His teammate

Chapter 23 - Black out

I sit in a haze, the noise around me has melted together and sounds like a loud hum in my ears. My sight is cloudy and unfocused and my whole body feels tired, oh so tired. I don't know how long I've been sitting like this, it could be hours or seconds, but my body feels stiff and heavy. I get pulled out of this haze when a warm hand lands on my knee and the focus on my eyes adjust to the handsome man beside me in a black suit and a sweet smile.

"Are you okay?" He ask as his hand strokes my knee lightly, giving me goosebumps.

"Yes." I croak out, my voice raspy from all the crying and no talking. I haven't say a word since the funeral ended. I thought that I would be able to handle this so well, but when I finally let go for my feelings, everything changed. I couldn't go back.

Now we're sitting in the restaurant that me and my dad used to go with my aunt a couple of years ago, which she loved and so did we. I'm sitting with my dad to the left of me and Link on the right. Apparently we're already on the main course, I've totally zoned out of the first course.

Link looks at me with concerned eyes and I take a deep breath, before putting my hand over his on my knee. His hand feels so warm and nice. It's very comforting.

"I'm fine, thank you." I say a little sweeter. It feels like it's been such a long day, I kind of wish that it was over already. My body needs to sleep and my brain needs a break. It's unimaginable to think of the fact that I will never see my aunt again. It shoots a pain in my chest every time that thought comes through my head.

I feel my stomach pull tight as Link braids his fingers with mine and his thumb runs small circles on the back of my hand. The feeling is amazing and scare the crap out of me. It probably means that I'm starting to develop feelings for him and that is scary, because I have no idea of what we are and if this is just a fling. This isn't really the time to think about that though, so I push those thoughts away for right now. I'll deal with it later.

"Have my dad eaten anything?" I ask Link before looking over at my dad who seems to listen to something the lady from the church group is saying to him. I see though on his face that he's not really listening. I also see the full plate on the table in front of him, untouched.

"No, and neither have you." Link whisper back and my eyes meet his harsh ones. The caring in his voice almost make me smile, almost. I take my free hand and push the fork through one of the potato wedges and put it in my mouth. I don't really feel the taste, my body seems to have turned that sense off. But the act seems to calm Link down a little and he picks his glass up and drink.

The night drags on way too slow, feeling like an eternity. A lot of people wanted to share stories about their memories with my aunt and it was both beautiful and painful to listen to. I know me and dad would probably want to share so many lovely memories that we have, but neither of us have the strength. My cheeks never dried from all the crying I did and I felt weak from only eating enough to satisfy Link.

Now I was standing in my dad's house again, feeling the quiet from the loss of everyone else except my dad and Link. I was watching them as they stood in front of me talking. Thankfully my dad had fixed a motel for my cousins to sleep at, so I didn't have Red to worry about, even though he hadn't even approached me again all through the night. Probably because of Link. It felt good to be alone at home, it had been so much people to listen to at the memorial and I don't have the energy to do that now.

"Well, thank you for helping out this week, it was much needed." My dad says as he reach his hand out to Link, taking his in a firm grip.

"Don't mention it, it was very nice to meet you." Link replies and smile his cheeky smile.