~.: "With or Without You" :.~
~.: Anna Lee :.~
~.: De's POV :.~
I sighed, pulling the blankets around me as I shivered slightly despite there not even being any draft. I wasn't as much of an emotional wreck as I was a few minutes ago before Dick left to check on Aria so at least that was somewhat of an accomplishment. But I just couldn't shake off the feeling of a heavy suffocating presence still looming over me. It was unnerving and my heart kept skipping at every single tiny little noise, my entire body practically on high alert. Something deep down told me to take a chill pill and relax because Dick was right there next door, I was safe with him around.
But I just couldn't seem to relax. It was extremely irritating and I just wanted to close my eyes and pretend like I was just imagining things. That my nightmares were really just that; a figment of imagination that my own brain was just constantly taking jabs at me with. Grumbling irritably to myself, I leaned back against the headboard of the bed and, snatching one of the pillows beside me, hugged it close to my stomach while staring longingly at the door. I hope Aria's okay, that scream was really loud... I thought quietly, letting out a soft sigh as I tried to push down the wave of anxiety that was trying to overwhelm me. Huffing softly as I reached a hand up, I pushed my hair out of my face and closed my eyes, listening to the faint sound of Dick's and Aria's voices coming through the wall behind me.
Closing my eyes like this for just a few moments won't kill me while I'm waiting for Dick, I tried to inwardly reassure myself as I attempted to get my heartbeat to stop pounding so loudly in my ears, Just lean back and relax. Everything's perfectly f-
"EEP!" I squeaked, the pillow flying out of my hands as my heart jumped into my throat when the doorknob to our hotel room turned, and I instantly felt embarrassed as Dick walked in, raising an eyebrow at me confusedly while closing the door behind him, "Ha, guess I scared myself there," I nervously laughed, relaxing a bit as he smirked softly at me.
"Nah, it's okay," He murmured, pushing his hair out of his face before getting into bed beside me, "guess I should've said it was me before I opened the door like that. Sorry, babe," He sighed, smiling gently in apology as I blushed softly, leaning affectionately against him.
"I accept your apology then," I giggled, leaning my face up to his and placing a tender kiss to his cheek as he smirked affectionately at me before pulling me into a loving embrace, "How'd it go with Aria? Is she alright?" I inquired curiously, pulling myself into his lap as he leaned back against the headboard like I had just a few moments ago. Dick frowns momentarily, his hands on my waistline and I instinctively know that talking to his sister/my best friend probably didn't go according to what he would've liked it to.
"She evidently had another nightmare," He murmured softly, running one of his hands through his unruly raven-colored bangs as I soothingly rubbed his chest, "I told her we should just go home and that I'd deal with Chelsea myself in the morning, but-"
I cut him off, nodding understandably, "She gave you the 'you can't tell me what to do, you're not my daddy' line again, didn't she?" I finished for him, tilting my head as I smiled wryly in slight amusement. He nodded, groaning in agitation as he sat up straight once more with me still in his lap and buried his face in my shoulder.
"Why does she have to keep doing that?" He grumbled, wrapping his arms around me as he held me close, "I'm not trying to tell her what to do, I just want to protect her. Is that really so horrible?" He huffed, then he pulls away from me slightly, his dark blue gaze on the fresh darkened bruise that stains my left collarbone, "Where did that come from?" He asked me softly, glancing up at my face worriedly as I looked away from him uncomfortably, my heart falling into my stomach as anxiety started to churn up the nightmare of Seth I had while in the car earlier.
"I..," I paused, shifting my wait in Dick's lap as he waited for me to explain, "The reason why I was crying out in my sleep while I was napping earlier as you were driving..." I tentatively began, wrapping my arms around myself in an effort to comfort myself while he rubbed reassuring circles into my hips, "is because of the nightmare I was having. I dreamed that Seth found me and... he raped me in the nightmare," I shakily murmured, tears pricking the edges of my gaze as I looked away, shutting my eyes tightly so he wouldn't have to see me cry.
"Deanne.." He murmured softly, gently pulling me into a comforting embrace, "I'm sorry you dreamed that... if someone really is forcing you and Aria to have these bad dreams, I swear I'll," His voice trailed off as I nuzzled into his embrace while crying softly, "Hey... don't cry, babe.. It's okay. I'm right here," He murmured gently into my hair before kissing my forehead, "I'll figure out what's going on and everything will be okay, I promise."
I nodded quietly, rubbing at my face as I tried to calm down enough to actually meet his worried gaze one again, "I just... I hate this so much," I shakily mumbled, relaxing against him as he nodded in understanding, "I've dealt with Seth enough and now he's haunting my dreams when I'm asleep, I'm just- I'm sick of it." I huffed, Dick tenderly tucking a few strands of my hair behind my right ear as I sighed agitatedly. He smirked softly at me as I attempted a small smile at him in reply.
"Y'know," He chuckled softly, moving my hair so that it covered the bruise that Seth left on me, "I still don't get why you dated him when we were younger. He was a complete asshole," He murmured, cocking his head confusedly at me, "And you were the complete opposite. Quiet, dorky, and sweet,"
I blushed softly at him, taking one of his hands and bringing it up to my cheek before nuzzling my face against it lovingly, "I don't know what I was thinking," I found myself laughing honestly, shaking my head in quiet amusement, "I think it was that stupid grin and the piercings. Acacia, Aria, and I met him at some party we snuck out to back then," Dick raised an eyebrow at me bewilderingly.
"Wait, what?" He chuckled disbelievingly as I rolled my eyes at him amusedly, "I can't believe that; you fell for the bad boy vibe- That's not at all what I thought you were into," He cackled softly, leaning in slowly and brushing my bangs out of my eyes as I smirked at him.
"Oh, really?" I giggled, raising an eyebrow at him as our lips came close to touching, my arms wrapping around his neck, "Then what type did you think I was into, Mr.LadiesMan?" I asked, running one of my hands through his hair as he smirked softly at me, "Wait, don't answer that, I think I know what you're gonna say,"
Dick cackled before kissing the tip of my nose, "Then why did you even ask me if you knew what I was going to say?" He murmured, pulling me close and pressing his lips affectionately to mine. I smiled into the kiss, moving forward slightly so that I was more comfortably situated in his lap and he smirked against my lips before pulling away slightly, his dark sapphire gaze meeting mine anxiously, "Are you sure you're okay, babe? I don't want to hurt you, especially if that nightmare you had is still upsetting you," Dick sighed, rubbing my back tenderly. I nodded in response, leaning in again.
"I'm wide awake right now, so the nightmares can't hurt me," I murmured softly, "And you're here, so I'm perfectly safe in your arms," I whispered, relaxing against him as he smirked softly at my answer.
"I'll always protect you, De," he whispered, leaning towards me once more, "I love you," his arms felt so warm and comforting as he murmured that against my ear before pulling me back into another kiss. I sighed contentedly as he slipped off his shirt while rolling me out of his lap and carefully pinning me underneath him.
"I love you, too," I murmured wholeheartedly, smiling lovingly up at him as he helps me remove my shirt as well and he returns my loving smile as he leans down and kisses my jawline before trailing his lips down my neck toward my unbruised collarbone, his hands carefully slipping behind my back and swiftly unclasping my bra hooks, "We're going to have to be a little quieter since the walls aren't exactly sound proof," I giggled softly, my gaze meeting his as he places my bra on the bedside table before smirking amusedly despite the bright pink blush dusting his face, "Unless you want your best friend and sister to hear us?" I teasingly laughed, twining my fingers in his hair affectionately as he lowered his face back to my chest once again.
"Quieter sounds great to me," He chuckled, one of his hands gently caressing one of my still-clothed thighs, "I don't think I wanna listen to Wally and Aria complaining in the morning when we wake up in a few more hours," He coughed slightly, then presses his lips to the crease between my breasts gently, arousing a soft sigh from me in response as I run my hands contentedly through his hair.
"Mmm," I murmured softly, closing my eyes contentedly as his mouth envelopes one of my already erect nipples, sucking gently at it, while his freehand gently tugs at the other, "I'll try to keep my voice down then, daddy~" I purred teasingly, wrapping my legs around his as he smirked against my breast before pulling away to trail his lips along my stomach.
"Is that your new pet name for me, babe?" Dick chuckles against my skin, his hands carefully slipping my pajama pants downwards and off my legs gently before meeting my gaze as though asking permission, "That's the second time you've called me that," He murmured as I blushed profusely down at him. The sight of him hovering in between my thighs sends a thrill through my stomach and I nod in response.
"I-I'm just trying it out~" I managed to stutter in reply, trying to keep my voice down as he delicately removes my blue cherry-covered underwear before pressing a tender kiss to my inner left thigh, causing my eyes to close in content as a pleasurable shiver runs down my spine. We've never done this before, it's always been other positions that we've tried, so this is all really new to me as he lowers his face carefully while I peek down at him. His eyes are closed until he feels my gaze on him, then his sapphire colored gaze meets mine as he draws his tongue along my sensitive skin in a tortuously slow manner that practically shatters all of my previous thoughts.
"Let me know if I need to stop," he murmurs against my skin gently, "I wanted to do something different this time..." I blushed profusely, nodding in response before his tongue delves past my entrance. A soft and tiny moan escapes my lips and I instantly covered my mouth with my hands as he smirked up at me in amusement. So much for being quiet, I thought irritably at myself as I inwardly facepalmed while twining my hands in his soft black hair contently.
"Ahhh..." I murmured softly before I could stop myself as he changed position just slightly to where he was able to be comfortable while he worked, "Dick," I sighed, closing my eyes as I blushed even worse beneath him when he carefully slips two fingers inside of my entrance, "That feels so good~" I purred, rolling my hips in response to his touches in an attempt to ask for more. He chuckles softly under his breath before pulling away completely and I start to whine in protest when the sudden shuffling of clothes catches my attention and I glanced down to see that he's standing up and slipping out of his sweatpants carefully.
"Be patient, babe," he murmured, smirking amusedly at me as he climbs back onto the bed before positioning himself in between my thighs once more as I lick my lips impatiently, "I wasn't expecting you to be so needy like this, jeez," He chuckled softly, leaning down as he carefully thrusts past my entrance, causing another soft mewl to escape my lips and he smirked amusedly, "Didn't I say to keep it down?" He cackled, his lips hovering over mine before he pulls me into a tender kiss, my tongue slipping into his mouth as I wrap my arms around his neck contently.
"Sorry," I giggled softly into the kiss as he smirked against my mouth before teasingly nipping at my bottom lip.
"Don't apologize," he murmured softly, closing his eyes as he moans under his breath when I wrap my legs around his waist in a more comfortable angle. My heart races in my throat as my back arches and for the first time tonight, I start to feel more at ease. Maybe I'm just really stressed out because of everything, I thought with a sigh as Dick lowers his head to the crook of my neck before leaving a hickey along my jawline as I twine my fingers in his hair contently, Maybe I just needed to relax. Besides, maybe my mind is just out of sorts. I haven't been getting much sleep lately and- I freeze up as my gaze lands on the dark figure in the far corner of the room, causing Dick to pause in response.
"What? What is it?" He murmured worriedly, following my gaze to the figure that's just standing there and staring back at me blankly. When I don't immediately reply, Dick sighs, knitting his eyebrows together in concern as he gives me an anxious glance, "Babe, what's wrong? There's literally nothing in that corner-" He explained gently, sliding out of me as I trembled beneath him.
"Turn the light on, then," I managed to huff irritably despite the rising fear in my stomach as my heart starts to pound loudly in my ears because now, the figure is coming out of its corner and moving closer. For a minute, Dick just looks at me like I'm losing my mind before sighing and turning on the table side lamp, which illuminates the room in a bright yellow glow. And in the instant that the light washes over the room, the figure dissipates into thin air and I blink confusedly, my tongue drying up in my mouth as I rub at my eyes several times while Dick sits back down beside me, rubbing my bare thigh comfortingly.
"See?" Dick murmured, glancing about the room, "I told you. Absolutely nothing is in here," He sighs, catching sight of my expression before running a hand through his hair anxiously, "It's late so you're probably just tired," His voice is gentle and patient as I nodded, leaning back against the pillows while he slides under the covers beside me and presses a tender kiss to my cheek reassuringly, "We need to wake up early anyway, since Aria doesn't wanna leave anytime soon," he stifles a yawn, glancing over at the bedside table alarm clock before grumbling under his breath about what time it was while I sit up and start to walk towards the bathroom.
"I'll head to bed after I take a quick shower," I sighed, then smiled in an attempt to reassure Dick that I was fine when he frowned worriedly at me, "Go ahead and get some sleep, I'll be fine, baby," I insisted as I slipped into the bathroom, flicking on the lights, "Be out soon," Then I close the door gently, approach the bathroom mirror, and scowl irritably at myself.
"Nice, Deanne," I growled agitatedly, rolling my eyes as I tugged frustratedly at my hair, "You're literally losing it. Get a grip," I huffed then stepped into the fancy shower room and turned on the water faucet, twisting the temperature knob just slightly so that a nice steam was now filling the bathroom, "A warm shower should help me calm down. Then I can try to get some sleep afterward. Just take deep breaths, De," I sighed softly, closing my eyes as the shower water runs down my back in a soothing manner that makes me relax and lean my head back so that the water can trickle down my neck and chest while I run my hands through my now wet hair.
Poor Dick, I thought silently as I reached for the cherry blossom scented hotel shampoo on the rack near my head, I didn't mean to freak him out and ruin the mood... I really thought something was standing there watching us. I swallowed thickly, shoving the memory of whatever I'd seen in the corner to the very back of my mind as I gently massaged the shampoo into my hair before turning and grabbing the pink Dove soap bar then beginning to draw it across my skin, What the heck is wrong with me? Seeing shit like that when it's not really there... I groaned irritably as the soap bar slips out of my hand and hits the tile floor of the shower.
"Stupid soap," I hissed softly under my breath as Dick's voice sounds at the bathroom door while I'm leaning down to pick up the bar of soap so I can finish lathering my skin.
"You okay in there, babe?" He calls through the door as I manage to firmly grasp the soap bar in my hand before straightening up with a soft sigh.
"Yeah, I'm okay," I called back, going back to rubbing the bar of soap along my body, "Just dropped the soap. Everything's okay, hun!" I reassuringly replied, soaping up the rest of me before closing my eyes and leaning my head forward so that I could rinse the shampoo out of my hair.
"Okay, just checking!" He calls back as I finish getting the last of the shampoo out while focusing on getting the rest of the soap off my body. As my hands are rinsing off the soapy water from between my thighs, the hooks that are keeping the shower curtain up jingle slightly and I raised an eyebrow, pausing momentarily before shrugging and turning off the water now that I'm completely clean. Must've bumped into the shower curtain while I was rinsing off, I thought quietly to myself, rubbing at the water that was threatening to get into my eyes before blearily turning towards the curtain so I could pull it aside. What I saw through the curtain makes me instantaneously freeze up though, my stomach flipping upside down as my heart does a somersault into my mouth and I cover my mouth with my hand before I can scream, one of my hands shakily reaching toward the curtain slowly while a dark silhouette moves closer to the shower curtain. My heart races at a thousand miles a minute as I clench my eyes shut and with a determined draw of breath, I fling the curtain out of the way and brace myself for whatever is waiting for me on the other side.
Nothing happens. There's no noise, no rush of wind, nothing. I let out a faint sigh as I reluctantly open my eyes, thinking my imagination is playing tricks on me again but as soon as my eyes flutter open, I choke on my spit and stumble backwards against the shower wall. Standing in front of me is Ryan, not a single detail is out of place, he doesn't even look like he's dead. Frustration pulses through my senses and I march out of the shower room, stalking right past him over to the mirror and clearing away the fog on the glass as I proceed to ignore the hallucination.
"So you're just going to ignore me?" Ryan's voice sounds in my ear and I angrily yank a towel off the towel rack before wrapping it around me, "I see how it is. Aria's big, strong older brother makes you feel safe, doesn't he?" He growls softly as I reach past him for the hair dryer.
"You're not real, you're not real," I mumbled, glaring at my reflection in the mirror as I switch it on and begin blow drying my hair as the hallucination visibly wagers for a second, "I'm seeing things because I haven't been sleeping right," I sighed softly, hurriedly drying my hair before turning the blow dryer off and turning to put it back in its place. The hallucination vanished as I carefully tucked the blow dryer's wires into place and relief briefly flashes through me as I relax slightly, then I turn on my heel to leave the bathroom and come face to face with Seth.
"Don't think that you can just blink me away, babydoll," he snarls, lunging to grab me as I squeak in alarm before side stepping and gliding out of the bathroom hurriedly, "You're weak! You can't ignore me, I'll just follow you right into your nightmares! We've got plans for you, Aria, Acacia, Lexie, and Octavia!" I clench my eyes shut and slam the bathroom door closed before storming over to the bed where Dick is half asleep. As I approach the bedside, he yawns softly and sits up a bit, rubbing at his eyes exhaustedly while I hurriedly throw on a pair of pajamas and slip into the covers beside him, burying my face in his bare chest.
"You okay?" He murmured tiredly, pressing a loving kiss to my forehead before settling back down and pulling me into a comforting embrace. I nod, closing my eyes tightly as I hugged him back while his hands gently rub circles into my back.
"I'm okay," I sighed, nuzzling my face into his shoulder as he runs one of his hands through my hair tenderly before kissing my cheek tenderly and stifling another yawn, "Just really tired. Go back to sleep, babe," I whispered as he relaxes against me.
~.: Tim's POV :.~
Just as I was about to head back into my makeshift room, another shrill panicked scream sounds through the wall coming from Lexie's room and I pause tentatively, pursing my lips anxiously as I tried to decide whether or not she'd want me to come barging in on her again. My nerves relaxed slightly when there wasn't any accompanying shrieks following the scream so I rubbed the back of my neck before reluctantly closing my door and climbing into the makeshift bed as I stared warily at the wall. If she needed me, she'd scream my name, right? I thought, frowning in concern as my instincts told me that something wasn't right.
"TIM!!" Lexie screeched anxiously and I narrowed my eyes as I started to get out of bed but paused again.
"She's probably fine..." I murmured doubtfully, running an anxious hand through my hair as I felt my heart pounding in my ears.
"TIM, DE, ARIA!! SOMEONE, PLEASE HELP ME!" Lexie's voice sounded so much more terrified than what it had in the hallway and instinctively I rushed out of my room, my heart in my throat, "PLEASE, SOMEBODY, HELP ME!!" A sob was leaking into her screams and I felt my heart shatter at the sound as I hurriedly picked at the lock on her doorknob.
"Hang on, Lexie!" I called back to her, trying to force down the wave of alarm that was threatening to overtake my senses as I shakily focused on getting the lock to click out of place, "I'm coming, just hang on!"
A door down the hall flies open and Isaac steps into the hallway, rubbing exhaustedly at his eyes as I feel the doorknob loosen and with a satisfied click, the door pops open and my gaze immediately flies to the open window and Lexie's terrified face as she dangles from the balcony's ledge, "What the hell is going on?" I vaguely hear Isaac groaning but my attention is wholeheartedly focused on Lexie as I rushed over to the open window and hurriedly grab onto her outstretched hand and carefully yank her to safety, my heart in my throat the entire time.
"I'm so sorry," she was blubbering in between her messy sobs and I shushed her, rubbing her back in reassurance as she clings to me in fear, "Sorry, sorry, sorry, sorry," She's hysterically sobbing as I try to calm her down.
"Lex..."
"Uhhh... do I wanna know what happened in here...?" Isaac's voice sounds from the doorway and I scowl irritably at him in annoyance.
"Not now," I huffed before focusing on Lexie once again as I turn her face carefully so that her gaze meets mine, "Lexie, it's okay. Everything's okay now, just calm down... okay?" I sighed as she shakily nods in understanding before taking a deep breath to steady herself.
This is gonna be a long night...
~.: TO BE CONTINUED :.~
