WHIPPED [Sprousehart]

seven

"Morning," I said cheerfully.

Cole squinted his eyes at the soft luminescence of the light. He sat at the edge of my bed, glancing at the surroundings. "How long was I asleep?" He murmured, rubbing his eyebrows. "How did I get here?"

"Twelve hours. Casey picked you up and brought you here." I put a hand on my waist. "And you lied! Kj wasn't with you!"

He groaned. "And this is why I didn't tell you, Reinhart. You always overreact."

I scowled. ".. Whatever."

He snorted. "Lili Reinhart surrendering? I actually won."

"Cole. Just shut up."

I slid the white draperies open from the window, light coming intensely and brightly. "Rise and shine," I grinned.

"Lili!"

"Get up!"

"Give me a break," He said, slumping back to the comforter.

I set the plate of sandwiches and a glass of water at the nightstand. "What's this for?"

"Breakfast, you idiot."

He smiled. "So you're babysitting me now?"

I shrugged. "That's what friends are for."

He smiled exultantly. I looked at him and saw that there were dark circles under his eyes, the tiredness that were always there but was never acknowledged.

"So, how are you feeling?" I asked nonchalantly.

"Never been better," He mumbled, taking a bite of his sandwich.

"You sure?" I asked. "You could always tell me if something weird is going on ..."

"I had a bad dream last night," Cole said after taking a drink.

"What was I wearing?" I joked.

"Sorry to disappoint you but you weren't there," He put the glass down. "I was dying. Didn't think I'd wake up and spot you here—right in front of me."

He looked at me. "Last night, I remember calling you.."

"Yes you did."

He looked at me, with an expression I am not used to seeing; worry. "And .. did I happen to say ... anything weird about our ... friendship?"

I stiffened. He looked at me as if the answer scared him.
I thought of how I wanted to know.
I want to.
All this time, I've been waiting for the chance to confront him, to know the truth.
And this is it.

The laughs, the fun, the happiness, the friendship – am I willing to risk it all to know? Is it ever going to be the same after this? How much am I willing to risk?

I looked at Cole, at my friend, and I saw his worry, his anxiety, his burden. And in that moment, I knew I couldn't tell him. Not even though I badly wanted to know the truth. I wouldn't be selfish.

I smiled. "No, not at all."