D e a n

f i v e

Effy tossed and turned frantically in her sleep. Her thick sheets left her skin damp with sweat. She was having another one of her nightmares. One after the other. Leaving her moaning and groaning in her deep slumber. Overheated, she kicked the covers off and sighed in relief at the cooling air.

It wasn't long until the cooling breeze became too much and soon she began shivering. She yanked the blanket back on her clammy body and mumbled as she fell back asleep.

There was a loud crash followed by a low hiss. Effy jolted awake. Quickly she flicked her lamp light on and turned to the window where the ruckus had come from. Only to find Astrid crouched over on the floor, holding her shin and clenching her teeth together in pain. The window behind her was wide open. The breeze gently blowing the curtains about. There were red stains on Astrid's jeans just underneath her hands.

Effy sighed heavily.

She threw the thick sheets off her legs and climbed out of bed into her bathroom. Astrid adjusted herself on the floor. Shaking and soaked from the heavy storm outside. She hissed at the stinging pain that rolled up her shin. When Effy came out a moment later with a small first aid kit in hand, Astrid unbuttoned her jeans and peeled them off. She exchanged them for the white box of Band-Aids and Neosporin.

"Your lucky my moms not home. She would've called the cops." Effy tossed the jeans in her dirty hamper and grabbed a fresh pair of cotton striped pink and white shorts and a simple t-shirt.

Astrid shrugged with a chuckle. She shuffled through the box, trembling and looking slightly lost. "Wouldn't be the first time I've got the cops called on me." Hesitantly, she grabbed a dry cotton ball and dabbed it over her long thin wound.

White pieces of cotton instantly began sticking to the blood.

Even though Astrid laughed, Effy could tell something was off. She could feel it. The was a heavy presence in the air. Too thick to ignore. She sighed heavily and plopped down on the ground next to Astrid. She took the cotton ball from her hand and tossed it in the trash before. Reaching into the first aid kit, she pulled out a cotton pad and peroxide.

"So, what happened?" Effy hesitantly asked as she began cleaning Astrid's cut.

Astrid chuckled under a heavy exhale.

"I, uhm, I accidentally slipped climbing up your rose trellis. Stupid rain. That bitch was slippery." She grinned. "Nearly took my life."

"No, I mean, what happened? Why're you here?"

Astrid nibbled on her inner cheek. She nervously picked at the carpet. "I just. . . I need a place to crash for the night. Just tonight. I promise. Then I'll be gone first thing in the morning."

"You don't wanna stay with Dean?" Effy's movements became slower and more gentle. As though she were listening carefully to Astrid's answer.

Astrid pressed her lips together.