Selected

Sixteenth

Vox sat down on the bed, he wasn't crying, he wasn't doing anything. He just sat and stared off into space. I wasn't even sure if he was breathing. He had shut the door on Hal and walked over and just sat without anymore words. I didn't know what to do. The only person I had known to die was my grandparents, but I was young. Just a child. This was a different situation all together.

Should I move over and touch him? Should I ask if he is okay? Of course he isn't okay, his ex-girlfriend is dead. I just felt awkward where I was and decided to move closer. I now sat cross legged on the bed facing Vox's side. He didn't stir, didn't even notice my movement. I decided to try to cox him out of his trance. "Vox?"

He blinked a few times, maybe shaking a memory. He sighed and ran his fingers through his hair. "Sorry."

I shook my head and placed a hand on his arm, "No, I'm sorry. I know you were close with her."

He frowned, "Used to be anyways."

"Do you need anything from me? Is there something I can do?"

He turned and looked at me, "No. Thanks, though. I think I'm just going to go to sleep. " He sighed and ran his fingers through his hair again. I looked over at the clock, it was only nine. I wasn't tired at all.

"Okay, I think I will go back to my room so I can read."

His eyes shifted from empty to desperation. "What, why?"

"You're going to go to sleep. I figured you wanted to be alone."
He shook his head and pulled me into his lap, "I don't want you to ever leave." I smiled at this sentiment. "You can read in bed, whatever you want, just as long as you stay."

Vox leaned and put his forehead to my shoulder. I wrapped my arms around his neck. We stayed like that for a long time. He did'nt start breaking down, he didn't start crying, he didn't even talk. He just sat there. I knew he hadn't fallen asleep because he would sigh from time to time.

Eventually he lifted his head and ran his fingers through his hair. "I think I'm going to take a shower."

I nodded. "Okay." I got up so he could stand and make his way to the bathroom. But he didn't. He sat there for a few minutes.

"Are you going to get up?"

He looked up at me from his trance. "Yeah, right." He stood and ran his fingers through his hair. I knew it was a habit when he was stressed, but at this rate he was going to be bald for the wedding. He closed the bathroom door and started the water.

I sat back where I was earlier and grabbed my book off the nightstand. I flipped to the page I was on and started to read again. I guess it's not considered reading if you actually don't take the information in. My mind was reeling with the information Hal had presented. Felicity was dead. Not just dead, but they were investigating it as if it was a murder.

Where did he say she was? Sector 15? I couldn't remember now and would have to ask Vox later. I shook the thoughts away and focused on Dr. Jekyll. After a while, I realized that the water was still running. I looked up at the clock. Vox had been in the shower for 45 minutes. I frowned and closed my book before getting up off the bed and knocking on the door.

"Vox?"

There was a pause before he answered, "Yeah?" His voice was low and distant.

"Are you alright in there?" I rested my hand on the knob.

"Yeah, I'm fine." The water turned off. There was movement on the other side of the door before it opened. Vox stood in front of me, door in one hand dirty clothes in the other. His hair was a dark from the water.