Take my Breath Away (Paul Lahote X OC)

Chapter 11

     Laura woke up screaming. Her body was bathed in sweat and she couldn't breathe. The dream came again, it had been reoccurring non stop since the bonfire, this time with the vampire killing Paul. Laura tries to take deep breaths, but can't. Max bursts into the room and stares at Laura.
     

"I'm fine Max," she tells him. "Go back to sleep."

"Are you sure?"

"Yeah," Laura nods and Max leaves the room. She crawls off of her bed and opens her window. The wind refreshes her and she closes her eyes. Rain begins to fall and Laura stares at the tree line. She turns away from the window and grabs one of her large stuffed animals. Laura climbs back onto her bed and curls into a ball, burying her face in the animal. It smells like her favorite lotion. Like vanilla and blueberries.

Two gentle hands wrap around her middle and pull her to a warm body. Laura sniffs and turns over. Her face meets a bare chest and she rests her forehead against his sternum. Paul lovingly rubs her back and holds her tight.
     

"Are you ok?" he questions her. Laura nods, her face still buried in Paul's warm chest. Tears leak out of her eyes, but Laura doesn't want Paul to see her cry. "What happened?" Laura simply shook her head, refusing to talk about her dream. "Baby please tell me," Paul begs. Laura looks up and Paul sees her tear streaked cheeks. He raises his hand and carefully wipes the tears from her cheeks. Laura takes a shaky breath and begins to tell Paul about her dream. When she came to the part where Paul dies, her voice cracks and she starts crying again. Paul holds her closer and whispers sweet nothings into her ear.

"It's ok baby," he says, his face buried in her hair. "I'm not going anywhere. I'm alive. I'm right here." Laura sniffs and Paul lets her go. He goes into the bathroom and grabs a box of tissues. Laura thanks him and blows her nose. Paul lays back down next to her and Laura rests her head on his chest. His arms wind around her, his thumb rubbing her exposed shoulder.
     

"Can I do anything?" Paul asks her. Laura looks up at him and sighs.

"Stay with me?" Laura suggests. Paul smiles and kisses her forehead.
    

"Always," he agrees and Laura closes her eyes, snuggling closer to her Paul. Paul starts humming a lullaby and Laura drifts into sleep.

     

Sun shining through Laura's open window wakes her up and makes her roll over to get the light out of her eyes. Her hand meets bare sheets and Laura lifts her head. Paul wasn't next to her anymore.

"Paul?" Laura climbs off her bed, stretching her body by spreading her arms. She spots Paul's hoodie from last night and throws it on. Paul must have been wearing it last night in the rain before he came into her room because it was slightly damp.

     "Paul?!" Laura calls and walks downstairs. She starts to walk into the kitchen when two hands cover her eyes. "Hey!" Laura complains.

"Shh," Paul shushes her. "I brought breakfast." He leads her into the kitchen and sits her down at the table. The hands remove themselves from Laura's eyes and she gasps. There was a glazed doughnut in front of her with a tall glass of chocolate milk behind it.

"Paul," Laura exhales. "Thank you!" Paul grins and sits next to her.

"You're welcome," he says and puts his hand on her knee. Laura takes a bite out of her doughnut and puts her hand over Paul's. "Oh I forgot to tell you. We were invited to a graduation party." Laura raises her eyebrows.