Midnight Grey

Chapter 16 First Session

We're in the lab working on final preparations for the group session and suddenly Austin puts his stuff down and walks out into the hall. Curious I go after him to see what he's doing. His face confused as he paces back and forth. His hands frantically moving all over the place: up in the air, to his face, to his sides and then crossing over his chest.

"Austin? What's going on?" I stay still by the door as if I'll get in the way of his frantic strides.

His focus hits me and he is in front of me pulling me against his body and cups my face in his hands. His eyes blaze down at me a vivid green with the intensity of a green laser, burning into me. Before I can even blink, he is kissing me. His hands release my face and run down my back pulling my body in closer to him. My hands fly up to his hair in a way to make sure this connection isn't broken, because the way he is kissing me seems so right. The kiss is gentle like the brush of snowflakes on your skin, except warm, and a warmth that goes throughout my entire body.

I can see myself inside my head like the real me is here and not this person controlling my body. Her eyes are urgent as she waves her hands back and forth to get my attention. She's telling me how I hate him. He killed Kyle. I need to stop she screams and I realize she's right I do.

Though, I can't. There's something in him I haven't found in anyone else, even Kyle.

Increasing realization comes rushing to me. What would Kyle think of this? Would he think I'm betraying him? The kiss starts to taste of ash like what I've done is mutilate and burn the memory of Kyle. My stomach turns over as I come to understand the person in my head was correct.

The girl smiles relieved as she finally breaks through to me. I push away from Austin getting ready to face my biggest mistake. Though as I open my eyes to look at Austin, he's not here. Before me is only smoke and a pile of ash. The ash is not Austin or Kyle. It's me. I've become nothing but a pile of ash with no heart, because the truth is I wanted to kiss Austin before he reached for me. I betrayed Kyle by kissing the man who killed him, which I have to wonder.... what is worse?

That's when I blink awake.

In the lab as I try to organize my thoughts, I can't seem to get the dream out of my head. Why on earth would I dream about kissing Austin?

I rub my eyes as the computer screen lights up. The computer finishes loading and I get into my email. After opening the link to print off the packet Joy sent me. The printer starts to beep, out of paper.

I glance around the vacant lab with a sigh, though my mood soon turns to frustration. Austin isn't here. He's late.

I should have never believed I could count of him. As I storm towards the supplies closet, my legs are stiff like they're rusted and my breath is heavy. I need to get some paper, I think, trying to stay focused.

As I open the door, I catch Austin pulling his shirt off, revealing a six pack and how nicely shaped his arms are. "What are you doing?" My voice goes up an octave higher than normal. He glances over at me and grins. His face showing no embarrassment, but my face is burning red hot, so I turn away.

"What's the matter afraid to get turned on?" He coaxes. My head snaps back to him and I spot the grin he has on trying to provoke me.

I scowl at him. "No!" I exclaim placing my hands on my hips.

He laughs and pulls a buttoned-down shirt off the shelf. "I thought you wanted me to dress nicer." He cocks an eye at me as he starts to button his shirt.

"Well, yes, but can't you get dressed at home?"

"Not today. I had some work to do, before heading here." He answers plainly finishing up buttoning the green shirt.