STAY

Fifty One

"We're going to a concert tonight, I just got some tickets" he said coming into the bedroom. I stretched out and yawned. "No, I just want to stay here" I said smiling and shaking my head. He frowned, but was grinning, "no, we need to get out, you need to get out" he said. "I don't want to go out" I whined. "Gigi, we can't just stay here, in bed, fucking" he laughed. "But that's what I want to do, anyway, I'm tired and my arm hurts" I said. "Liar, your arm is fine, besides, you don't have to do anything but stand there and watch. You love this band" he said. I rolled over onto my stomach and groaned, "I don't even know who it is" I grumbled. "It's ..." he started to tell me, but I lifted my head up, "don't bother! I won't know who they are" I snapped. I felt a sharp smack to my ass and I squealed, "hey!". "Hey indeed, don't snap at me" he warned. I buried my face in the pillow and growled. "Come on, up, now. Todd is coming soon" he said brusquely. I rolled over onto my side. I smiled at him, beckoning him over with my hand. "Come here first" I said. He shook his head, "Genevieve, we've been in bed all morning, it's almost midday, I'm not coming back to bed" he said laughing. I pouted and poked my tongue out at him. "You're no fun" I said. "Up, now!" he repeated. I groaned but slowly got up. I never wanted to leave the bed, I wanted to stay there with him, all the time. He didn't complain in the slightest, but he was more sensible about how long we'd stay there. He also had to work, he reminded me. "I don't want to do the exercises, it's tiring" I said as I started to get dressed. "You really are a grumpy patient" he laughed. I shrugged. Since I had got the cast off, I had been working with a physical therapist, strengthening my muscles again. But it was my least favorite part of the day, it felt like such a chore. He held up a tee, "you gonna wear this tee again, Matty loved it remember?" he said laughing. I looked up at him, my face falling, shaking my head. He looked regretful and was in front of me a second later. "I'm sorry baby, I didn't think, I didn't mean to be so flippant" he said holding me tightly. I nodded, fighting back unexpected tears. "Why is it taking so long?" I whispered. "I know if feels like forever but it's only been a few weeks. You've been having these dreams and flashbacks, it's going to happen" he said, trying to reassure me. I pushed him away, "I'm sick of hearing you say that" I said sharply. He wouldn't let me leave, grabbing me around the waist, "you know when I had my back done, you kept saying to me, it'll feel better, you'll be back to your old self soon. I used to get so mad at you, but then slowly, I did feel better. You just have to stay positive" he said with a smile. I exhaled and shrugged, "there's nothing I can do" I said. "I know, it sucks" he said pulling me against his chest. I nodded, resting my head on him. "Can we stay home?" I whispered. He started laughing, "no, we're going out" he said. I growled, "fine, I'm wearing that shirt I like" I said pushing him again and peering into his drawer pulling out my favorite pink tee. He laughed as I walked out of the room with it.
*
I grumbled and rolled my eyes, trying to do the least amount of exercises as possible. "Genevieve, I think you've had enough for today" said Todd the physical therapist. I nodded, "yep, thank you I have" I said gratefully. "You know, I get paid whether you do them or not, but it's in your best interest to do them" he said laughing. My eyebrow shot up, "okay fine, I'll be more committed next week" I promised. "Great, it'll feel better sooner" he said. He gathered his things and headed to the door. Jared met with him, chatting as he showed him out. Then he came back in. "You've been naughty" he said. "Why?" I asked standing up. "You were giving him cheek, not doing what he was telling you. Gigi, don't you want to get better?" he asked. "Of course I do! I already feel better" I said defensively. "Well you need to do it properly, not half ass it" he said. I exhaled frustratedly. "Okay, okay, geez, I'll do it" I groaned. "Go grab your bag or whatever you want to take, we're going shortly" he said. I nodded walking off reluctantly. I had a last minute check of my appearance, grabbed my belt bag and headed downstairs again. "I'm ready" I said walking into the living area. He was on the phone and put up and hand to silence me. I nodded and wandered off into the kitchen, peering into the fridge looking for something to eat. I stood there picking at different things. Then I grabbed a cookie out of the jar on the counter. "What are you doing? We're going to have dinner" I heard him say, walking in. I turned, looking guilty, "but I'm hungry now" I said my mouth full of cookies. He raised an eyebrow, "really? Cause you ate right before Todd came" he said lightly. "What are you saying?" I asked frowning. "Nothing, I'm saying nothing, you just seem to be hungry all the time" he said laughing. "Are you saying I'm fat?" I said in a whisper, "no, of course not! I mean you barely ate anything for the first couple of weeks, you're probably making up for it" he said grinning. I nodded, though still feeling offended. "Come on let's go" he said. I made to grab another one to take with me, "don't you dare!! They're mine!" he growled playfully. I giggled and followed him out.
*
We had been out a few times and I was always surprised at the amount of people who took photos of us. I didn't worry about it anymore but it seemed so crazy, I was a nobody, but I guess he was a somebody so that made us interesting. I sat quietly listening to them all chat, I couldn't really contribute because I had no memory of what they were talking about, but I was content to just take it all in. I had just eaten my dessert and looked over at Jared's, it was some sort of vegan brûlée. He was talking to someone next to him and I was still holding my spoon, so I reached over scooping a bit and putting it in my mouth, it was nice so I had a bit more. "Gigi, shit! You shouldn't have eaten that!" he admonished, I frowned. "Why not?" I asked. "It's got oranges in it, you're allergic to oranges" he said. "Oh, really? What happens?" I said, only slightly alarmed. "You get red and blotchy, I don't know what else, I'm hoping it's just that" he said looking at me closely. "I'm going to go to the bathroom" I said standing up, dismissing his concerns. "Will you be okay? I mean I don't want you collapsing or something ..." I cut him off with a wave, walking off. As I came out I caught sight of my face in the mirror. Shit! I had blotchy red areas all over my cheeks and chin and neck. I peeked down my shirt, there was red areas across my breasts as well. They were suddenly itchy as hell, "crap" I muttered to myself. I walked back out with my head slightly lowered. "Gigi your face" said Jared worriedly, as I sat down. "I know, it's really itchy" I said with a groan. "I messaged Jamie, she said this rash type thing is all that happens, you just need an antihistamine" he said reassuringly. I exhaled in relief. "Guys, we should probably go" said Jared's friend, the other Jamie as I liked to call him. "I can't go like this, people will see me and take photos! I look awful" I whispered to Jared in a panic. He nodded, "I don't care about that, but we need to get you an antihistamine" he said. "Oh my God, Genevieve, your face" said Shayla, peering at me closely. "I know I know, it's awful. It's an allergic reaction to the oranges in his dessert" I sighed. "Didn't you realize it had oranges in it?" she asked. "I didn't know I was allergic" I pointed out, "I can't remember, remember?" I said frustratedly. "Oh shit, yeah, I'm sorry" she said contritely. I nodded, "it's okay, Jared, I need to get out of here" I urged. "Yep okay, guys we're not coming, I have to sort out, this" he said inclining his head to me. I would have laughed if I wasn't worried about bringing attention to myself. We said goodbye to the others and headed to the door, waiting outside for the valet to bring his car around. I was standing with my face against his chest, trying to hide from any nosy passersby. He put an arm around me, kissing the top of my head. "Silly girl" he murmured amused. I looked up at him frowning. "I didn't know" I said, only slightly defensively. "I know you didn't, I didn't even think to warn you" he said. "So really, it's your fault" I said raising an eyebrow. "Well I mean, you did try and steal my dessert" he said laughing. "I was still hungry" I whined. "You poor thing, I've been starving you" he said laughing. The car pulled up and he opened the passenger door helping me get in, then jumping in himself and taking off. He kept turning to look at me, I felt like a science experiment. "Stop staring, it feels fine" I said exasperated. "I just want to make sure you don't get worse, anyway, I like looking at you" he laughed. He stopped at a drug store and hopped out running in. He came back a few minutes later, getting in and  shaking a bottle of pills. "Here we go, should help you in no time" he said. "Thank you" I replied with relief. We got home not long after and I wandered off into the kitchen to grab some water and take a pill. He came in after me and stood at the counter waiting. "I'm sorry I should have told you, about your allergy" he said. "It's okay, I shouldn't have tried to nab your dessert" I said grinning. He laughed agreeing, pulling my hand and leading me upstairs. "I wonder how long before it goes away" I said when I undressed, as I looked at the blotches. "Hopefully it'll be improved by the morning" he said. I lay down with a yawn and he pulled the duvet up over me. "Goodnight baby" he whispered. "Goodnight, I'm sorry I ruined your night" I said truthfully. "It's okay, I'd rather be here in bed with you" he said kissing me softly. I nodded, "me too" I said smiling. I turned tucking myself into his chest, and I was out.