Happy Endings Don't Exist...Do They?

Chapter 9: My Unwilling Vow of Silence

The next morning my throat still burns, and my legs are sore from kneeling for so long. But honestly my throat pain kind-of overshadows my sore legs. Sitting in classes this morning was terrible. I had to keep drinking water to try and stop the burn, which made me need to use the bathroom a lot. I also had the added mission? job? effort? resolve? Let's go with resolve, to try and avoid my body guards. This was made easier by my almost constant bathroom breaks I would just time my trips to the bathroom at the end of class. 

Its lunchtime and I have been doing a good job avoiding as I have yet to see Micah or his group (outside of first period of course). Knowing that someone is probably waiting for me in the library, I decide to go somewhere else for the lunch period. I am walking to the auditorium, they have nice chairs and little side table things so I can work, plus it quiet, when I get a little dizzy. I lean against the lockers in the hallway and wait for it to pass, which doesn't take long, before I'm carrying on.

I sit down in the last row, thinking why I could be light headed. I think back over the past couple of days. One...two...three...Crap. I haven't eaten anything in three days. (Not counting bits and pieces nabbed from food prep.) Crap. I'm screwed. Plus I can't talk still. I'm really screwed. My father, in order for me be 'allowed' to eat, either at home or be given money for food at school, needs reasons (that's with an s, as in plural) for why/what I have done to deserve the privilege of eating. And no, 'I need food or I am going to pass out' does not count. Usually he gives me money so I can eat at school so people don't get suspicious but he hasn't done that in a while and I ran out earlier in the week. 

Internally debating whether it would be better to sneak food and take the beating if he finds out or plead my case, I don't notice the person sitting next to me until they speak. "What are you doing?" Ahh!!! I internally scream, and jump in my seat (just a little). Crap, no wait that has already been said today... Double Crap. Micah Wade in the flesh and sitting next to me...in the auditorium...which I don't usually go to...is he stalking me? More than a little freaked out by his sudden appearance I start to stand up, which causes another dizzy spell so I promptly plop back down into the chair. 

"What are doing here?" Micah starts. Me? What are you doing here? I say in my head. Micah is staring at me, waiting for me to talk. I start digging in my bag for a scrap piece of paper and a pen. Micah grabs my wrist and I freeze. My heart starts to take off in my chest, my breathing starts to get choppy, I struggle to get both under control. He let's go of me putting his hands up palms facing forward in surrender. 

Getting the paper and pen out, I write 'I was going to try to take a nap this is the best place for it.' Micah looks bewildered as he reads what I wrote. "What's wrong? Why are you writing? Why do you need a nap? You should eat." He rattles off, one right after the other. 'Holy crap. Chill. I have a sore throat. Think I am getting sick. Which is why I want to sleep, the thought of eating anything makes me want to barf.' I write to him. Surprising myself I find everything I wrote, all of it true. 

Micah clinches his jaw as he reads, his hands clenching and unclenching like he is trying to calm down. Once he finishes reading I grab the paper back and write my own question, 'How did you find me?' Micah rubs his jaw before replying "I was waiting for you outside the library when I saw you come this way so I followed." 

He is stalking me. 

Huh.

I don't know how to feel about that. Deciding it was too much work to figure out at this point, I ignored it and him, got settled, closed my eyes and drifted off to sleep.

MICAH POV

I watch as Aryn's breathing evened out as she fell asleep. I rubbed my jaw trying to work out the mystery that is my mate. This is the third day that she has done something during lunch besides eating. She is already too skinny to be skipping meals. I wonder if she cannot afford to eat and that is why she isn't eating. I should bring food for her tomorrow to make sure she eats. 

The sore throat thing worries me, I hope she doesn't get sick and have to miss school again. When she didn't come to school on Monday I just about lost my mind thinking something happened to her. That she was hit by a car or tripped on a curb falling head first into a ditch. I know it was unreasonable and almost improbable but like I said I was freaking out. Then, she showed up Tuesday acting like she didn't miss the day before and once again not acknowledging me or my worry...well let's just say I wanted to tear my hair out. 

Just getting her to talk to me is like pulling teeth, I don't understand it or her fear that I see in her eyes sometimes when she talks to me. The way she sometimes backs away from me makes me think someone she trusted hurt her.  I am doing everything in my power to get her to trust me, to let me in. To protect her. 

Rrriiinnnggg.

The bell rings, jerking Aryn from her nap. I watch as she grabs her stuff and leaves without a backwards glance to me. I growl lowly at this as I follow behind her making sure she gets to her next class okay before going to mine. I promise you Aryn I will protect you if you would just let me.