🏁 Tetrology Of The Sea - Book 1: From The Sea 🪼🔨💻 💞 🔮

Fourteen

The next time Travis opened his eyes, he found that there was someone next to him. He blinked a little and looked over to see Shana lying there. He looked around and found that he was in her room, so he must have been in her bed. He tried to move around but a sudden pain kept him from doing so and he gasped. Shana opened her eyes a little and Travis met her eyes.
"Travis."
"What happened?" he said softly.
"Aylin and I were coming back from the movies when we saw something in the road. It didn't occur to me until later that it was you. We drove you back here, got you warm, and have been looking after you."
"Oh..."
"You came down with a fever for a little bit because you were in the rain and all but I have a feeling it's all gone now since you're awake."
Travis nodded and then thought for a moment.
"Am I naked?"
"Yes... Your clothes were soaked all the way through and I didn't see anything but you needed them to get off so that you could get warm."
"Oh... Why are you here?"
"Aylin kicked me out of his bed and I don't like sleeping on the couch. I figured that this is my room and I know what to and not to do to the incapacitated. I'm just sleeping in my bed, you just happen to be in it."
Travis couldn't deny that but he really wished he could have his boxers back for vanity's sake.
"I'm sorry I intruded."
"Huh? Why would you be? You were beaten up pretty bad on the edge of the road. We brought you here ourselves..."
"Even Aylin?"
"Yes, even him."
"What I heard the other day..."
"Oh, you mean his strange stutter?"
"Yeah."
"It started when he was ten and he got really nervous one time about something. Kept saying the word and then somehow he couldn't stop. It scared him really bad and he freaked out. I'm the only one who knows about it and I figured out that if he tried to work with his numbers or ABC's then he could get his mind back on track."
"What causes it?"
"Emotions. It's like his mind goes before his mouth can catch up and because it's so far into the conversation, his mouth lags and he begins to repeat the word until his brain stops and backtracks or something. Aylin described it kind of like that and then he said until his brain backs completely up to where he had said the word in the first place, no matter what he tries to say, his mouth automatically says that word. The counting and stuff helps though and he hasn't had a spout in years. He's been agitated for a while for some reason and dealing with you kind of set him off."
Travis nodded and hissed at the pain in his side.
"Travis, did you see who did this to you?"
"No... I didn't recognize any of the voices. I was walking home, since my car is out of commission for a little bit, when a bag was slipped over my head and I was beaten on."
Shana nodded and turned onto her back, thinking. She saw Travis looking at her and turned to him.
"What?"
"You're a virgin, right?" he asked.
Shana blanched. "Um, yes!"
"Sorry... it's just, you're the only virgin cheerleader we have, ya know? It's a pretty amazing feat to do that."
"Why are you talking about it?"
"You're in the bed with me and I'm naked. The thought came up on if you've had sex in this bed before?"
"No." she said a little angrily. "My bed is slept in by me alone... and you."
He nodded and sighed, putting his hand to his head.
"My face feels like it's about three times as big as it was."
"It was pretty swollen from the beating. I put the cool rag against your face to help keep it down but it still looks a little rough... You're going to have some huge bruises for a while I'm afraid."
"Nothing new..." he said, trying to sit up.
Shana sat up and helped him sit up as he leaned against the pillows at his back. He put his head back, panting at the task that shouldn't have been so difficult.
"It feels like my ribs are on fire." He said, with a face at the pain.
"You're very bruised there; looks like they kicked you and stomped you a couple of times. Do they feel broken?"
"No, just really sore. They're probably just bruised."
"Are you hungry? Aylin's sleeping but I can make you breakfast if you like."
"Don't you have school?"
"It's Saturday, silly." She said as she swatted him playfully on the shoulder.
"I've been out of it." He argued.
She smiled and then got out of the bed. She was in a nightie that made her look so cute and innocent and Travis had to keep himself in check.
"I'll go get your clothes and you can meet me downstairs if you can. If you can't then that's fine... I can bring the food up to you."
"I don't think I'll have the strength to get up right now."
"That's okay. I'll bring it up to you."
She flitted off and Travis rolled his eyes, putting his hands over the erection he had gotten. Shana had always been attractive to him but he had vowed to never get aroused by her, for he knew that she was not in his league in the least little bit. He wondered why she was being so nice to him now all a sudden when she had had all that time to defend him and like him.
He sighed and threw his head back again to look up at the ceiling. Nothing was making any sense anymore. First, he gets beaten up by a random pack of guys, next, Aylin has a hidden speech impediment, and now Shana was cooking him breakfast and turning him on all at the same time.
"God this is so confusing." He said to no one.

Shana fixed the tray up and smiled at the arrangement. She had never really made a tray for a guy before (even Craig) and was happy to be of some use in the situation that had presented itself. As she turned to go up the stairs, Aylin was at the entrance of the kitchen.
"Breakfast in bed?" he said with a tired look at her.
"Did you want some?" she asked, setting the tray on the table.
He shook his head. "I've got practice in a few hours."
"More the reason to eat. You'll lose your stamina if you don't eat; you should know that."
He shrugged as he leaned against the wall and watched her pour some orange juice and set it on the tray. As she started going past him, she stopped.
"Are you alright?"
"Just tired. Had another episode last night when I was singing to iTunes. It kept me up all night."
"Why are you suddenly starting up again?"
"I don't know. Maybe it will get worse with age or something. I was kind of stressed over my test yesterday but I found out I aced it and I think the excitement got to me. Then again, like I said, it might just get worse with age."
"You should get some sleep. Skip practice and take a day off."
He yawned and followed her up the stairs. "I might."
He went to his room and she turned to go into her room. She didn't bother to knock and was met with a naked Travis as he stretched.