Our Last Summer

Chapter 23, Shortages

(Ethan's POV)

I felt Danielle move in my arms a little, making me look down at her. She breathed in sharply and her eyes fluttered open, looking up at me. I smiled down at her and she looked up at me, confused about why she was in my arms.

"What happened?" She immediately asked.

"You fell asleep." I chuckled as she grabbed my shoulder, signaling I could put her down. I put her down and she tiredly fixed her shirt as we walked into her room.

I turned on the lights, to which she immediately groaned. I laughed lightly and dimmed the light so it wasn't as bright. She walked over to her dresser and grabbed some pajamas. I shoved my hand in my pocket and leaned against her bed frame.

"I feel like I've been awake since January." She groaned, rubbing her temples. I laughed and she looked over at me with a tired smile.

"You weren't the most pleasant to be around," I added to her joke. She chuckled and lifted her shirt over her head. I tried not to stare at her, but she was beautiful. She put on her new shirt and I looked around her room while she changed her pants.

"Do you think that Kristine is telling the truth?" She asked me as I walked over to her desk on the opposite side of her room.

"I don't know. I don't trust her. She needs more than a sob story to convince me." I explained, looking around at the details of her room.

"There's just so much of her story that doesn't add up," Danielle added, walking over to me. I shrugged and continued to look around.

"She is helping us with our powers though, which does make me a little hesitant to call her a liar," I explained, looking at the detail of her weird lamp. "How did you get Caroline to explode?"

I turned to face Danielle and she ran her fingers through her soft hair. She sighed and placed her hand on her hip, looking up at me. She looked beyond exhausted and all I could do was smile slightly at her features.

"I just made her relive some feelings she pushed behind her." She answered vaguely.

I decided it wasn't my business. She walked back over to her bed and moved some of the decorative pillows. I followed her and stood behind her, lightly rubbing her arms. My hands moved to her shoulders, feeling how tight she was.

It was because she's been sitting in that chair for close to three weeks. I hated it. It was the worst not being able to see her and touch her. Now I don't want to let her out of my sight. I don't want to leave her.

"I'm not going anywhere." She whispered to me, turning so I was seeing her face. I looked around at her beautiful features and formed my lips together into a straight line.

"Well, that's what I thought when we first escaped Casper and Rebecca's men. But then, we got kidnapped and it was my fault for letting them--" Before I could ramble on about what I should've done, her soft lips planted against mine. I shut my eyes, instantly feeling relief.

Her fingers ran through my hair and I placed my hands on her waist, craving more than what she was giving me. I needed more than just relaxation. I needed comfort. I needed more than words and a kiss to assure me that she was here with me. She pulled away, leaving my lips puckered. I opened my eyes and looked down at her, wondering what she was going to tell me.

"This all sucks. I want nothing more than to be back at home, enjoying the summer with you, and then going to college. But right now, I can promise you that right here. I am not going anywhere. I'm staying right here." She assured, placing her hands on my cheeks. I looked down at her, trying to believe her words.