The Way I Loved You.

The Way I Loved You, C12

Chapter 12

The morning light poured into the room, onto the pure white bed sheets, brightening everything in its path. Nick blinked as he felt the warmth tingling on his face and found himself sitting on the floor, his head leaning on the bed. He jumped a little and reached out to search for the familiar touch --- and felt a wave of relief when his skin rubbed against Scarlet’s. He smiled and pushed himself up, sitting down on the edge of her bed.

Her face looked even paler under the sunlight; her lips looked like all the colors had drained away along with her energy last night. Her eyes shut tightly and her hair spread out beautifully around her face. Nick brushed her bangs away from her forehead and frowned when he felt the hotness under his palm. She’d probably caught the cold from standing in the rain all night, he thought.

He pulled her blanket up to examine at her feet. They weren’t as red as they were last night, but he had put a towel over it, with ice cubes wrapped up inside. He took them off and looked at her feet, his mind racing back to last night. He didn’t understand why Scarlet was acting like a nut job, but he was determined to find out. Her voice echoed in his mind as he thought of her eyes, they looked so… miserable.

But why?

Nick stood up and walked into the bathroom, washing the towel as he thought about everything that happened in the past few days. Nothing seemed to be wrong, until he thought of James. The kiss. He felt the familiar hotness again, spreading out on the back of his neck. The picture of James and Scarlet kissing was burned in his mind, and he had no idea why.

He shook his head hard and started splashing his face with water. He picked up the towel and walked out of the bathroom, sitting back down on the bed again. He thought he heard someone calling his name, when he gently placed the towel down on Scarlet’s forehead. He spun around, but there was no one.

There was nothing.

“Nick…” There was it again, a soft whisper that was so light that it would evaporate into the thin air.

It wasn’t long until he realized it was coming from Scarlet. Her eyes were shut miserably, her face scrunched up as if she was in pain. She shook her head and turned, grabbing her blankets tightly. “Nick…” She whispered again, “Nick…… Don’t leave.” She reached and grabbed his hand, moaning.

Nick pulled her into his arms, combing her hair soothingly. “It’s okay…” He whispered back in her ear, “It’s just a bad dream.” But Scarlet didn’t seem to hear him. Her grip tightened on his hand and a clear drop of tear slid down her cheek. “Nick… I need you… Please don’t go.” She croaked unconsciously, “I…. Noelle…She…” Her voice suddenly broke into intense sobs, but there was no sound coming out from her mouth. Her shoulders was shaking slightly from the sobbing, the frown on her face grew deeper in utter pain.

Nick hugged her tightly and patted her gently on the shoulders nervously. He had never seen her acting this way, except for the time she had a bad dream after watching a horror movie in seventh grade. But it wasn’t anything like this. He straightened up when he heard Noelle’s name --- what does this has to do with Noelle?

“Scar…” Nick shook her shoulders slightly, trying to wake her up. But she stopped sobbing altogether, her face relaxing into its normal state. The grip on his hand loosened and she quickly drifted into sleep again. She was sound asleep on his chest few seconds later, looking peaceful.

“Nick… I need you.” She murmured into his shirt in a muffled voice. Nick smiled a little and held her hand, his mind flashing back to last night. How she was furious at him, and the weird look she had on her face whenever she saw him with Noelle. Does she…… actually like me? Nick thought, but everything would be…weird then.

His gaze fell on her eyelashes. He never realized how long they are, curled up at a small angle that casted shadows on her pale face. He gently traced her delicate collarbone that was so sharp that it could cut ice, then her neck, and moving up to her face. He stopped right before it came to her lips that were pouted slightly in a nude color that was similar to her skin.

His heart pounded faster and faster and for a second all he could think of was the urge to kiss her. The strong wish to taste those delicious lips, and how… vulnerable she looked in his arms. He jumped a little when she moaned, realizing what he was doing.

“Nick..?” Scarlet said weakly, opening her eyes to look at him. She blinked confusedly at Nick, who nervously lay her down on her pillows. He ran his fingers through her hair and pulled the blanket over, smiling soothingly.

“Go sleep, Scar.” He said, “Everything is fine.”

It isn’t. Not at all.

‘