Fallen Stars

Chapter Six

I walk through the door to mine and Cassandra's hotel room and turn the lights on. Cass walks straight to one of the beds and lies down on the very edge, not paying me any attention. Ever since we left the warehouse, she hasn't said anything; just sobbed and stared into space.

"Cass, you've got to talk to me. I know what happened back there can't be easy for you, but I'm here for you. I always will be." I've tried to console her, but it hasn't seemed to help much.
A single tear streams down her face and onto the pillow beneath her head.

"That's what Drake said, too. Where is he now?" She finally looks at me, but suddenly I wished she hadn't. Seeing her this upset hurts in a place that's never hurt before. I sit down on the end of the bed, trying to think of a way to make her feel better.

"I don't remember my childhood. If I ever had parents, I don't remember them. I'm half angel, like you. I don't have any powers, other than the occasional rush of adrenaline. I don't have a middle name, my favorite color is blue and I like strawberries. Your turn to tell me things I don't know about you." I look at her, still the girl stuck in her hard shell, staring at the wall.

After several minutes of silence, I decide to take my duffel bag into the bathroom and take a much needed shower.

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The wall is very interesting. Small swirls of blue compliment it's ivory color, and the yellow flowers match the embroidery on the bed skirt. The beauty in these small things make me think about who made them. Children in China, being worked to death, or normal people like me just looking for a way to survive?

As I'm contemplating life while staring at the wall of a hotel room, Blake's horrible off-pitch voice interrupts me. The words of 'Tainted Love' by Soft Cell are coming from the bathroom, as well as the sound of a running shower. If this is his way of trying to cheer me up, it's not working.

"Now I know I've got to *eh eh* run awayyy, I've got to *eh eh* get awayyy from the pain you drive into the heart of me..."

I grab the pillow beneath my head to block out the noise, but it doesn't help. After about thirty more seconds of the torture, I can't take it anymore. I knock loudly on the bathroom door, hoping that he'll either cut it out or just get out of the shower completely.

The door opens and I see a nearly naked Blake with only a towel around his waist standing in front of me. His fit body distracts me from my anger momentarily. Blake seems to be enjoying this little episode, hand on his hip, and a smirk on his face.

"Um- could you just shut up?" I ask trying so very hard not to look below his face. So very very hard.

"Only if you join me." He says, still smirking.

"Not interested." I walk back to the bed and lay down above the covers again. Blake gets dressed in the bathroom and then comes out to annoy me some more.

"I meant to dinner, you know. Not in the shower."

"I'm sure that's what you meant. Do you ever plan on getting me some clothes, by the way? I'd like to actually have clean ones to change into." I grab my school bag which only has my gym clothes in them, a tight t shirt and some shorts.

"Maybe tomorrow. You'll just have to wear something of mine until then." He seems a little too happy about that, but seeing as my only clean clothes won't be comfortable to sleep in or be around Blake in, I'll have to take him up on his offer.

I head into the bathroom with one of Blake's t shirts in hand as well as a pair of his shorts. A shower sounds good right about now, but I'm just not in the mood. I run some bath water and use some of the hotels shampoo to make bubbles, and then submerge myself into the warm water.

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I try my hardest not to think of her naked. But sometimes, your hardest just isn't good enough. I turn on the tv to distract myself, but all that's on is reality tv and kids shows. After turning it off, I search through the multiple drawers around the room.

In the bed side table in between the two queen beds, there's a bible and a hotel complementary notepad and pen. Extra sheets and blankets are stored in a compartment below the TV set, and the iron and ironing board is in the top of the closet. Nice to know.

I look in the mirror in front of the bathroom door, which is open, and see Cassandra. No makeup, hair wet, with my clothes on. At least I'm imagining her with clothes on again.

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When Blake decides it's time for us to go to sleep, he turns the lights out and lies down in his bed. I'm still above the covers, which is admittedly beginning to become uncomfortable, but I just don't feel like sleeping.

"What's next?" I ask him, not sure if he'll answer or if he's already fallen asleep. After several moments, though, he breaks the silence.

"Rykan and I will protect you until we can figure out exactly why the Caden's have targeted you, although I'm not sure Rykan is telling me everything he knows."

"Oh." I say, like a small child who asked a stupid question.

After several more minutes of silence, I'm still not tired. I feel as though Blake is still awake, but I remember words aren't actually needed for us to speak.

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C: Blake?

B: I see you've finally realized you didn't have to do that annoying talking thing.

C: Yeah, I guess so. This feels different, why is that?

B: Well, when angels do this, it's their souls communicating. Not their minds. The only bad part about this is that sometimes things come out that you don't want to be heard.

C: What do you not want me to hear?
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He's cut me off, so mature. I get out of my bed and walk over to the edge if his. Blake's breathing is steady but I know he's still awake.

"I can tell that you're trying your hardest not to smile right now." I tell him as I shake his shoulder.

"Who says I'm the only one trying to hold back a smile?" Blake rolls over onto his back and grabs my hand.

The awkward silence that fills the air between us doesn't last long, because he pulls me into the bed with him. Lying by his side, he covers my legs with the blanket and holds both of my hands in his. I must admit, I am trying to fight off a smile now. Blake kisses my hands as the room once again gets quieter.

"Why won't you just kiss me already?" I ask him quietly, tired of wondering.

"I know that if I do, I won't be able to stop." He says with no shame in his voice, his eyes sincere.

"What makes you think I would want you to?" I ask as I lean forward to close the space between our lips.
Kissing Blake was the most amazing feeling I've ever known. I swear, it's like our lips are made for eachothers.

Mid-kiss, Blake suddenly ends it.

"Cassandra, I don't think I've ever wanted to kiss somene more, but we can't do this. Not until you know the whole truth. I have to admit, I haven't been completely honest with you."

I immediately pull away. After everything, he would lie to me. Blake attempts to grab my hand and comfort me, but I jerk away, and decide I'd like to sleep in the bathtub instead of in the same room as him. I grab a pillow and the sheet from my own bed, and head towards the bathroom.

"You'll see how foolish you are when you realize I'm right, and I'll tell you that I told you so." Blake says just loud enough for me to hear while he turns over on his side, facing the wall.