The Nerd's Secret |Ongoing|

☫ Chapter 34 ☫

☫ Chapter 34 ☫

I woke up to a lot of noise.

     A ringing in my ears. Birds chirping. Muffled conversations from across the hall. And near me, my name being called with a sense of urgency. My eyes fluttered open. The bright light caused me to squint. I blinked, adjusting to the light, and was greeted with a dark shade of blue. A storm. 

    "Jeff?" I whispered, confused by his sudden presence. My voice cracked. My throat hurt. Pain surged throughout my body. I pulled my head back and groaned. 

     Jeff didn't answer me. He looked at me, only he wasn't really looking at me. More so, he was assessing me with heavy eyes. He slid a hand around my neck and moved my head up gently and slowly. Everything felt fragile. Too dizzy to comprehend much, I furrowed my eyebrows when a glass cup touched my lips. I didn't have a say when he poured the water into my mouth. 

     I coughed a couple of times. 

    He handed me two pills. Advil, I noticed. Would that be a good idea to take? I wondered. With superpowers in the mix? I stared down at the palm of my hand, debating the prospect of unknown consequences. 

     "Take the damn medicine, Jeremiah," Jeff finally spoke up, baring his teeth.

     I looked up. His eyes watched me and this time I felt like he was looking into my soul. Demanding. I silently nodded and swallowed the Advil pills with the remaining water. I rubbed my temples soothingly and looked around. We were in the bathroom. I was seated against the bathtub by the toilet. Jeff was in front of me, on his knees and all his attention directed at me.

     I must have fallen asleep here. I picked at the bathroom carpet, focused on the loose threads, and blew up my cheeks. How embarrassing.

     "What happened?" Jeff asked and it wasn't his tone that made me feel the need to reply. At first, the tone provoked me to look over at him. It was his expression that made me answer.

     Why the sudden show of emotion? It's been so long. It's been too long. 

     I realized something there. I miss Jeff. I miss having my brother around. I miss mom. I miss dad. I miss being a family. 

     A lump filled my throat. It made me feel sick.

    "Nothing--" I started but one more look at his eyes and I became overwhelmed with bittersweet nostalgia. I couldn't lie to such innocent and open eyes.

    Jeff raised his body, preparing to get up. The move startled me. My heart leaped and I grabbed his arm. I don't know why I grabbed his arm like that. It all happened in a blur. 

     "Don't go," I said and ducked my head. I unknowingly squeezed his arm, and then knowingly, I hid my face in his chest. "Please don't go."

     Don't go back to the way you've been acting, is what I meant. But I repeated the same words and nearly begged him not to go.

     I started to cry and it was so stupid. It made no sense. It was pathetic of me. 

    Jeff froze. I shook. I curled into him and continued to cry quietly. I was twelve all over again, only this time I leached onto Jeff before he could ever leave me behind. 

    He stayed put and I could only wonder what he might be thinking. I don't even know what I'm thinking. I felt a hand on my back. A small tap and then a rub. Unexpectedly, a hug. I clenched my fists against his shirt and my tears turned to an uncontrollable sob. When's the last time I've been hugged?