My Knight in Shining Armor

Chapter 11: Amie

I was happy when I finally reached my hotel room. It was hard to try to constantly keep up an act and a relief that I didn't have to now that I was safe in my room. I went into my bathroom to change and wipe off my makeup. Without the makeup my face looked so pale and drawn, as if I'd been working too hard or staying up too late. As soon as I'd changed out of my clothes and into a pair of shorts and a big t-shirt, I crawled into bed and fell asleep. When I woke up it was dark. I was still sleepy so I started to turn over but paused. Something had woken me up. I felt like I was being watched and reached over to turn on the light by the bed. I jumped when I saw Alexander standing by my bed. I couldn't read the expression on his face.

"Alexander?"

he sighed and sat down on the edge of my bed. "Why, Amie?"

"Why what?"

"Why didn't you tell one of us?"

I scrambled out of bed as fast as I could move my body. "I—I have to go."

I grabbed some clothes and practically ran into the bathroom. I had to sit down on the floor for a few minutes after I shut the door so I could catch my breath and gather some strength to take a shower. When I finished my shower I dressed in the clothes I'd grabbed. I pulled on a pair of pink and black plaid pyjama pants and a black tank top before running a brush through my hair so that it wouldn't dry tangled. I took a deep breath before I opened the door. I didn't think Alexander had left and I was right. I'd scarcely stepped into the room before Alexander was suddenly just there in front of me. I backed against the wall, dropping the clothes I'd worn earlier.

"Amie." Alexander stood in front of me. "Amie...look at me. Please." His voice was low, as if he were soothing a frightened animal. I couldn't answer him; I just looked at the floor. I heard Alexander sigh, and then there was a finger under my chin gently pushing my head up. I couldn't look him in the eye as I felt tears start to well up and spill over. "Oh, Ams. Shh..." Suddenly I was enveloped in a warm, musky scent as Alexander hugged me close. I cried into his chest and he just held me and whispered in my ear, soothing me. When it seemed like I was done, he slowly pulled away and led me to the bed where he sat down with his back against the headrest and pulled me into his lap.

"Now," he said, breaking the silence, "will you tell me what's wrong sunshine?"

"I don't know what's wrong." I whispered.

"You mean you couldn't find anything on the internet?" he asked lightly.

I started to shake my head. "How--? Oh. Your laptop."

"Yes." I slumped against him.

"Tell me."

I sighed. "I don't know what's wrong! I'm tired all the time no matter how much sleep I get, I can't focus on anything, I'm not hungry ever, and I have no energy. Just walking from here to the lobby drains me."

He didn't say anything for a few minutes, just held me in his lap. "Why didn't you tell one of us?"

"I didn't want you guys to worry." I answered quietly. "It was when you were so busy and you hardly had time to think let alone notice anything when I started feeling bad and I thought it would go away on its own but it didn't. It just got worse and-and I'm scared." By the time I finished speaking, I was whispering and my eyes had started to tear up again.

Alexander didn't say anything, just pulled me closer and stroked my wet hair. He waited until I was calm again before he spoke. "We did notice for the record. We've been worried about you but it's okay now. Tomorrow, we're getting a doctor to look at you. And we don't have to leave until noon or so, so you can sleep in a bit. How does that sound?"