Rivals

Suspicion

   I held my side as I banged on the door. It took me longer than I anticipated to get here. It was three in the morning by now.

   A moment later the door opened. "What is it, Kate?" Kyle asked and looked me over. His pupils dilated and he gentle picked me up bridal style. I whimpered in response. "What did you do to yourself...?" Kyle murmured and quickly carried me into his kitchen. He gently laid me on the table after pushing everything off it.

   I laid there trying to keep my eyes open but failing miserably. I should've went to a hospital.

   Kyle came back a minute later with an emergency kit. "Don't worry, Kate." He gently stroked my hair to smooth me.

   My eyes fluttered closed till I heard a cutting of fabric. I snapped my eyes open to see Kyle cutting my dress in half to get access to my wound.

   "Kyle..." I whimpered slightly embarrassed. "I'm not going to do anything inappropriate, Kate." Kyle said sternly. I blinked at him as he began to work on my abdominal.

   Kyle poured peroxide on my wound to prevent any infections. He then stuck his hand into my side and I gasped.

   I stared at Kyle's face the whole time. His jaw was clenched and his brows frowned.

   I could feel his hand in me. That probably sounds wrong, but it's true. His hand was cold and it made me shiver.

   Alas, Kyle took out my hand stake. His eyebrow rose but he said nothing. He put the stake by my side and pulled out a needle and thread from the emergency kit and began sewing me up. I grabbed the hem of Kyle's pants. I was in pain and had nothing else to grab. Don't judge me

   Kyle stiffened but continued. He was done after five more minutes. He poured peroxide over my side again and put the tools away. Once done he went to put it away then came back a minute later.

   I laid there numb from the pain. I stared up at the ceiling. I wonder if he's done this before. He seemed like he knew how... I thought to myself.

   "How did this happen, Kate?" Kyle loomed over me, both hands on the table next to me. I looked up at and sighed. "I went for a walk in the woods and tripped over a branch. I must've fell on that stick." I said. He hummed probably not believing me but said nothing.

   Kyle grabbed a wash cloth and began cleaning up the blood on me. The cloth was warm against my cold flesh. "Thank you..." I said not bothering to make eye contact. He took the cloth away and left once more.

   Kyle came back with one of his shirts. "You can wear this for now." He said. "Could you help me...?" I looked up at him. I couldn't possibly put it on without ripping open the freshly sewed wound. "Uh...sure." He gently lifted me open. I now was sitting on the table facing him. Kyle closed his eyes to give me privacy while I took off the top half of my now torn dress.

   "Okay." I said letting him know I was done. Kyle opened his eyes but stared right into mine. His eyes didn't travel any lower and I thanked him for that.

   I raised my arms up so he could help me put his shirt on. He gently put it on me and I pulled it now. I leaned over a little bit and took off the bottom of my dress. I handed them over to Kyle and he grabbed my torn dress and threw it in the trash. He also threw away my stake.

   "Can I stay here tonight...?" I asked Kyle. I didn't want to bother him with my problems. He already helped me enough.

   "Of course, Kate." He gave a soft smile to me and grabbed pills that were in a cupboard. "What are these?" I asked looking at the white pills now in my hand. "They're pain killers. They'll help with your side." He said while filling up a glass of water. He handed me the water and put the pills back away. I slid the pills in my mouth and swallowed the water with them.

   "So..." I said trying to break the tension. "You shouldn't be outside at night, Kate. It's dangerous." Here we go again. "I'm a big girl, Kyle. I can do what I want." I glared at him frustrated. "Even if it gets you killed?" He asked. He was leaning too closely to my face. His hands gripping the table on either side of my thighs. "Yes." I breathed out. I needed some air but knew that was impossible. I couldn't even escape him when he has me trapped.

   His jaw clenched and he backed away. "I really don't see what the big deal is." I crossed my arms over my chest. "Anything could happen to you." He said. "I'm still alive, aren't I?" Now it was my turn to get close. "Only because of me." He smirked down at me. I huffed and flipped my hair over my shoulder. I'm not going to stand down. No way.

   "I'm tired." I sighed. "What do you want me to do about it?" He blinked at me. Obliviously trying to get on my nerves. "Carry me to bed?" I smiled up at him through my lashes. "To bed? I didn't know you wanted to do it now." Kyle picked me up bridal style again. "Never." I hit his chest lightly. He did save me, so this is the least nicest I could be.

   Kyle laughed and winked at me. "We'll see about that." I ignored his comment as he carried me to his room.

   He laid me down gently and laid next to me. "Thank you, Kyle..." I whispered to him as I drifted off to sleep.