Protected

Cat Between Us

              I struggle to sit up. Above me, the sky is a strange shade of green, the air is roaring around, wind whipping, but I can't feel it.
       I look down my shoulder and see why I can't get up. Grass wraps around my arms and legs, holding me down.
     I thrash and yell for help, all while jerking at the grass that binds me.
    With a heave I rip myself up. As I'm standing I'm slammed into from behind, no pause for relief.
       I stumble but catch my balance and turn around to see what hit me.
    Bars. A wall of bars. Out in a meadow?
       I step closer and peer in, trying to see the shadowy figures near the back. One stands up and comes closer, then its rushing, it's features becoming clear. He throws his arms between the bars, catching my arm. I rip away, horrified, looking at Syd.
       My arm where he touched me is slowly disintegrating, revealing bone and then the bone disappears. I can't feel it. I can't do anything. I look at him, panic stricken. He opens his mouth and chuckles. "You put me here Lexi. I'm bringing you down with me."
    I watch, petrified, as his eyes roll back in his head and he crumples to the ground, disintegrating.
       I look at my feet and arm, alarmed to see what he says is true. My arm is disintegrating slowly, and my feet aren't there. I'm sinking into the ground, the dirt is up to my knees.
      But I'm not sinking. My body is slowly disappearing from my feet up.
     "No!" I scream. "No! Help me! Somebody please save me!"
   I sob, watching my body slowly disappear and-
   
  "No." I mumble. "Help me please. I'm sorry! Please save me!"
    "Lexi! Oh please honey wake up!"
I feel a hand on my arm and I bat it away, crying.
    "Don't touch me! You've already ruined me just go away!"
     I open my eyes and see my parents leaning over me.
         "Nightmare sweetheart? It's okay, shhh. We're here." My dad says.
I collapse against my pillows and cover my face with my hands, crying.
"I'm sorry! I thought you were... I just... You didn't ruin me I was delirious and... And... Ohhhhh." I moan.
They smile at me. "It's alright darling." My mom says, "We understand. Kind of."
I sniffle, "Did I wake you up?"
They glance at each other before my mom speaks. "Well sweetie, you did, but we don't mind. It's morning anyway. A little early, but we were on our way to wakening."
Morning. What a relief. That nightmare was the darkest and creepiest one I've had yet. So much hidden meaning.

          After I shower and eat, I head down to lobby for some down time. My parents are watching some reality show on TV that I have no interest in.
     I sit down and take a slip of paper out of my back pocket. It has Noir's number scrawled across it, and I enter it into my phone.
      Hello? Noir? It's Lexi, from yesterday? -Lexi
  
He replies instantly.
Hey! How are you? -Noir

I'm fine. You? -L

Concerned. -N
  
  I scrunch my face. That's a weird thing to say.

Concerned? Why? -L

You were pretty upset yesterday and I hate to see people like that. Then you say you're fine, which in girl talk means the opposite. I want to know how you really are. Can I call you? -N

My heart flutters, and I contemplate my answer.

I'm really ok, but you can call me whenever. -L

Five seconds later, my phone rings.

"Boy you don't waste time do you?" I ask into my phone.
"Well hello to you too Lexi." His deep voice rumbles through the receiver.
  "Sorry. Hi. I didn't realize you were checking out yesterday?" I say.
    "How do you know I checked out yesterday?"
     I roll my eyes, even though he can't see that. "Well you're not around, and the front desk is pretty lenient with info they give out."
    I can hear delight in his voice. "You asked after me at the front desk?"
   "Yeah, I wanted to see if you wanted to swim with Carson and I."
    "Do you wear bikinis?"
The question is so unexpected that I burst out laughing. "Yes, but I didn't have one with me."
     "Bummer. I wouldn't have bothered coming."
    I feign shock. "Noir, you perv!"
He laughs, and I laugh too. "I'll swim next time I see you."
    "I won't disappoint you. I swear, I am a vision in a white bikini!"
     He laughs again, and I love the fact that I'm the one who made him laugh. I glance up and see Carson standing there, watching me. I feel blood draining out of my face, and I wonder how long he's been standing there. My face alternates hot and cold, red and white. He sits next to me and I turn away, focusing on what Noir is saying.
     "I can imagine you are. All tan, red hair bright against white material, and I imagine your legs are killer!"
       "Yeah my legs are the sexiest part of my body." I force a laugh, hoping it sounds real. "Listen Noir, I'll call you tomorrow, when I'm home. I have to go, Carson just sat down."
      Noir sighs. "Alright, see you Lexi."
I hang up and turn to Carson.
     "Good morning!" I chirp.
"Was that Noir?" He asks, his face blank. I get cautious.
     "Yeah, why?"
"Don't you think that conversation was a little, I don't know, inappropriate?"
     I scoff, "We didn't say anything wrong."
     "Lexi do you have any idea what kind of images you just put into that poor guy's head? Into mine?"
     "Yeah good ones."
He's silent for a minute, and the words burst out of my mouth before I have a chance to think about them.
      "You're just jealous."
He starts, and glares at me. "Why on earth would you say that?"
     "Oh you're always popping up everywhere and let me mention, that's not the first time you've snuck up on me while I'm with Noir."
     Carson's face turns angry. "Let me remind you that you told me to come down yesterday!"
    "Yeah well you could have announced yourself!" I snap.
     "What, so you can change the conversation? Make it appropriate for your best friend to listen in on? Lex, you're trying to forget! Acting a certain way so that you're different than the girl who got 'napped, the girl who was pushed around by a full grown alcoholic."
      I grit my teeth, "How dare you, you conniving son of a-"
    He claps a hand over my mouth before I can get out another word.
    "And so what if I am jealous." He says softly. "Yes. I'm jealous of other  guys, because I don't want them to steal you. You're mine, although not officially. I know if you want to go out with other guys, I can't stop you. But Lexi, all of me so badly wishes that I could."

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Hey everyone! I love Lexi and Carson, does anyone else like them as much as I do? They're so much fun to write.

Please don't forget to vote! It keeps me writing!

Au revoir!
-M.R.