Save Me

Chapter 19: Calm After the Storm

Erika
The sound of the Marimba alarm woke me up from my sleep. I slowly peeled open my eyes to see the rising sun through my curtains. I groaned at the annoying sound and covered my eyes with my pillow from the blinding sun. I snoozed the alarm and shifted away from the window and threw the pillow away from my face.

"Ow, what the hell, Ricky?"

I opened my eyes quickly after that.

Never in my life would I have thought I would see Lucas Perry laying right next to me, in my bed, sleeping.

His eyes were closed and he held a pillow, facing me. He moved the pillow I accidentally threw at him further down the bed and nestled to go back to sleep. I just stared at him, not even believing what was happened.

What the hell happened last night?

Lucas was still again, and I saw him go back to sleep. His eyebrows were furrowed and he has a resting angry look on his face. His mouth was curved down in a deep scowl. I knew he wasn't angry and that it was just the face he slept with. I remember when I saw him sleeping when I took care of him after he got drunk and he had the same angry expression on his face. I wonder what he dreams of, why he always looks so angry. He doesn't necessarily shake that expression off when he's awake either.

I got out of my bed slowly careful not to wake him up. I was still wearing the dress from yesterday so I decided it would be a good idea to shower and change before I went back to the hospital. I opted for more comfortable clothes this time with some loose sweatpants and a loose shirt. I found a pair of sweatpants I've had for a long time and a random shirt I found.

When I started to shower, I couldn't help but think about how much has happened in the last 24 hours. I had a surprise birthday breakfast and birthday party, Lucas and I are going to try a relationship, my dad is in the hospital.

My life will forever be a soap opera.

Wait, my dad is in the hospital.

In my head, everything after the party replayed in my head. The arrival, seeing my dad, the attack, Lucas and I in the bathroom, Isobel, August. And everything thereon after.

No one, in my entire life, was ever supposed to see me break down like that. I always make sure that it happens when I'm alone, in the safety of my room. Over the years I've become so used to hiding and so good at keeping on the mask, I've never thought someone could see and break through that perfectly constructed mask. I was okay with him seeing me panic because others already have and he knew I did. No one was ever supposed to see the aftermath later. I would have never expected someone to chip away the mask that I spent time practicing and maintaining like it's another accessory. And for Lucas to break through that in less than a minute, that shakes me.

Whether the fact that he sees through me so easily is something that scares me or something I'm thankful for, I'm not sure.

I thought about us at 2am, texting each other in the same room. He wanted to help me and I'm so grateful.

Luke took the phone out of my hand and put his arms around my shoulders. At first it was weird to me because usually no one was around when I cried in the middle of the night like this. He always comforts me but I'm afraid of the day where he finally gets fed up with my hyper-emotional self.

Right now, I'm just glad that he's here. And while he is, I'm not letting him go.

I turned in his arm and rested my head in his chest and put my hands on his shoulders, settling myself on his lap. Luke put his hands on my waist as I continued to cry. I buried my face in his shoulder and fisted his shirt in my hands. I felt bad immediately for wetting and ruining his only shirt.