Ice Queen

Chapter 20 ~ "Is she with you?"

Nate

It doesn't get any better than this, sleeping in bed with Sasha while she wears my shirt. I've been awake now for a while but I just don't want to leave. She's pressed right up against me, she looked exhausted last night so I know she's definitely in the middle of a deep sleep.

I know how tired she's been lately, Sasha hasn't been getting enough sleep for ten years. She's been pushed to develop and practically evolve into this super-human. But she's just a normal girl who can't take pressure like that.

I lay with her for a while resisting the urge to play with the ends of her hair, or run my hand down her arm. I didn't want to disturb her when she looked so peaceful. 

I knew that I needed to get back to my own room before mom figured out I'd come across the hall with her last night. I was laying awake and I just couldn't sleep knowing what she'd been through yesterday. But I don't regret one bit of it, it was exactly what I wanted. 

I quietly slide out of her arms and then open the door peaking my head out then closing it and rushing across the hall to my own room. I sigh and check my phone seeing I had a few messages and phone calls. I toss it back knowing I can deal with them later, when I hear a knock at my door.

"Come in!" I call back and see my mom poke her head in and I suddenly feel relieved I decided to leave when I did.

"Oh good you're up." She says and walks in. "Look, I'm about to head off to take your father to the airport and then I'm heading downtown to do some work in my office. I should be home around dinner time." 

"Cool, I'll see you later then." I tell her and she worriedly looks across the hall at Sasha's closed door.

"How is she doing?" She asks and I sigh with a shrug.

"She's hurting mom." I tell her very honestly. "Despite the fact that her father has been awful to her for years, she knows they're her family. She's having a hard time reconciling the fact that her parents don't treat her with love when they're supposed to." She nods and then steps closer lowering her voice.

"That mark on her head......" She says and then takes a deep breath. "Did her father-"

"She said he hit her so hard she fell to the ground and hit her face on a barstool in the kitchen on the way down." I mumble and her eyes widen.

"Why didn't you say that?" She asks. "If I'd have known there wouldn't have been a question of if she could stay with us."

"Because it's not something she's proud to share with other people." I remind her. "Mom Sasha isn't good at getting help when she needs it, she finds it hard to admit when she can't deal with something alone. That's why I knew it was so serious, the fact that she's scared enough to leave her house is a big deal."

"Alright.....don't leave her alone today, spend some time with her and make sure she feels comfortable here." She tells me and I nod.

"No problem, you know Sasha and I get along mom." I remind her and she nods then looks at her watch.

"Sorry honey I need to run." She says and gives me a kiss on the cheek. "Be nice to her." I roll my eyes and laugh.

"I will, I promise." I tell her and she smiles.

"Maybe put a shirt on, it might make her uncomfortable." She says waving her finger at me and I laugh knowing how Sasha reacted last night. But I humour her putting one on, and she smiles waving and I say goodbye to my dad as the two of them leave for the day.

Then I go back across the hall and open her door, seeing blonde hair fanned every which way over the pillows. I lift the covers and crawl back in behind her and she stirs a bit. She rolls over and smiles looking at me.