lyle let out an unexpected laugh.

"Come on, you've got to get cleaned already. You stink like a garbage can, Cass." he said as we stood, his hand supporting me as I made my way to the bed. "You're lucky Marly's not here, so you get the chance to taste my famous pancakes."

Marly was Lyle's nanny ever since he was a little kid, and they were both the only ones in the house most of the time, since Lyle's dad was always focused on their business and busy spending time with his fiancée.

Back in freshman year, Lyle had offered to cook pancakes after getting home from our camping in school. I went with him in his house, and realized Marly wasn't home so there was no one to teach him how to cook pancakes, not even me. Long story short, his pancakes were so awful.

I contemplated on whether eating out instead.

☂☂☂

I rubbed the melon-scented shampoo on my head, and let the body wash linger on my body for a moment. After rinsing, I heard shouting voices downstairs. I figured it was Lyle arguing with someone on the phone, but I listened intently and found a female voice echo through the house. I recognized the chirpy, annoying voice immediately.

Amber.