Underneath (Foundation/Pre-write)

Chapter 8

This was my third month Underneath, and I had already gotten used to the feeling of being an outcast. I was well used to this already because of my old life.  But Arey and Kota made this a life easier. 

It was late and I had just been released from personal training, so I walked through the empty halls alone. The doors looked creepy and monotonous. With slight panic, I hurried to my room. 

When I got there Kota was already asleep and spread across both beds. I sighed, my chest feeling heavy fro the workout. Arey wasn't here either. So I messaged Xavier to see if he had her. I sat on the bed and took a moment to breath in the stale air, but then I got a whiff of my own stench. I reluctantly stood up and trudged to the closet hall. 

I gathered comfortable clothes and headed into the bathroom. I after I had stripped and started up the shower, I looked at myself in the mirror. Scrawny and curved. I had one hip that protruded more than the other. I trailed down my body when my eyes landed on the watch. The watch that I had ignored most of the time.

 I felt the needle that ad been in my wrist for months. I had seen Kota take the watch off all the time, no needle. So why was there one in my arm. I pulled at the wristband, trying to pull it off. But to no prevail. The exhaustion turned to anxiety as I saw a small stream of blood fall down my arm. The thought that an artery could've been cut scared me. 

The needle had to be small, but it felt as if it was piercing through my wrist. Gingerly, I went to rinse off the blood in the sink. But the blood kept coming. I sat down on the ground, curling into a ball, feeling the steam gather on my skin. The new pressure on the watch brought new pain. 

I could feel my pulse in my head, pounding. I kept a weary eye on the watch, just hoping it would come off. That's when it lit up. Xavier messaged me back- 

'She's with me and okay. How are you?'

My heart seemed to steady and somehow I stifled a smile. 

'Not okay' 

I coughed as I waited. It didn't take long for him to respond.

'Do you need me to come?' 

I didn't even think twice. Even though I should've.

'Please'

Kota wasn't help asleep. I didn't even think about what he might think that I didn't wake him in a time like this. I pulled on the loose clothing and waited in the closet hall.  I watched my watch click up from 1:16 to 1:20. Then there was a knock on the door. 

I quickly jumped up and opened the door. Right as I opened the door I put a finger to my lips. "Shh." I then took his hand and led him in. I pointed at Kota before pulling him into the weight room. Oh how I wished it was it was still a lounge. 

In the light, I saw that Xavier had a bruise on his face. Out stupidity I put a hand on the bruise. 

"Hey." he said with a smirk. I blush as I pull my hand away.

"S-sorry! How'd that happen?" I ask, pushing my hands into my small pockets.

"Your friends is quite the opponent." He chuckled, but I didn't. 

"Don't let him hurt you-" I choked. I didn't even know why I would say that. 

"It's fine, just... what was what you needed?" He wanted the subject changed. Clearly.

"Oh, yeah. M-my watch won't come off. And there is a needle in my wrist. S-see when I first put it on, it said i was bionic. What is that, does this have anything to do with this?" I said holding out my arm. "I-I panicked and uh.. it started to bleed." my breath got heavy. "A-and I was really just-" I was clearly shaking now. 

Xavier suddenly pressed my lips to mine. I was calmed down at first... for a while I even kissed back. He made everything feel safe and almost nostalgic. But then I freaked out again.

"No- I- I can't do this t-to him." I looked at the door. Xavier's face turned dark... sad. 

"I thought so... but I... Just give me your arm." I looked down at my lap, giving him my arm.

He messed with the watch, messing with things I didn't know were there. The needle clicked out of my wrist, I winced. "Damn-" I said under my breath. He looked away, but made conversation. 

"You'll be 15 tomorrow right?" Random...

"Yeah." I kept my eyes on my lap. 

"You know of the Cold Ones, right?" still random.

"Yeah, they killed my dad."

"They're the ones attacking the above, ya know?" 

"No... I didn't know." 

"Well, they're bionic. "

"So what?" I looked up at him.

"So, clearly you're bionic." What was with him? 

"Don't joke around with, I don't find that very funny" 

"I'm not Joking Kaitlyn. The whole reason that thing showed up is because you have a high concentrate of metallic elements in your blood."  His voice had gone back to how it was when we first found each other. "How's your wrist?" I wiggled my fingers to make sure no tendons were torn or damaged.

"It's fine. just a tear in my skin. " I ran my finger over the hole. 

"Then I'll be going." He stood and headed for the door. So I did what I thought was smart and grabbed his wrist.

"Xavey-" Once more he smashed his lips to mine. We stayed like that for a good few seconds, but then he pulled away.

"Sorry... I'lll be off." and Just like that, I was alone. With a sigh, I carried on with my shower.