Masked

III

I heard her come down to where I was before she even saw me.

"Hello Lacie. Did you sleep well?"

"Yes, thanks for bandaging me up. Sorry about my ex-boyfriend."

The word ex sent a shot through me and I couldn't help but wonder if that meant I could be her boyfriend.

I threw that thought behind and checked out her side. It was red but the blood seemed to have clotted.

"Let me change that for you," I said indicating her bandage.

Lacie came and sat down next to me on my mattress. I could hear her heart pounding as I removed the bandage and reapplied a new one. Her skin was warm compared to mine and flinched when I touched her.

"Sorry," I said hoping I hadn't scared her.

"No it's okay, you're just cold that's all. Is that typical for gargoyles?"

I was pleased she had called me a gargoyle and not a freak.

"Yes," I said tightening her bandage.

"Thank you for doing this," her big blue eyes looking into mine.

For a second I forgot how to speak and just kept looking at her.

I cleared my throat, "you're welcome. If you don't mind me asking, what did Sam do to you?"

Lacie shivered, "he keeps a knife in his pocket at all times. He was supposed to use it on you, but when he saw I was interested in you... he used it on me."

I just sat there stunned, thinking that he might've stabbed me instead of her. Then another thought hit me... she said she was interested in me. Maybe... maybe we had a chance together after all.

"So," I said trying to keep it cool, "you're interested in me?"

Lacie blushed a bright pink and said, "for scientific reasons of course."

I just sat there and stared at her knowing there was more to what she said.

"Are you sure there's nothing else besides only scientific reasons?" I said hoping she would admit something else.

"Okay... more than just that. You seem really nice and well... I like you."

'Bingo!' I thought in my head. I knew that's what I was wanting to hear.

Lacie sat there and waited for me to say something back.

"Me too," I said enjoying the joyful expression that lit up her face. "Where are you going to stay?" I suddenly asked, realizing she probably didn't want to stay here in my dingy cave.

"I'll have to go back to my parents don't get suspicious. Then I'll have to pretend to still like Sam but that'll be easy. I act all the time."

That caught me off guard and I suddenly caught myself thinking she had played me after all...

Lacie saw my expression and shook her head, "I don't lie to the people I like, just the ones I hate."

I trusted her, but pretended I didn't. "Prove it," I threatened, a smile playing across my face.

Lacie looked at me confused for a moment. Once she caught on she couldn't help but giggle, "okay," and moved closer to where we were shoulder to shoulder.

She took her hand and pulled my face in her direction. "May I?" she asked grinning.

I nodded, unsure of what to say and too scared that if I did speak I would say no.