M U T E

|| 7 ||

After the scary movie, they put on a comedy. It was to lighten the mood, and also to help me actually sleep. I can't sleep after scary movies ever. Funny movies after don't usually help me but..

I look at Bryce and Myra's sleeping bodies. The comedy obviously helped them sleep. Myra is on the recliner, and Bryce is beside me. We have a little space between us. I can't sleep, so I watch the movie now playing.

Bryce moves slightly. His arm slings around my waist pulling me to him. I just became his teddy bear. I lay there, frozen. His arm is around me, and I'm close to him again.

Panic levels rising.

I poke him lightly. He doesn't budge.

Panic levels at max.

I close my eyes.

Deep breath... Deeeeeep breath.

He's sleeping. He doesn't even know what he's doing to me right now. A human being has never been this close to me.. A human being other than family or Myra that is. More specifically, a human being that is of the male species and outside of my family.

Paniiiiiiiic!!

His face is right by my face. I can feel his breath on my cheek. My heart and mind are screaming at me. They're telling me to run, hide, and shut myself out of the world. My body is telling me to shut my eyes. I'm tired, and the only thing keeping them wide open is my panic.

An hour passes by, and my mind is still going crazy. My heart is beating hard underneath the bandages wrapped around it. The bandages that are threatening to tear apart. He's still this close to me. I turn my head to look at him.

Mistake! Mistake! Why did I do that?!

His face is right there, and upon turning my head, our noses touched. I quickly turned my head away again.

"B-b-Bryce.." I whisper.

Nothing.

"M-M-Myra.."

Nothing. A small, quiet, high-pitched shriek escapes my lips. Nothing. I close my eyes again. I think of my favorite book. I go inside of the book in my head.

I go through the book. I play the main character. I don't realize that my favorite book playing on in my head is my dream. I didn't realize that I was sleeping until my eyes are opening, and I see that it's light out.

I wish I remembered that Bryce was beside me. I turn on my right side and see Bryce's face right there. His arm is loosely hanging around my waist. I scream. My hands push on his chest, and I roll right off the couch.

"Shit, Reyna." Bryce mumbles sleepily, "did I fall asleep here? Was my arm around you just now?"

He looks over the couch at me.

"I'm sorry! I made you uncomfortable again, didn't I? I'm so so sorry."

I put my hands over my face, hiding.

"I have to leave now, don't I?" He goes on talking.

I don't reply. He gets up and steps around me. I sit up quickly, my body acting before my mind. My hand grabs his wrist.

"Want to see my library?" My mouth starts working too, and I said it so fast that it took a minute for him and myself to register what I had said.

He looks at me, shocked by the fact that I actually spoke, "I'd love to!"

Oh, I am shocked too.

I stood up, let go of him, and led him downstairs.

"Woah. This is awesome!"

He looks around the room, amazed at the sight. He starts walking amongst the shelves of books.

"How many books are here?"

I shrug. I don't even know that answer. Whenever I start counting them, I get distracted and lose my place. By distracted I mean, I pick up a book, read all the way through it, then realize I was in the middle of counting, and don't remember what number. I just love these books.

He keeps walking all throughout my library. What is with my sudden courage? Was it the fact that he slept right by my side all through the night? Was it the fact that this boy changed my views on a lot of things?..Like talking and letting people in, and he even changed my views on conversations. My thoughts are messing up because of him. He picks up a book, sits down, opens it, and begins reading. I sit next to him with a book of my own in hand. We spent our morning like that. Just reading.

* * * *

Eventually, Myra woke up and went back to her house next door after saying goodbye to Bryce and I. We were still reading when she left, but Bryce was off back to his home soon after Myra. I'm left alone here to comprehend everything that's happened in the matter of two days.

Jeez.

Briiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiing.

That is my ringtone, I use one of those old timey phone rings. I quickly pull my phone out and put it to my ear.

"Hey Reyna (Pause for answer, no reply) How are you? (Once again, no reply) Your mother is awake now. She's looking a lot better, and her fever is going down. She wants to talk to you (Knows he won't get a reply, so he passes the phone.)"

I could hear a few sounds indicating the phone is being passed, and then my mom's voice.

"Hi, sweetie. How are you and the boys doing?"

"Fine. How about you?" I reply. I find it easier to talk to Mom sometimes. It isn't hard for me to reply, but I only talk to her in small statements. We've never had a deeper bond.

"I'm okay, so don't worry about me. I love you so much. I'll be out of here soon, okay?"

"Okay. Feel better, mom. I love you," I hide the worry from my voice.

"I love you too. Tell your brothers I say hi, and that I love them."

I nod even though she can't see me. The phone call ends after that. I take a deep breath in. Be strong, Reyna. Mom will be okay..

I pick up another book, and escape into a new adventure. Every book is a connection. Every connection is an adventure. Conversations aren't needed.

Conversations aren't needed, so why do I feel like I want to have a conversation with Bryce about this book?