Protected

Sleep Talking

The next morning was Sunday. I knew Riley and Farkle would sleep late, but I barely slept at all. I needed to talk to Lucas. It was one a.m. But I had to talk to him. I peeked out my blinds, but I didn't see anything. His window was open, but he wasn't sitting by it.

In a split second I'll-regret-this-later decision, I threw open my window and jumped into Lucas's room.

It was dark, but light enough that I could see everything. The floor was still covered in laundry. When I turned around, Lucas was laying in the bed, curled up in a Lucas-shaped crater in the mattress. He looked so peaceful, lying there. None of the intense emotions dominated his face, so he looked years younger. His hair stuck up in crazy directions, but he was still ridiculously handsome.

Snap out of it, Maya! It's creepy to watch someone sleep!

I crept across the room, debating how best to wake him.

"Maya," he said, not opening his eyes.

"Sorry, I just-" I started to say, but he cut me off,

"Maya," he said again, "Maya," he snored and rolled over.

He was still asleep.

He was saying my name in his sleep.

I crossed the room quickly. I couldn't handle it. Any of it.

"Lucas!" I whisper-yelled, "Lucas!"

I poked his arm, and he woke up with a start. His eyes were bleary, and he ran his hand through his hair.

"What time is- WHAT THE HELL ARE YOU DOING IN MY ROOM?" he shouted.

I jumped on him and clapped my hand over his mouth.

"Shut up, Lucas, you're going to wake people up!" I said.

He seemed to have regained his cool, "Don't worry about it. I'm home alone. What are you doing here?"

"I needed to talk to you." I said, chewing on my lip.

"I would ask you about what, but I'm pretty sure I know," he said, staring down at his hands.

"What is morphing, anyway?" I asked.

He sighed, "It's when you connect with someone so totally that their pain is your pain. It's a wolf thing- with the protection and the loyalty instincts. No matter what, you are my top priority in everything. All I want to do is keep you safe and make you happy," he blushed, "I, biologically, care about you more than anything else in the world."

I felt all the blood rush to my face. 

"Why me, though?" I asked.

He shrugged, "No one knows."

"And... Smackle?" I asked timidly.

He buried his head in his hands, so the words were muffled, "We've been dating for six months. I always felt like she wasn't the one for me. But... I mean, nothing totally horrible went on in the relationship. I had no real reason to end it."

I stared at my hands shamefully, "And now I'm your reason."

"Don't feel bad," he said quickly, "Breaking up with her was inevitable. You just made me do it sooner."

"You already did it?" I gasped.

He nodded solemnly, "Yep. Yesterday. When she called me."

I yawned, even though I tried to suppress it.

"You need sleep," he said, but I was already halfway there.

I felt him gather me up in his arms and pull me to his chest. I tried to fight it, but I was already too far asleep.

"Goodnight, Maya," I heard him murmur.