You and Me

Chapter 12: When The World Goes Black

Lori’s POV

Everything was perfect.  I couldn’t help but sigh as I lay in bed, thinking about how dramatically my life had changed.  Just three months ago, I was living in California with my dad.  Now, here I was—living in Atlanta with my awesome aunt.  I had an amazing boyfriend, a hilarious best friend in Zac, and even a big brother in Will.  It’s strange how I had to lose everything in order for this to happen. 

Life is weird that way.

I was still half-asleep when I heard the door softly creak open.  The mattress dipped slightly, and I couldn’t help but smile as his lips pressed lightly on my forehead.  Normally, Aunt Cynthia made him wait in the kitchen till I was ready, but I guess he slipped passed unnoticed this morning. 

“’Morning, baby.  Time to get up,” said his angelic voice.  I breathed in his scent and pulled him closer to me.  I slowly opened my eyes and looked into his gorgeous ones.  Lit up with amusement, his blue eyes were mesmerizing, making me melt inside.  I had no doubt that if I had been standing up, I would have fallen instantly.

Fallen.

And for him, I had.  I loved Wes.  I was sure of it.  Though the words had yet to be uttered by my lips.  And just as I thought the word, his eyes fluttered to my lips and back again.  He was going to kiss me.  Oh, how I loved his kisses.  Right when he was about to lower his mouth unto mine, I realized something.

Morning breath.  Bed head. I’d just woken up!  I made a split second decision and pushed my boyfriend lightly so that I could escape to my bathroom.  I could hear Wes chuckle as I locked the bathroom door with relief. 

I brushed my teeth and ran a comb through my hair faster than humanly possible.  I returned to my bedroom, where my boyfriend was lounging on the bed.

“Finally,” he whispered as I crawled in bed next to him.  He wrapped his arms around my waist as he hovered over me.  “Now, where were we?” he asked as he closed the distance between us.

He lightly touched his lips to mine before pulling back and pouting, “You seemed like you couldn’t get away fast enough from me earlier. 

“Only cuz I looked super hideous.  You wouldn’t have wanted to kiss that.  Ugh,” I responded, kissing his jaw.  He continued to pout as I placed a trail of kisses on the side of his face.  “C’mon, Wes, it’s not that big of a deal,” I reasoned. 

He blew out a breath and said, “It is though.  I love you.  All of you.  You don’t have to hide that from me.  I’ll start singing John Legend if it’ll make you believe me.”  The intensity of the moment wasn’t lessened by his joking attitude at the end.  This wasn’t the first time Wes had said he loved me.  It was the fourth, actually, but who’s counting? 

I couldn’t say it back just yet.  A small part of my heart was still a bit wary of loving.  Love makes you vulnerable to hurt, and I didn’t want that.  But Wes said he was content with just me knowing.  And I loved him for that. 

A light blush covered my cheeks under his intense gaze.  I smiled at this wonderful man in front of me.  Was it possible that someone could be this perfect? 

His words broke me out of my reverie.  “You’re so cute, Lori. “

“Thanks. Now, kiss me,” I replied, boldly.  I pulled him close to me, hungry for his kiss.  He conceded and kissed me thoroughly for a few minutes before pulling away again.  I groaned, and he laughed quietly at my response. 

“I’d better get back to the kitchen before Cynthia notices I’m gone.  See you in a bit, love,” he said to me as he got up and exited my room.  I smiled to myself at his endearment after he left; Wes had started calling me that recently, and every time, it got such an embarrassing reaction out of me.  My heart would start pounding in my chest and a blush would spread across my cheeks.  I was thankful that he wasn’t here to see it this time.

I sprung from my bed and went into the bathroom once more.  I took a quick shower, wrapped a towel around my body, and made my way to my closet.  I picked out dark skinny jeans, paired with a flowery top.  After hurriedly throwing my clothes on, I coated some mascara on my lashes checked myself out in the mirror.  There.  I looked good, if I may say so myself.  I slipped my feet into some flip flops and bounded out the door. 

I followed the laughter to the kitchen, where my entire family was seated.  Will was making pancakes as Aunt Cynthia was filling glasses of orange juice.  Wes and Zac were seated at the table, talking, when I entered.  They all turned to greet me as I took my usual seat at the table, next to Wes.

“How’d you sleep?” Zac asked, waggling his eyebrows at me.  I guess he knew that Wes came to wake me this morning. 

I tried my best to keep a straight face and answered with a simple, “Fine.” 

“You’re late this morning.  Hard time getting up?” he persisted.

“Yeah, I had a lazy start,” I answered, vaguely.

“If I didn’t know any better, I would think you were busy this morning,” Zac teased.  I instantly flushed red.  Zac, who seemed pleased at his results, deliberated for a moment—probably thinking whether he should continue teasing me or not—and turned back to Wes.

I poured syrup absentmindedly over my pancakes as Wes and Zac continued their earlier conversation that my entrance had interrupted.

“So, when did registration open for you yesterday?” Zac was asking Wes.  It was Wes’s reaction that caught my eye.  He was scratching the back of his head while not making eye contact with Zac.

“Uhh…four pm yesterday,” he answered.  Zac nodded and proceeded to ask another question.

“And did you get all the classes you wanted?”

“Umm…yeah.”  Wes was acting weird.  He was normally eloquent in speech.  Why was he acting this way?

“Which professor are you taking for Physics?

“Well…I…uhh…don’t really remember.”  Wes was playing with his fork, not looking at Zac at all.  Huh.  Zac may have been oblivious to Wes’s odd behavior, but I wasn’t.  Wes was hiding something.  Why else would he be lying to Zac?  And his body language made it clear that he was lying. 

“So, do you wanna walk together tomorrow?  Since it is the first day and all.” 

I was about to interrupt their conversation to question Wes when he responded, “Can’t.  Tomorrow is Lori’s first day, too.  So, I was going to walk her to school.”  He sent a smile in my direction.

That’s when his words registered in my brain, completely changing my train of thought.

Tomorrow was the first day of school.

Horror washed through my body and my heart started pounding.  School.  What if someone asks me about my parents?  What if they recognize my name?  What if they treat me weird?  And what if…what if they knew what happened?

It was a huge story.  It had been covered nationally.  Someone at my new school had to have seen a news report or read an article.  And that someone would know the truth.  I couldn’t go to school.  I just couldn’t. 

My breath hitched in my throat as I conjured up various scenarios.  I started hyperventilating.  I can’t go to school.  I can’t go to school. 

“Lori, you okay?” Zac and Will said, together.

“What’s wrong?” Aunt Cynthia and Wes asked simultaneously.

“Umm…I’m fine,” I answered as I stood up.  I was going to be sick, and they didn’t need to witness that.  I could feel the vomit rising in my throat, so I ran to my room.

At least, I tried to run.  I tripped over the chair I had been sitting in and banged my head on the table.  I watched the floor come closer as I lost consciousness.

The last thing I remember is strong arms catching me before I hit the ground.

And then, the world went black.

Ooooh…a mysterious chapter.  I hope you liked it!!

(Cynthia and Will:))

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