Living A Lie

Chapter 13 - Beg For Me

It turns out my arm was a 'perfect' break, which meant the doctor didn't have to set it, just cast it. So I chose hot pink for the cast and Alex made sure he was the first to sign it. I never understood the act of signing casts. Erin signed it next and then sent me on my way home with strict instructions to rest.

We stopped on the way back for some burgers from The Yard, which were phenomenal. Their only downside is they're soo big, and now I was soo full. When Alex made it back to his apartment, I laughed. "You have to carry all the boxes by yourself." He glared at me. "You're lucky I like you." I really was. He was letting me stay with him and carrying all my boxes. I followed him up to the apartment and unpacked my bathroom box as he went to get the rest. He put the rest of my boxes in the living room, as his room had enough boxes in it. When I finished unpacking the essentials we sat on the bed staring at the wall. 

"What do you want to do?" I checked my watch. It was already ten-thirty. "Honestly?" "Yeah, honestly." I looked up at him. "I just want to go to bed. It's been a long day, and it took a lot longer to pack my stuff than I was anticipating. And my arm hurts, and I'm sorry-" "Hey, it's okay, go to bed. I'll sleep on the couch. No big deal." I nodded and watched as he grabbed a pillow and blanket then left.

I took off my clothes and dug through some boxes for a nightgown or a big t-shirt, and I couldn't find anything. I'd have to get dressed and go out to the living room to look, and I was not about to put clothes on again just to look through some boxes. So I carefully opened Alex's closet and stole one of his t-shirts to wear. I put it on and crawled into bed. I relaxed as his scent surrounded me and soon I was asleep.

At some point in the night, I had a nightmare. I was screaming and crying when Alex came in to wake me up. I don't remember what I was dreaming about, but I know I was terrified when I woke up, and I wouldn't let him leave me alone. So he laid next to me, his arms around my waist, fast asleep. I was still waiting for my heart to calm down and the adrenaline to wear off before I fell asleep, so I just watched him sleep.

He looked different when he slept. He usually had a grin or some kind of smirk on his face so to see him relaxed, calm and a straight line for a mouth was weird. He used to sleep with a half smile, and I made fun of him for it all the time. I wonder how long he's been sleeping with a straight face. I fought the urge to play in his hair. It was the longest I'd ever seen it. It hung down past his nose, and he usually pushed it back out of his face, so I didn't realize how long it actually was, but now it hung in his sleeping face. He needed to cut a few inches off; he was starting to look homeless. I smiled to myself. Alex would still be hot if he were homeless.

"What are you smiling about?" He mumbled and I realized his left eye was cracked open. "Oh. I was thinking about you being homeless." Both eyes opened. "Why?" "You look homeless with your long hair and stubble." He yawned and pulled me closer. "I take it you can't sleep, so that's why you've been staring at me for at least the last ten minutes." I froze. He was awake? I hadn't even noticed. He laughed softly. "I'm kidding. I just woke up but now I know you've been staring at me." "I-I was, I was just, Oh, uh, I was thinking about cutting your hair while you slept." I scolded myself for stuttering. "Sure. Close your eyes, Kitten. Try to sleep." I did as I was told. I didn't need any more teasing or I'd start blushing. "You're blushing." "I am not. Besides, even if I were, it's too dark for you to tell." I wasn't falling for his trick again. "Damn. You didn't fall for it." "Go back to sleep Alex." "You first, bossy." After I had closed my eyes, it didn' take long to fall asleep. 

I woke up chained in Alex's arms and hot. Very hot. Sweaty hot. "Alex," I pushed against his chest, but he didn't move. "Alex, I'm hot let go." I pushed again; it didn't do much as I only had one viable arm, but still, I tried. His breath fanned across my face, and surprisingly he didn't have morning breath. "Alex, I'm really hot please wake up." I could feel the sweat on my back and legs. I reached up and plugged his nose and covered his mouth with my palm. Within seconds his eyes flung open and he let me go. "What the hell, Kate? Are you trying to kill me?!" I ignored him and untangled myself from the blankets. "Thank God, freedom." I kicked the rest of the blankets off and laid on my back, eyes closed, with the cool air from the fan blowing over me. "Thank you fan, I love you."