All Lights On Us

C16: Truth or Dare

Klara POV

The days at the beach out speed by. I spend my time sitting on the couch in comfortable clothes. My inner common-sense tells me that I should be outside soaking up the sun, because I won't get the chance to do it later. Who knows when the next time will be when I feel safe just sitting outside in the open. Three men were able to sneak around Bishop's house without my knowledge.

Bishop sits with me every day. Holding me and watching whatever shit movie I pick to put on next. He suggests we go outside a couple of times, but each time I just sink further into the couch and tell him I'm fine right where I am. 

I can't think of much except the image of the thug's brains and blood flying out of his head. The feel of the blood hitting me. The thug falling in on himself. My stomach turns and I hug my couch pillow. 

We have to go back home tomorrow, mostly because Bishop has appearances he needs to uphold. He is the quarterback after all, he can't miss the Friday game. Wednesdays were always the worst to me. Screw 'Happy Hump Day' – bring on TGIF. 

Bishop appears out of no where and falls back onto the couch, flipping his legs over the side and resting his head on my lap. His very wet head. 

"Hey," I giggle.

His face softens.

"It's good to hear you laugh."

"I laugh plenty Bishop. You make me laugh," I run my hands through his wet dark hair. 

He gives me a look, but I'm not able to decode it.

"What?"

"We've been couch potatoes for days now. Michael has been texting me none stop to see what the hell happened to us since our date. I haven't had the chance to fill them in on what you thought or anything."

I can sense something coming on, and I'm tired of waiting.

"Sooooo," I dragged on to tell him to get to the point. 

When he speaks, he speaks very fast. I have to take a moment to comprehend what the individual words were.

"I invited the gang over for a kickback this afternoon."

He blows out a breath of relief but I lift his head off of me and stand. Bishop thinks everything can always be fixed with some sort of party. My heart hurts. I want him to have fun, but it seems like he wants to have these parties, whether small or big, every single week. My hands are on my hips as I struggle with what to voice and what not to. Bishop had sat up cautiously and placed his hands on his knees. 

On one hand, I never want to ruin his plans or what he wants to do. On the other, I fucking killed someone and watched him kill two someones just a few days ago. We have someone after us, perhaps after me. Frustration causes tears to threaten to build, but I swallow them down.

"Why?"

It's all I could form to say. I want him to talk. To explain why he needs and wants this. Why he can't just wait until we're home and he can go over to one of his friend's parties. Anything. 

"We need to live a little Klara, we're wound up way too tight," he spoke slowly and very carefully.

I huff and throw my hands up before clenching them at my sides.

"We? You mean me, right? I'm wound up too tight? I'm boring Klara who never has any fun, right?"

Bishop stands with his palms facing me. He steps closer slowly like he would a wild animal.

I am not an animal!

"Baby, I didn't say that," he reasoned, but I was far past reasoning.