It Occurred To Me In A Dream...Tournament Of The Elements

Chapter 5

Chapter 5

            After Ace and James had shown me around the place, Ace had offered his bed to me. I felt bad invading his home and taking his bed, but it was much better than James’ insisting for me to sleep with him in his bed. With James sulking alone on his bed, Ace then offered his double bed to me. I asked where he would be sleeping and he told me not to worry about it. I kindly accepted, refraining from asking any questions about his sleeping arrangements.

            “Thank you, Ace…” I expressed my gratitude and he moved towards me, an outstretched hand holding my face. My eyes meet his and I notice the soft, warm expression shrouding his gaze.

            “You’re welcome, if there’s anything else, you need just ask me.” He looked over at his brother who was fast asleep in his own bed, warm and serene. “I wouldn’t wake him, he gets a little…unstable when he’s awoken from his sleep. Alright, will you be okay in here? You need nothing else?”  He peered closer into my face, his hand warm on my cheek.

            I slightly leaned into his palm and responded in a whisper. “Yah, I think I’ll be okay. Thank you again Ace, for everything up until now. I really mean it…” I hadn’t noticed, but my mouth had formed into a soft smile and my hand found its way to his, enveloped in warmth. My eyes had narrowed under the comfort and trust he had given me lately. I look into his and noticed he no longer had a soft look, but a one almost of pain glazed over his entire face as he stared down at me. I wondered why that was and why I was so pained over it.

            “…” He returned his hand to his side, nodded faintly, and found his way out of the room, closing the door softly behind him.

‘Why did I do that?’ I thought to myself, lying in bed surrounded by darkness and silence. ‘Why would I let him do that? Why would I say those things so freely? I was just tired…right?’ The thoughts wouldn’t escape from my mind and I sat up, my head aching. I need to find Ace and ask if he had any pain relievers somewhere in this place. I find my way out of the bad in the dark, my arms out in front of me to find my surroundings. Every step I took, my feet searched the floor for anything that might stub my toes or possibly send my flying.

 ‘At this rate I won’t get anywhere, I have to wake James and ask him. I know Ace told me specifically to not wake him, but I have no other choice unless I want to spend all night with a throbbing head.’  I try to make my way over to James, scuffing my feet across the floor. My hands fall on a soft material. Upon further inspection, I realized it was a thick cotton comforter. ‘This must be James’ bed…’ I pat my hands up and down the blanket when they fall on a lump under the sheets. ‘James!’ My hands head further up the body and finally reach his face.

“James…James, wake up.” I whisper quietly while my hands shake his shoulders lightly. I feel his body shift and my hands fly up to my face in defense. ‘I don’t know what Ace meant by unstable, but I’ll found out soon…’ After waiting for a few seconds, I shake him again with added force. “James!” I shout in a whisper and receive another slight movement; only a quiet moan escapes his lips. “Are you up?” I wait for a reply and receive nothing. In response, I shake him for the third time with impatience. “Get up!” My voice rises with my frustration and he rolls towards me, grunting.

“…What do you want?” A tired tone echoes from his mouth when it sounded as if he propped his head on one hand, lying sideways. “Well?”

“I was wondering if you have any pain killers? I have a major-”

“Let me guess…Ace went too hard on you? He tends to get carried away…” His voice was filled with boredom.

“W-what?! N-no! I was saying I have a major headache!” I Flush immediately.