Cole and Lili

Fun in the Sun

Lili

I wake up and my whole face is pounding with pain. The events of yesturday fill my mind and I am suddenly hyperventilating and I can't see because it's still dark.

I need air.
I quickly get out of my sleeping bag, careful not to wake anyone up. I go to the bathroom and fill a cup with some nice cold water. I look up in the mirror and do not see a face that I know. My eyes are dark, my nose is taped up, and my whole face is swelled.
I need air. Now. Seeing my face like this is just another reminder and confirmation of what happened yesturday. Was the person's aim to kill me? To just steel my purse? Was it just random or directed at me?

All of these thoughts swirl in my mind as I step out into the cool night air. My face instantly feels better and I swallow the aspirin I grabbed. The doctor in the ER told me I had a concussion and should take it easy for a while. I know I should probably tell everyone but I don't want them to feel like they need to protect me like they did yesturday. I know thats why they stayed here tonight. I am beyond grateful for their kindness, but I don't want to need to be protected. I don't want them to feel like they need to protect me. That's why I'm not going to tell them.
I sit down on the steps and try to gather my thoughts. Suddenly a hand touches my shoulder and I nearly jump out of my skin. I turn around quickly and my whole body relaxes and feels safe again when I see Cole's face. I let out a breath I didn't know I was holding.

"Oh. Hey babe, you scared me."

His face was full of concern.
"Yah I noticed," He sits down beside me. "What are you doing out here?"

"I couldn't sleep." I wasn't going to tell him that I nearly had a panic attack from seeing my face.

"That's understandable. It's kind of chilly out here." he says with a chill.

"I think it feels amazing." I say, lifting ny head up against the wind. It feels fantastic on my burning face, but I think the aspirin is also helping out now too.

"Lili I know you probably don't want to hear this, but it's okay to not act tough all the time. You can talk to me."

Damn. He was on to me. He knew that I was hiding things. Somehow, he just read me like a book. I suddenly felt tears coming down my face and before I knew it I was sobbing and I was leaning on Coles shoulder, his arms wrapped tightly around me.

I let everything I was holding in, out. I cried because I was scared that my attack wasn't random. I cried because the attack happened. I cried because I was sorry for hiding things. I cried because my face looked like a fruit.

I cried for what seemed Like hours and Cole never said a word. He just kept his arms around me and was quite.

After I could breath properly again I told Cole everything. I told him I was scared and that maybe a bodyguard wasn't a bad idea. I told him I had a concussion. I told him that I didn't want any of them to treat me any differently.
When I was finally done talking I was out of breath. Cole looked at me and I swear I almost started crying again because I could actually see the love in his eyes.
"Cole?" I say because I don't know what else to say. He hasn't said anything in so long. Does he think I'm an idiot and weak for crying like a baby in front if him like that?
No. He would never think anything as mean as that.

He reaches towards me and rubs the now drying tears off my face. I think he must be speechless.
"Do you think I'm a complete idiot?" I ask.

He looks shocked. "Lili I would never think that. I haven't said anything because I'm just trying to wrap my head around how beautiful and strong you are. You layed everything out on the table just now." He cups my face with his hands, ever so gently. "Do you know how amazing you are? I would never have been able to just speak everything that's in my mind out loud like that. I know that's not a thing you usually do and that's what makes it even more amazing. It shows me just how much you trust me."