Reece lie in bed, her eyes watching the TV with little interest- her mind had wandered to Cole. She wanted to text him, and at the same time, she didn't have the stomach to. Which, if she put it into focus, was rather ironic. She pushed up her comforter angrily to her face, pouting under them at Rigby and Mordececai being rather juvenile, as usual. Her whole small frame ached painfully, and if she moved her muscles whined in protest. Her medication sucked, she determined as she closed her eyes tiredly. They were lead curtains that closed easily today. The cartoon faded to white noise as she drifted away.
Something soft was between her fingers, as soft as silk and smelled almost musky. She peeked up to see a bear that she was lying on top of, but she was not afraid, though the hooked claws on it could easily tear her to shreds. If she peered closely enough, glowing dots appeared on it's fur she was clutching.
'It's beautiful.'
The voice startled her,and dream-Reece blinked at the young man lying amongst the all-consuming darkness. The golden eyes pierced her through making her feel raw and naked.
'What is?'
'You.' He smiled, and suddenly the night blinked and stars erupted amongst them. The bear she clutched slipped away, startling her, and dissolved into the Ursala Major.
Reece jolted awake, feeling displaced by the sheer oddity of the dream. Her hand grabbed her phone without her permission, and part of her jolted happily seeing a message with Cole's name accompanying it.
how are you today? It asked. It was sent about fifteen minutes ago.
sore :/ wbu? Reece smiled softly at her screen. She rested it on her stomach, squealing a little when it buzzed seconds later.
ask me in person. look out ur window. Was the coy reply, and she jolted out of bed, ignoring her pains as she walked to the window, her breath fogging the glass. Sure enough, a sheepish Cole stood on her lawn, holding a black bag with blue tissue paper blooming from it. Her hands were quick and nimble as she unlatched the window and lifted it.
"What are you doing here?" She called down, not rudely. Cole smiled and scratched the back of his head.
"Checking on you? I mean, I heard all this is kinda painful and you know we're kind of friends right? So I was worried and- I'm rambling." He quickly swallowed his words and smiled shyly.
"Oh. Well, I'm touched." She returned the smile, and her hand met the skin over her heart. "Would you like to come in?" Reece offered. He did come to see her, after all.
"Sure. Let your parents answer the door though," Cole tossed over his shoulder as he moved away from her window to the door. "You look like you need the rest."
She pursed her lips, both touched by his concern and slightly embarassed, her hands flying to her head to check to see if her hair was snarly and knotted, and her heart stopped for a brief second until she remembered what she had done, and her breath left her in a sigh that made her shoulders sag.
"Knock knock." The bass made her spin from the window, and Cole grinned at her from her doorway. "May I come in?"
Her forefinger tapped her chin playfully. "Hmmmm... I guess so." Reece giggled softly. She stumbled a bit getting to her bed, and a warm hand met her stomach.
"Woah there. Easy." He joked softly, letting her sit on the bed before following in suit. His eyes darted to her TV screen and his eyebrows shot up. "Adventure Time?"
"Shut up! I love these shows." She mumbled, peering over his torso to the black bag. "What's that?"
"Huh?" He followed her gaze. "Oh! Yeah, here."
His hands were warm and soft as he handed her the light bag. She pawed through the fragile paper and her hands met a soft, almost silky fabric. As she lifted it, Cole went on.
"I went to the market today, and I saw this and thought of you. Don't know if you like the color, though... What is your favorite color, anyway?"
"I like them all." She said distractedly, her eyes absorbing the beatifully patterned scarf. "Tie it on me!" She burst out excitedly, and he blinked in surprise.
"Now?"
"Yeah!" Reece handed him the fabric, and he wrapped it around her head twice, saying nothing. His hands were warm, she mused quietly as he tied it at the base of her skull, his careful fingers barely tickling her neck.
"Okay. All done." His voice was close, and she turned to look at him.
"How does it look?" She asked sincerely. His tawny eyes gazed at her face, then drifted to the scarf before falling back to the delicate features of her face. She was suddenly reminded of that raw, naked feeling that had stripped her in her dream, and she almost quivered. His eyes softened and warmed her insides like she had just drank hot soup after a long winter day.
"Beautiful."
