Seven Summers Ago

Chapter 13

Chapter 13

             I wake up screaming, clutching my pillow for dear life.  Blake comes running into my room.

"Jess are you all right?" he yells.

            I am panting.

"Yeah... I'm fine..." I say breathlessly.

"No you're not, what happened?"

'I dreamt of that night... seven years ago.  I remember everything," I say tears starting to form in my eyes.  "The pain, the fear, everything felt so real."

            I'm sobbing now.

"But it wasn't, I am right here with you," he says, stroking my head.

"Thank you Blake."

"For what?"

"For always being there for me, especially since you don't know me very well."

"Jess, I have known you since we were babies, you and me just click.  I will always be here for you," he says, giving me a kiss on the head.

"Has anyone ever told you your awesome?" I say smiling up at him.

"A few times," he says winking.

            I give him a little nudge and he starts laughing.

"So what exactly happened with you and Nate?"

"Well... since you're his brother you probably don't want to hear what happened."

            He holds up his hands.

"I gotcha, no need to go any further."

            I couldn't help it, I burst out laughing.

"Good," I say in between giggles.

            I fall asleep like that, with my head in Blake's lap and I drift into a dreamless slumber.

            I wake up the next morning to find flowers on my dresser.  Smiling, I bounce over to read the note.

"You seemed down, so I thought these would cheer you up,

            From,

            Everyone"

            I smiled at the card and tried not to think about the fact that everyone probably didn't include Nate since he hasn't spoken to me since I confronted him.

            I walk out into the hallway and run into Nate.

"This is getting old," I whisper.

"Hey can we talk about last week?"

"What about?" I ask.

"What you said..."

            My cheeks instantly flame up and I turn away from him.

"Sure, but first I have to get a vase for my flowers."

            I run downstairs until I get to the kitchen.  I take a few deep breaths before getting a vase out from under the sink.  I fill it with water and the plant food my flowers came with.  I lay my flowers out on the table, cut the stems, and arrange them in my vase.  Once I am satisfied with them, I take them back up to my room and set them back on my desk.

            I quickly look at myself in the mirror before I go to knock on Nate's bedroom door.

"Come in." I hear Nate say.