by Rua Hasan
“You know your boyfriend.”
“You mean Tyler? He’s not my boyfriend.”
“That didn’t look like it.” She shook her head and walked away.
Were we that obvious?
Chapter 38
My eyes shot open and were met with the cold depth of the darkness. I darted them from side to side as my chest moved up and down in fright. I felt my body lay limb against my comfy mattress but was no help when I felt it soaking wet with my sweat. I used as much energy I could possibly gather, and lifted my hand to place it on top of my beating heart to steady it down. I let out a harsh breath as I moved my hand upwards towards my forehead and couldn't believe it when I felt the heat radiating from it. Groaning, I closed my eyes because of how heavy they were and let the feeling of tiredness consume me. I turned around to my side slowly and held my stomach as I felt a sharp pain burst within seconds.
I moaned in pain realizing that I was sick. Opening my eyes, I looked at the clock hanging on my wall which barely would have shown if it wasn't for the dim light of the moon shining through my window. It was around midnight and it was no surprise why I woke up at a time like this. I mean, sleeping at nearly eight o'clock with a very heavy headache and a hurting stomach wouldn't mean that I wouldn't go through the night restless. It would just mean that something was wrong with my body because come on let's face it. I never sleep at eight.
But I wished with all my might that it was the pain of my body and limbs which woke me up. But unfortunately, it wasn't. It would have been ten times better to wake up from a flu or fever than waking up from a nightmare which haunts you for your whole entire life whether you were awake or asleep. For the nightmare I go through every day and night doesn't just occur when I close my eyes, but it was reality.
My parents’ death.
This wasn't bad enough waking up with a painful heart and hot tears threatening to fall down my cheek. The scene replayed itself countless times in my head as I remembered that day which changed my whole life for the better and the worst. It felt like it was just yesterday when I heard a knock on the front door which would soon lead me to my doom. I felt odd just lying there on my bed. I mean ever since I came back here to California, the nightmares stopped. Maybe it was because I was back home. New York was never a home for me and I guess that's why it triggered the dreams of my past. But coming back here and sleeping in the same very home I used to live in with my parents could have given me a sense of relief. As if their spirits still stayed in this very house and might never leave.
This was one of the reasons why I chose to come back. I mean some people would think I'm a complete idiot for doing this. Like who would come back to the same place their deceased loved ones lived in? I debated with myself and chose the right choice my parents would have wanted me to pick. I chose to return home because this house held so much memories. They wouldn't have wanted me to sell it. Instead they would have wanted me to live my whole life here. Get married and raise my kids in this house. That is what I am sure of.
Playing with the bracelet on my wrist which I never took off, I couldn't help but feel thankful for coming back. I felt the presence of the love they once gave me here. But unfortunately, I also had to feel the pain of my body begging me to get better which snapped me out of my depressing thoughts. I didn't know what hit me but it felt like a fever to me. I was sweating everywhere and felt my stomach squeeze in pain which made me very confused. If I had a fever then why the hell did, I feel like someone stabbed me in my abdomen?
Just when I thought things couldn't get any worse, I felt a lump in my throat threatening to come out. The bile was making its way up and before I knew it, my feet were on the ground as I quickly jumped out of my bed. I wobbled my way towards the bathroom and let out my guts into the toilet.
This sure felt like heaven...
It felt like hours but in reality, it was only minutes. Just when I thought I was done letting out my lunch from last night, I'd throw up more and more until there was nothing left in my stomach. I coughed a few times and wiped my mouth clean after flushing down the toilet. I lifted my head up to look at my reflection in the mirror and noticed dark bags under my eyes. I looked as pale as a ghost and ready to pass out any minute now. But before I could return back to my bed and sleep the night away, I felt another pain strike in my stomach, so I lifted the toilet seat up and pushed my pants down. What I saw next made me groan out in frustration.
Great! Mother Nature decided to pay me a visit so that I could know that I wasn't pregnant!
No wonder I was in so much pain! That explained a lot. Not only did I have a fever but I was also having my period. I sighed and got up from the seat. Pulling my pants up quickly, I made my way out of the bathroom and into my closet. I grabbed an extra pair of underwear and a pair of baggy sweatpants. I decided to tie my hair up into a messy bun to keep it out of the way because I was now sweating buckets of water.
Maybe the sweatpants weren't such a good idea... Oh well! I shrugged my shoulders and walked to the bathroom in a hurry. I needed something that would keep me warm, so not wearing sweatpants wasn't an option. After grabbing a pad, I went to finish my business. Through every minute I would grumble to myself. Not only did I have school tomorrow, but I'd also had to wake up with a fever and painful cramps. I then washed my hands as I tried to dismiss the annoying thoughts. If I felt much better in the morning then I'd go but there was no way I'd go feeling like this.
I probably looked like an ogre.
It was a Thursday now since it was already past midnight, so I was hoping that the week would come to an end in a hurry. I didn't want to be feeling like this when the big race comes next Friday. I couldn't lie to myself. I was pretty excited and nervous in the same time. I didn't know what was going to happen but something in my gut told me that good things awaited. I was sure to win.
Dismissing those thoughts, the pain of my back and limbs pushed me out of the bathroom and down the stairs to my kitchen. I walked as the cold air of the night breathed against my skin. I flicked on the lights and wobbled to a cabinet in the corner where I usually kept all my pain killers and medicine. After gulping down two pills of pain killers, I took a spoon full of medicine which the doctor gave me last month when I had fever.
After making my way upstairs. I made sure all the lights were off and rushed into my bedroom. As I fell on my bed, I knew I was definitely not in the right state to go to school tomorrow. Screw that! So, I laid my head against my pillow as I groaned in pain and grabbed my phone from the counter lazily. I switched off the alarm which was supposed to wake me up and closed my phone so that I wouldn't be interrupted from my sleep by any calls or text messages. I placed my phone down and pulled the covers over my head as I forced my eyes closed.
It didn't take long before my body fell limb as my eyes became very heavy. This was taking a toll on me. Just before I could excuse the fact that I wouldn't be seeing Tyler tomorrow, I pushed those thoughts into the back of my head and decided to worry about that later. I was exhausted and just wanted to sleep for three days straight.
I felt my brain shut down after a couple of minutes. I welcomed the darkness and enjoy the sweet moment of not feeling any pain whether it was coming from my stomach and limbs or my broken heart. I slept through the hours like a baby even though I'd wake up once in a while in a pond of my sweat. I'd just turn around into a different position so that the cramps would decease and I'd fall in and out of sleep. This went on for what seemed to be forever.
I woke up a couple of times in the morning like when the sun was rising but I would just close my eyes and go back to sleep. Whenever I was awake, I would just groan in pain and hope that I'd fall asleep much sooner so that I wouldn't have to feel the pain of my cramps. I felt as if I was in some kind of spell which was keeping me from getting off of my bed. I wouldn’t know how long, but I felt as if I was sleeping for days. If I wanted stuck in this lonely house, I mean no one was here to stop me.
Well that is
what I thought before I heard a pounding coming from down stairs. I had no idea who it was but I just ignored it thinking maybe it was Matt or something. I was too tired to get up and check. I could barely keep my eyes open to do so. The pounding on my front door went on for another five minutes until whoever it was decided to give up. I let out a breath of relief when all I could hear was silence. I was drifting back to sleep until I felt someone shake my shoulders as they called out my name.
My eyes shot open in surprise and shock. Who the hell was in my room? And how the hell did they get into my house when I'm pretty sure the front door was locked. I turned around as I held in my breath to see who was the crazy psychopath trying to wake up a grumpy girl. But when I saw who it was, I let out a breath and sigh of a relief. You know what, I'm pretty sure I don't have to say his name because it's obvious who it would be. I mean who else would barge into my house all of a sudden and act as if it was the most normal thing he's ever done. Ian Somerhalder? I sure wished so but unfortunately that was never going to happen. Yup you guess it. Tyler Grey.
“What the—”
“Where were you? I was worried sick!” He sat on my bed and touched my hand but immediately pulled it away when he felt how sweaty it was. He gave me a concern look and then placed his hand over my forehead.
“Tyler how did y—”
“Sh*t you're burning hot.” He interrupted me for the second time. He then got off of my bed and started pacing around my room with his crutches as if he never treated a sick patient before.
“Tyler.” I grumbled as I sank into my mattress.
“Yeahh? Is there anything wrong? Should I take you to the hospital? Or should I call a doctor here? Sh*t maybe I should call my mom-no no-damnit Crystal, why didn't you call me earlier and tell me you weren't feeling well?” He rushed to my side and took my hand. He then kissed my palm and the took a deep breath.
“I was worried sick over you. You never missed a day of school so I thought for sure that something was fishy.” He said more to himself. “I shouldn't have waited until classes were over to come and check up on you.” He pinched the bridge of his nose. “I knew I should have skipped class.” He grumbled.
“Tyler can you ju—”
“No, no. I got this all under control!” He got up and kissed my forehead. He started to pace around my room while talking to himself. I just stared at him in confusion. He was acting like one of those husbands where their wife was giving birth.
“Tyler, stop acting like I'm giving birth to your damn child!”
Tyler stopped.
“How did you get into my house?” I finally asked snapping him out of his trance.
He shook his head as if he was pushing back his thoughts to pay attention to my question. “Oh-uh well the window was open...”
“And you climb in here like a monkey owning the place? You do know that you have a broken leg that needs healing right? How the hell are you climbing houses with crutches?”
He scratched the back of his neck nervously and then walked over to where I was laying. He got to his knees and took my hand into his. “Okay fine, Matt gave me his extra keys to your house.”
I lifted an eyebrow.
“I'm sorry. I was just worried sick.” He looked down and kissed my hand.
I let out a sigh and ran my hands over my face. I'd be very angry at Matt. I mean who would give the keys of their best friend's house to other people? But right now was no time to be mad because I was too tired. I'll have a talk with him later.
“No, it's okay. I'm just not feeling well that's all,” I said as I looked up at the ceiling. There was a comforting silence which lasted for only a couple of seconds before Tyler decided to end it.
“Gem?” he whispered.
“Yeahh?” I turned my head to look at him.
“Are you pregnant?”
I closed my eyes as I tightened my fist, trying not to beat the crap out of anyone. Calm down Crystal. It isn’t worth it. Before I could say anything else, I grabbed a pillow next to me and whacked it on his head.
“Are you out of your damn mind? Huh!”
“Gem—”
“Why would you think I'm pregnant you psychopath?”
“Well-I-i just th—”
“Shut up, I'm talking!” I whacked the pillow at him once again.
“I'm not freakin’ pregnant! How do I know that? Mother Nature decided to kick me in the guts, making my uterus bleed! And it doesn't help that I have a fever too!”
Tyler blinked once as he stared at me with concern. “Sh*t,” he whispered and immediately got up. He stood on his crutches for support as he paced around the room once again. It was still a mystery to me how the hell he was able to pace around the room with his crutches.
“I'm so sorry.” He snapped his fingers and rushed over to me.
“Go back to sleep Gem. I'll take care of everything,” he said pulling the covers over my shoulders and fixing my pillow.
“What are y—”
“I'll just ask Mom the ingredients for her soup,” he whispered to himself as if he was making an agenda in his brain. “I'll go buy some chocolate and ice cream.” I just stared at him in awe. “Oh, and I can't forget about those tampons.” He rushed to the door but stopped to look at me. “Why are you still awake?”
He rushed out of my room and closed the door. I felt my heart flutter but I pushed that feeling because now I was feeling like an ogre and probably looked like one too. I'm just surprised Tyler didn't go running for the hills when he saw me. I couldn't help but smile at the thought of him worrying. I knew that I was falling for him but I couldn't help the feeling from growing. It was just impossible not to when he was doing all this for me. I would have stayed all day thinking about Tyler but my eyes were drooping and were very heavy.
***
I felt someone shake my shoulders gently, trying to wake me up. I opened my eyes and glanced around the room to see him holding a bowl of soup, standing next to me. My eyes widened when I saw a huge teddy bear laying right next to me with a card which said 'feel better soon.' I immediately grabbed it and brought it to my chest. I cuddled it close to me, enjoying the feeling of its softness. I looked up at Tyler.
“Did you get me this?”
He nodded his head and sat next to me on a chair. Before I could admire the adorable bear, which was the size of my body, I noticed that I wasn't laying on my bed anymore. I was on the huge couch which was placed across my bed. I crunched my eyebrows in confusion and looked up at Tyler. I was covered in a huge comfy blanket and was surrounded with pillows.
“Why am I not laying on my bed?”
This seemed to make him a bit uncomfortable as he scratched the back of his neck nervously. I was surprised to see the blush crawling up his neck and to his cheeks.
“Well you see . . . I hope you didn't mind me cleaning your bed sheets. They're in the washing machine right now.”
He went through all the trouble to pick me up, placing me on my couch. Surround me with not only pillows and blankets but with also a huge bear, not only did he go out of his way to make me soup, but he also cleaned my bed sheets which with no doubt would have been smelly, sweaty and having stains all over it.
“Oh.” I breathed out. “You didn't have to,” I said trying to get up. He placed the bowl of soup right on the counter and helped me sit up straight.
“It's okay. I wanted to help.” I nodded my head and looked at the bowl he was holding.
“Did you make that?”
“With a little help from my mom—oh she hopes you feel better soon by the way.” I smiled and nodded my head. Tyler then proceeded to feed me the delicious looking soup. I held back the moan as I felt the hot liquid run down my throat. Wow, that felt a lot better. As I ate, I ran my hands through my hair, trying not to look like a hobo in front of Tyler. I had the big teddy bear in my arms, already falling in love with it. I couldn't help but blush at the situation. Tyler was in my room feeding me and I never thought this would have happe
ned ever. Once I was done with the whole bowl I looked up at Tyler and nodded my head.
“Thanks—uh you didn't have to do all this but you did it.”
Tyler leaned over and pecked my lips out of the blue. “School was very boring without you today.”
I nodded my head, couldn't help but feel shy.
“Are you feeling better?” he asked as he placed his hands on my forehead.
“Yeah a bit. Can I get a glass of water?” I asked, only now noticing that my throat was very dry.
“Yeah of course, I'll be right back,” he said as he rushed towards the door.
“Careful! You're still on crutches.”
He looked back at me and nodded his head before disappearing behind the door. I just stayed there, staring at the wall not knowing what to do. So, I grabbed my phone and turned it on, forgetting that I closed it last night. Once it was on, I noticed many missed calls from Matt, Tyler and the twins but there was a specific number which caught my attention. I had two missed calls from that number and a text message. I opened it, reading what it said.
'B*tch you better answer my calls before I come over and knock your door down!'
I rolled my eyes knowing exactly who it was. The number was saved under Ethan's name but I knew that it wasn't him talking. It was Mr. Fatty for sure. I called the number and placed my phone on my ear. I listened to it ring for a bit before someone answered the call.
“Hello?” I heard Ethan say.
“Hey, how are you?”
“Crystal! Hey! How're you doing? I'm fine.”
“I've been better.”
“Ha-ha! Yeah, it's been a while.”
“Yeah, I know I'm so sorry. I've just been really busy with school. But anyways did you let any specific person take your phone earlier?” I asked.
“Uh what do you mean?”
“Check the messages.”
“Um...okay.”
After a moment of silence, I heard him chuckle from the other end.
“Damnit. Sam never knows when to give up.”