Seethe: First Draft

Seethe: Chapter 6

Chapter 6

"You look like hell."

I look up at Thomas as I realize I'm no longer alone in Xavier's office. My eyes dart behind Thomas to make sure he's alone. I don't think I could handle Xavier right now. Whatever it is he does to me and my control is exhausting enough, without whatever this is.

They'd eventually gotten bored of me not responding and left. When I was certain they were gone, I'd wrapped myself in a blanket and ran to the pack house. It took me a while to decide on the safest place to go to avoid everyone. I'd realized that everyone avoided the side of the house where Xavier's office is. Even at times when he isn't in his office, they avoid it.

I'd gotten lucky and had decided to come here while Xavier had gone home to bed. Not a night that he spent sleeping in his office, thankfully.

"Lorelai."

I blink rapidly, startled by Thomas saying my name. He drops to a crouch in front of me, concern etched all across his face. "Is everything okay?"

I shake my head but stay quiet.

His jaw clenches. "What happened?"

I shake my head a little more vigorously.

He sighs. "Just tell me."

I give a little laugh. "It doesn't matter."

He raises an eyebrow. "Does it bother you?"

I open my mouth to respond but nothing comes out when he shoots me a look that says I better not lie.

He clenches his jaw again. "What happened?"

He maintains the same look on his face as I tell my story to him, his face seems to almost turn to stone once I get to the end. He stands abruptly once I finish. "We have to go Xavier with this. It's not okay."

I grip his hand tightly and suddenly as he starts to turn. He pauses, staring down at me.

I swallow, suddenly finding it hard to meet his eyes. "Don't. It won't do anything, they'll still do it. He told them to leave me alone when I got here. This doesn't really feel like being left alone."

"That's why I-"

I shake my head. "He's got bigger things to worry about."

Thomas' jaw clenches so tightly, I'm worried he's going to crush all of his teeth. "Fine. But if this happens again, I'm not staying quiet."

I nod in agreement as I release his hand. He drops down onto the couch beside me.

"How long have you been in here?"

I look up at the doorway when I realize the question hadn't come from Thomas. I look from Xavier standing in the doorway to the rest of the room as I try to locate a clock. When I don't find one, I shrug in response, tightening the blanket around me.

I'm about to respond when a yawn wracks my entire body.

When I focus back on Xavier, he's got that concerned look on his face, but there's something else behind it as he looks between me and Thomas on the couch. Something in the way his jaw tenses that doesn't quite match the calm he's trying to project.

I blink tiredly up at him, trying to decide if I want to pretend I can't read what he's really feeling. I can feel another yawn building but I try to push it down. My voice gives away how tired I am when I answer Xavier.

"I'm not sure. Thomas got here not too long before you did." The yawn I'd been trying to hold back slips out now and it hits me so hard that I start to lean slightly to the side. "Did you want us to go?"