Heart Condition

Chapter Fourteen: Fun Friday

I woke to movement on the left side of my bed.

            Sasha nudged my arm, “We have to get up. I have no logical explanation for why, but there’s this thing called school and I’m fairly certain your parents will murder me if they catch me in here.”

            “Five more minutes.” I whispered, and burrowed further into the little home I’d created out of pillows.

            He scoffed, his hand tickling my side “It’s no wonder you’re always late.” He pounced on me, his long fingers trailing across my arms.

            I twisted and yelped, “You useless paperclip!”

            “Aha!” He laughed, “You are no longer the dominant sneak-attacker.”

            My blankets were burying us, Sasha still wearing the same t-shirt he was in last night. I blinked, thinking back; it was cold on my floor. I didn’t have an extra blanket to give Sasha, so I told him to take my comforter. And I think there was an argument…

            I looked at him, his large brown eyes reminding me all about my outburst of tears. I sat up, “Did I threaten you last night?”

            He smiled, “You mean the part where if I didn’t get in your bed, you’d pelt me with books?” He looked up at my bookshelf, “I only complied because it was cold down there; and you have a lot of hardcovers. I didn’t want to suffer terminal brain damage.”

            “And I would have, too.” I assured, pulling my pillow against me. I had zero motivation for school, but I was not about to cut class. Even if it was cloudy, and there was a slim chance that I’d learn anything, I was better off going to math class than skipping.

            Sasha sighed, “In all seriousness, getting me out through the second-story window could catch the notice of your neighbors. Or your parents, more like.”

            I shook my head, “Nope. They’re probably gone; Mom goes to work first thing in the morning, and Daniel’s almost never home anyway, so I’m fairly certain you’re clear.”

            He narrowed his eyes, rolling out of my bed and walking toward the bathroom “Well, I’m going to shower, and I am going to steal all of whatever it is that makes you smell so delicious.”

            I threw my pillow at him, hissing “I will eat you for breakfast! Stay out of my autumn apple soap!”

            His eyes widened as he closed the door slowly.

            When he walked out, I was staring at my clothes I’d laid out on my bed; should I wear pants or long skirt?

            Up he came, and I forced myself to ignore the fact that all he was wearing were jeans. Reaching down, he pulled at one of my sundresses I’d worn for a baby shower my mom and I went to for one of her coworkers back in April. It was yellow, and my mother had told me it brought out my freckles. But it also showed part of my scar.

            “That’s pretty.” He said, not thinking about it. I stared at it, thinking about how short it was, and how cold it was outside.

            I nodded, “It seems too spring-y.”

            He picked it up, “So? Wear it anyway.”

            “Sash, no.” I reached for it, but he pulled away. He walked over to the bathroom door, hanging it off the handle.

            “You’re going to wear it today.” He demanded, “I am making it happen. Besides,” He turned to me, his smile bright “How can you not have the most fantastic day ever, wearing that?”