Basketcase

Interference

Chapter Fifteen

His eyebrows furrowed deeply; the crinkle in his forehead lining definably. "Morning," I yawned, wincing slight as a foot slipped over my stomach. Marissa grew silent, turning to face the opposing wall. Another yawn came over me and I rubbed my crisping eyes. Flexing my gut, I raised my back and sat flatly, glaring dazedly at the blond boy observing our situation.

"Morning," Marissa peeped weakly.

I crushed my eyes shut and widely opened them waterly staring absently, "Getting Marissa out of bed," I informed, a nudged kick hitting a favouring a spot on my back, softening it to raw flesh. My back winced inwards slightly as I zipped back to view Marissa's pink, flustering cheeks.

"Alright," he replied fidgetly holding his fingers, "Um..." he began, shifting an arm over his shoulder and scratching the back of his neck, "I kind of need to get somethin'," he said, cracking an awkward smile with his teeth.

"Sure," I shrugged, dragging over my body to the left to let him pass. He began his walk, silently avoiding eye contact with his hand still stuck in his hair.

Marissa remained in stone and I grabbed the back of her ankle, urging it forward. She tumbled slightly within my grip, tripping over air back, but caught within the falling process. His arms hooked beneath her shoulders, balancing her on an angle with her leant in his chest. Her head tilted back, gazing toward her saviour, yelping, almost instantly, retreating to her own two feet and perched herself up against the wall. "Thanks," she said quickly.

"Uh-yeah," he replied, "you're welcome." His arm let down after another slow shuffle of hair and shifted his body past, rummaging in a bed near the side table of the bed. I glanced toward Marissa; silently stilled; fiercely glaring at the wall.

After only a few minutes, the boy left, leaving the room in lingering silence before a disturbing thump arose persistently. The cringing thump, thump, thump striking irritation, my neck strickened toward the annoyance. Marissa's head inched away from the wall, glaring plainly ahead and nodded against the blue. Staring, I lifted myself, straightly standing beside her observing her head interaction before placing my hand on the wall where her head hit, supplying a cushion to her skull. Her head hit my knuckles twice and froze; her eyes closed smoothly and opened staring the same place blankly and in silence.

Her lips parted; blowing a silent breath; "That was hard," she admitted, blinking consciously and inhaling air into her lungs, "Containing yourself is hard," she said leaning back from my hand.