A Sibling's Love

Chapter 3

Chapter 3

December 23, 2013

Laura woke up screaming as cold sweat dampened her skin.

          “It’s okay baby!” Daniel soothed Laura, “it’s just a bad dream. It’s all right.”

          Daniel was Laura’s boyfriend of nearly two years. He was an average size man, standing at only five feet and nine inches, but he was extremely fit for a very successful abstract painter. He had a slight, natural tan that went well with his steel gray eyes and sandy blonde hair. Daniel was the perfect package. He was strong, wealthy, and level headed, and most of the time understanding. Laura had warned him that she had frequent nightmares before he had moved in nearly three months ago. He handled them better than Laura had initially thought that he would.

          “I know,” Laura sighed, “thanks Daniel.”

          “Your welcome babe,” Daniel smiled at her warmly as he wrapped his arms around her.

          “You should really come with me to my step-father’s birthday slash Christmas gala. It would really be nice to have someone to talk to. You know that I have problems talking to those aristocratic people,” Laura snuggled towards Daniel.

          “I might reconsider if…” Daniel nibbled on Laura’s ear insinuating his conditions.

          “Daniel…” Laura said sternly to hide the fear that crawled to the base of her throat as he brushed his hands up against her.

          “Daniel!” She snapped as his hands kept gliding and invading her space.

          “Come on Laura,” Daniel exasperatedly exclaimed as he jerked his hands off her, “we have been dating for two years now. Why don’t you want me to touch you? Am I not good enough for you?”

          “No, yes!” Laura tried to explain without giving in too much, “Not meaning to use this cliché but it is truly me not you. I’m just not ready to… to…”

          “Really Laura,” Daniel scoffed, “you are a healthy, beautiful twenty year old woman and isn’t ‘ready’ to go to bed with anyone?”

          Feeling mocked, Laura got defensive, “Yes. That is exactly what I mean.”

          “Yes, you would much rather bury yourself in that book of yours,” Daniel snapped as he got up out of bed.

          “You don’t have much more room to talk Daniel,” Laura added curtly.

          What was wrong with him? In the two years that they had been dating, never had they argued like this before. He just seemed so cranky and hateful lately.

          “Right,” Daniel drew out the word dramatically and sarcastically as he pulled on his jeans and shirt.

          “Where are you going?” Laura asked impatiently.

          “I’m going to a friend’s house for tonight,” Daniel replied surprisingly cool, “Have a good trip tomorrow morning to your father’s house, maybe you will reorganize our priorities while you are there. When you get back, maybe you will apologize for your absurd behavior.”

          “Don’t bother to wait,” Laura looked him dead in the eye, “I am not being absurd nor am I negligent of your feeling or needs as apparently you see. I won’t apologize for my actions, and if you think I will you are wrong. If you can’t respect me, then I want your stuff to be gone before I get back.”