The Z star

Part 11

Trust but verify.– Ronald Reagan.

I opened my eyes and looked around. The first faces I saw were Trinet and Avril. They gave me a small smile and helped me sit up. My body felt stiff as if I was sleeping in one position for a long period of time. 

"How long was I out?", I asked. 

"Nearly four hours", Trinet answered. 

"You guys must be sick sitting still for so long", I mumbled. 

"Yeah, in need for a long bubble bath and scented candles", Avril said. 

"Me too", Trinet got off the bed and they walked away. 

"So do you know where it is?", Nora asked. 

I stared at her blankly and then opened my mouth but no words fell out. I shut it and opened it again but still no sound.

"I think she needs a break", Nolan suggested. His eyes filled with worry looking at my expression. Tears formed in my eyes. 

"M--my p---pp--parents", I hiccuped and the tears fell like rain down my cheeks

It hurt feeling like I lost them all over again. It was as if they were with me for a moment and now they weren't there anymore. They wouldn't come back ever. 

Nolan ushered everyone out of the room and sat  next to me. He carried me onto his lap and let me cry on his shoulder while he ran his hand on my back in a soothing manner. 

After all my tears were dried and my nose was too blocked to breathe and my head was hurting, I got off Nolan and went to the washroom. I washed my face and blew my nose. Looking in the mirror had me scared for a moment. My hair was standing in all directions and my face was pale. My eyes, nose and lips were red and I had bags under my eyes which made them puffy. 

I tried my best to look presentable as I stepped out of the washroom. 

"You feeling better now after letting it all out?", Nolan asked. 

"Yeah, thanks for being there", I said.

"I'm sorry you got to see me like that", I said feeling insecure that he saw me when I looked ugly and terrible. 

"Don't apologize. I'm glad I could be there for you. You can always talk to me. I'm here for you anytime of the day", he reassured me. 

 "You got to see me all ugly", I said plopping on the bed. 

"Is it too cheesy if I say you look pretty even when you're crying...", he flirted and brushed a few strands of hair off my face. 

"Cliché much", a grim broke out on my face. 

"But it got you to smile so it was worth it", he said and we both made ourselves comfortable on the bed. 

"You know you've got to go back to your room", I whispered. 

"I'm sick and I need my nurse", he rebutted with a fake cough and shut off the lights. 

"No hanky panky", I warned teasingly. We both stayed still in the darkness for a while. Slowly I fell my eyes fluttering close. In my drowsy state I felt hands sneak around me and I was pulled towards him. Before I could mutter anything I passed out. 

I woke up with a smile on my face, feeling as though I had the best sleep of my life. I stretched my arms out and then I turned around and saw Nolan fast asleep next to me. His right arm was under his head and his left arm was on his stomach. Soft breaths were coming out from his mouth which was open a bit. I shifted closer towards him and watched him. His nose was a bit crooked if you stared at it for a long time. He had freckled on his cheeks. This man was insanely handsome if only he knew.