Stockholm Syndrome

67: You're Cold

67: You're Cold

I gave into the idea of popcorn when I decided I was still too cold to sleep. My skin was still chilled and my mind was screaming because it felt frozen.

I didn't know why I was doing this. I didn't want to eat this. It was so bad. But here I was, voluntarily putting the bag of popcorn into the microwave and waiting for it to finish cooking. I sat in the corner and... didn't cry.

I was going to eat. Voluntarily. And my self-conscience wasn't jumping in to stop me.

 Luke was just finishing wiping the stovetop off when I sat on the counter. He stared at me for a moment but I think he got the feeling I didn't want to talk about what was happening. But I could feel the excitement practically pulsing from his skin.

"Are you going to watch something?" Luke asked, voice too chirpy for nearly eleven at night. I nodded.

"If that's alright."

"Totally. I'll watch with you." He said. "Do you need anything?" He asked over the now constant sound of popping. I shook my head. "Then I'm gonna go wait for you." He decided. As he walked over he pulled out his phone, surfing through it to find a game as he sat down.

I pulled the finished popcorn out of the microwave, letting myself work through the flips in my stomach at the smell. I poured the popcorn into the bowl and sat on the right couch corner, Luke curled into the left. I didn't eat it for a while. It felt wrong. About fifteen minutes into the Supernatural show, I took one piece and chewed very thoroughly before swallowing. This continued probably every five minutes.

I had gotten through about three fourths of the bowl and seven episodes of Supernatural. After that I handed the bowl to Luke for him to finish it off. I gave him a pleading look, praying he wouldn't try to get me to finish it. He just smiled softly and took the bowl, much to my relief. Our fingers touched as he grabbed it.

"You're cold." He told me. I couldn't get rid of the chill from my shower no matter how small a ball I curled into my blanket. I nodded.

Luke motioned me over to his side of the couch. I eyed him skeptically, wondering if he was somehow going to get me in trouble. He just rolled his eyes and kept his arm open. I gave in, curling into his side, falling for the trap. "Your hair is freezing." He told me. Here it was. "You took a cold shower, didn't you?" He asked. I nodded.

He turned back to the TV, content once he had gotten to the conclusion. I stayed close to his side, his arm wrapping around me and curling under the blanket that was pressed tight against me.

Finally, a little bit of warmth sparked in my skin.