Recalling Reality

Chapter 13

A horn blasts through the darkness, and I sit up fast. Looking around the room, my heart is beating hard. This isn't my room. This room has barely anything in it to decorate it, and the white walls are surrounding me.

I roll over on my hip and the heat balls up. The annoying pulsating is reminding me that I overused that muscle earlier. Finding the lamp, I click it and instantly see the brass frame with the smiling blond haired man in the photo. My heart slows and I take in a deep breath. I am in Shane's room.

I must have fallen asleep and he brought me in here. A door clicks.

Slipping out from under the covers, I straighten out the large t-shirt of Shane's I am wearing and made my way into the living room. The small lamp is the only glow in the room, and I peek out the heavy curtain that hides the large bay window. Shane is standing beside a red sporty car and that blonde is locked in his arms, her head buried in his shoulder.

My heart crashes into my empty stomach as I release the fabric and take a step back. I thought he was over her, but I am mistaken. That was not a friendly hug, nor something an ex would give after the person was found cheating with the best friend.

The truth is: I don't really know Shane that well. We have shared some times, but maybe this is just a very strong friendship that we contracted. Nothing more.

But, I am liking him so much. And he is mending the broken pieces of my heart. I am laughing again. I am breathing again. I am ... wanting to live again.

Risking the heartbreak, I draw back the curtain again, and this time, they are molded into a lip lock like I have never seen before.

Tears sting my eyes as I release the curtain and stumble back into the bedroom. This is not happening. My brother's wedding is this weekend and Shane is going to be my date, even though he is in the wedding also. I cover myself up in the fluffy comforter and allow the tears to unleash. How could I go to this wedding with him, if he is still seeing his ex?

My mom always tells me there are two sides to every story, and not to just concoct a story just because I see what I think I see. Giving Shane the benefit of the doubt is what I need to do. I need to understand that I saw something, but it just might not be what I think it was.

If he is acting different in the morning, then I know that it is exactly what was being portrayed in the driveway. Then, I will have to move on and try to pick up the extra shattered pieces of my life.

My eyes are thick and swollen, and the exhaustion wins. I yawn, and everything fades. The warmth in the room begins to bother me and I finally stir awake. The knocking around of items in the kitchen tells me that I am not alone, though I am not getting the heavenly scent of Shane's breakfast.

Exiting the bedroom, I take in a deep breath and stop at the bathroom to do my daily rituals. The extra clutter on the sink counter is telling me that Shane was not alone last night, and there is a female guest who must be stammering around in the kitchen.

The tears are coming forth again, but I manage to keep them at bay as I walk out and am greeted by the voluptuous blonde who Shane was slithering around in the parking lot with. Her smile is friendly, but the darkness is deep within her sparkling greenish eyes.

"Oh. I didn't wake you, did I? I usually get started on breakfast for Shane early." Her claws are out and she is ready to attack, but the mask shows different.

"I was just wondering where he was." With not much room to maneuver, I slip out the doorway without touching the vixen who is standing her ground, proving to me that I am the female who is invading the house.