The Hidden Sun

Chapter X

 "I'm so full," I exclaimed. "I can't believe I ate so much." I patted my stomach after putting on my seatbelt. I heard a chuckle to my left.

"I didn't know you had it in you," he said. "You eat like you've been stranded on an island for six months!"

"Oh shut up! I was hungry." He just laughed and pulled out of the parking lot. It wasn't much later when silence filled the car. The only sound was the soft hum of the engine. Sadly it only lasted for ten minutes before he pulled into a rest stop and parked in the far corner.

"Why are we stopping?" I figured we would go straight home. It was almost five in the morning and Jessie would be wondering where I am.

"I have to look at your feet," he replied nonchalantly.

"I'm fine. We should head home," I said. I was going to keep talking but the look he gave me was enough to make me shut up.

"Alice, you were running in the woods barefoot. Your feet are caked in mud and blood. I don't want to think about what you could have stepped in at the dinner."

"Come on," I reasoned. "It can't be that bad. I'll take a shower when I get home."

He just gave me an even colder glare. "Just hand me the first aid kit. It's in the glove box."

With a sigh, I opened the glove box while he got out of the car and headed to my door. The thought of locking the doors briefly crossed my mind, but I figured that would only make him angry.

Apparently I was taking too long because he pushed my hands out of the way and grabbed the kit when he opened the door.

"You're going to regret this," I informed him. He just gave me a funny look before unbuckling my seatbelt and turning my body towards him.

"It's too cold," I winned.

"Not my fault you didn't grab a jacket," he laughed. I gave him my coldest glare.

"I was a little preoccupied," I huffed.

He just chuckled again before grabbing my foot gently. It didn't matter because my knee-jerk reaction was to kick as hard as I could. I was about an inch away from getting him in the nose. To say he was shocked was an understatement.

"I'm sorry, but I warned you," I smirked. "I can't stand it when people touch my feet. Don't blame me if you wind up with a broken nose."

Now it was his time to huff. "Of course. Everything has to be so difficult with you," he grumbled.

I laughed again. "You asked for it."

After that we lapsed into a comfortable silence where he cleaned and I squirmed. I was surprised at the amount of mud and twigs that were stuck to my feet. I had some nasty scratches, but apart from that I was fine. Lastly, he pulled out a small container from the glove box and applied a thick cream to my feet. When I asked him what it was he simply said it was to prevent scars. After digging around in the trunk, he found a clean pair of socks and put them on for me.

"I know how to put on socks," I teased.

His eyes met mine. "I know," he replied.

I gasped. It wasn't what he said, it was the lightness of his hand on my bare calf before pulling away and heading back towards the driver's side. I could immediately feel the loss of his body heat and began to shiver.

"Thank you," I said breathlessly.

He smirked. "You're welcome." I was surprised; I didn't think he heard me.