Wanted

Chapter 6

I suddenly awoke, shooting up from the cushions I was laying on, my eyes still shut. The fabric felt familiar. What? I'm back? I was in the house with a blanket over me on the couch, my surroundings still. I was overly hot and I threw the blanket to one side of the couch. My head hurt, the pain going all the way to my neck down my spine. I placed my legs over the side of the couch and leaned over trying to rid of the pain. I opened my eyes still looking down, stretching my neck and spine. I felt a hand on my knee. Through instinct, my head jolted up, which only resulted in more pain. I shut my eyes again, trying to harness the pain. I put my hands around my neck and waited till it didn't sting as bad as it was when I first woke. I took my hands off my neck and leaned back into the back of the couch. I peeled my eyes open to see who had touched me. It was Lucas.

"Can I get you anything?"

"Maybe... some... cold water... and a towel," I responded trying to putting as little pressure as I could on my neck, taking a small breath in between words. I close my eyes as he gets up and walks to the kitchen. I hear the water running from the faucet into a cup and then on a rag. Then, footsteps. I open my eyes to see that he has things I asked for. He puts the cloth on my forehead with is cool and soothing. And puts the cup to my lips for me to drink. He put the water down on the table in the living room and sat next to me.

"Are you okay?"

"Yes... just in pain," I responded.

"Where?"

"My head, like I'm miles under water with pressure like none other." As I spoke, I could do so easier, with practice.

"Mmhmm?"

I didn't know how to react to that response. I shut my eyes once again, still in pain, thinking about how I got what disease I have.

"Lucas?"

"Yeah," he responded quickly.

"What do you think I have? What's wrong with me?"

He thought about what he should say, staying silent. I peel my eyes open to looking at him. He was rubbing his hands together, staring at them. "I don't know for sure what you have, but from your symptoms, you should be better by tomorrow."

"Wait, how long have I been here?"

"A day and a half, give or take." I looked at him. He struggled to keep eye contact with me, like he was nervous about something. There were moments of silence before either of us talked again.

"So, where's everybody else?"

"Most of them are outside roasting marshmallows over a fire. Some are asleep in the bonus room."

"What time is it?"

"About 11 at night," he responded.

"You should get your sleep."

"And you should probably get yours, too," he said, putting the cup of water on the table. He yawns and tries his best to lay me back down on the couch without hurting me by supporting the back of my neck with one hand and my spine with the other, lowering me until I hit the cushion. Instead of the big blanket I had on earlier, Lucas gave me a thin sheet and laid it on top of me.

__

Morning came rather quickly. I was awaken by the aroma of bacon and eggs cooking in the kitchen. My clothes reeked of body odor and I was still a little bit warmer than I wanted to be. My head hurt but not as much as the day before, and the pain in my back has gone.

"Good morning," Lucas said starting of the conversation, leaning over a pan on the stove, the smell of bacon and eggs filling my nose.

"G'morning," I replied.