Senseless Attraction (25 page)

      I was in deep doo-doo.

A
ll of a sudden, it was hard to breath. There was a heavy weight on top of me and I needed it off. I opened my eyes and found what that weight was…Tristan.

      He had his left side on the bed, but the rest of him was over the top of me. His arm and leg were flung over my chest and both of my legs. His head was rested upon my shoulder, snuggled up to my face, and for the life of me, even though it was hard to breath, I didn’t have the heart to wake him. He looked so peaceful; usually his brooding attitude and the permanent scowl showed people that he wasn’t to be messed with. But the way his face was relaxed then, he looked like a big, soft, cute, nice teddy bear.

     
Not that I would ever tell him that.

      He started to move. I panicked and closed my eyes, faking sleep. I felt him stretch, and then he stilled when he figured out someone else was in bed. His heat left me; the bed dipped enough that I knew he’d sat up, and then I heard his feet hit the floor.

      “Shit,” he whispered. My heart clenched. “What the hell was I thinkin’?”

      Hurt sliced through me. Tears welled behind my closed eyes. He was disgusted because he woke up beside the school’s nerd. A tear escaped. I rolled to my side away from him so he wouldn’t witness the pain that cut deep in my heart and stomach.

      I couldn’t blame him for thinking anything bad. I knew I was nothing to look at, and I also knew Tristan was way out of my league.

     
What was he thinking?

      And what was I thinking when he was being so nice to me, helping me through last night? I should have known that it would never change the situation between us.

      I should have known.

      I had no one else to blame for the pain I was feeling but myself.

      With minimal movement, I wiped the tears away. I had to fix this…but how?

      Rolling over, I opened my eyes. They landed on Tristan, who was sitting on the side of the bed, but his eyes were on me.

      “Morning.” I smiled. It nearly faltered, but I forced it to stay in place.

      “Hey…look, I have to go. I gotta take Aaron’s car back.”

      I nodded. “Okay.”

      “Listen, ah, nothing’s changed between us, so don’t get any ideas we’re together now or anything.” He laughed.

      “I know…I mean…I won’t.”  I sat up and pulled the blankets up my body, trying to keep the heat in, but his words and the frustrated look upon his face made me feel cold to the bone.

       “Good. ‘Cause you aren’t exactly my type; I’d never go for someone like you.”

      My eyes closed. I took a deep breath and opened them to glare at him. “I get it, Tristan. Boy, do I get it. You don’t need to be an ass about it.”

      He looked down between his feet to the floor. “See, I do, because that’s what I am.” Shaking his head, he looked back at me with a sneer. “We’re done with the tutoring crap. I’ll work it out from here. I don’t need your help.”

      Clenching my fist didn’t help me fight the tears; some escaped. He saw them, and for a second he seemed regretful, but it soon changed to a scowl.

      “Thank you, Tristan, for telling me how it is. But do you know what? You really didn’t need to. I already knew you were mortified to have my help in the first place, and even more so if someone caught us together. I’m the nerd, the short, thick glasses-wearing loser. You’re…well, you’re you.” I gestured at him with my hand. “But again, thank you for setting me straight with something I already knew, and especially for doing it today, after the night I just had.” I flung the covers back, got out of bed, and stalked to the door. “I still want to thank you for…last night.” My voice broke.

      I cleared it and continued, “Now, I’m going for a shower. I expect you’ll be gone before I get out.” I looked away from him, out into the hall. “You’re right, Tristan…what the hell were you thinking?” With that, I walked out, down the hall, and into the bathroom. Once I had the door closed, I leaned against it, my breathing laboured. My hand went to my chest as the first sob escaped. I slid down the wall onto the floor and broke down.

      I cried for caring, for his hurtful words, the look upon his face that wouldn’t disappear from my mind.

      Only I didn’t let myself cry for long. I felt stupid for crying in the first place, when I should have known all along that it would turn out this way. He was just like the others…but in a way so much worse.

A
fter I showered and got dressed, I found Kane in the kitchen. He’d made me some toast, which I took and ate on the way to the hospital. We pulled up out the front. He turned to me and grabbed my wrist before I could make a quick escape.

      “I’m sure you’ll ring Jessie to come and get you after here, so I’ll let you.”

      I snorted. He’d
let
me?

      “I know you need time to take in what I’ve said to you, so I’ll give it to you, but remember that no matter how much you’ll fight against what’s going to happen between us, I’ll be ready to fight back.” He leaned closer and whispered, “And I’ll win.” His fingers went into my hair and he pulled me forward; our lips touched with a quick rough kiss. “Looking forward to it, babe.” He let go, and I staggered from the car and into the hospital, dazed and confused.

     I shook my head and smiled to myself, because what Kane didn’t realize was that I also liked to fight, and I didn’t like to lose.

     It was never going to happen between us. For his sake, in the long run, I would never let it happen. I just couldn’t for the life of me understand the sudden change in Kane.

      “Skylar?” I heard a quiet voice call.

      Turning, I came face-to-face with Alexandra.

      “Hi.” I smiled, but it faded once I took in her red eyes and sad expression. “What’s happened? Are they okay?”

      “What? Oh, oh yes, our parents are fine. I just asked the nurse. I’m working my way to go in there; I just don’t want Dad to think I’m a mess because of him.”

      “Then why…”

      “Why am I a mess? Another reason.” She smiled sadly and looked out the front doors.

      “That guy from last night?”

      Still not meeting my gaze, she nodded and bit her bottom lip.

      “Do I need to beat the guy up?”

      She giggled. “No. But thank you. It’s just me being silly.”

      “Wanna talk about it?”

      She smiled, her eyes warming. “Maybe later…and maybe you could tell me why you walked in here looking so…”

      “Freaked?” I offered. Because I was freaked in a big way.

      “Yes.” She laughed.

      “Sure. I’d like that.”

      “Great. After we see our parents, we could go somewhere for a coffee or something.”

      “That’d be great. Would you mind if I asked my friend along? You’ll like her, and then I won’t have to repeat it to her later.”

      Her brows furrowed. “That’s fine.”

      “Are you sure?”

      She shook her head. “Sorry, yes, I’m sure. I was just…don’t worry; I’ll tell you later.”

      I grinned. “Deal.” I turned to walk alongside her, knowing our parents were on the same small floor and hallway.

      “When I spoke to the nurse earlier, she informed me that our parents have been moved to the second floor and into the same room.”

      “That’s good then. At least I’ll get to thank your dad at the same time as I tell my Momma off.”

* * * * *

T
he door to the room was closed; we knocked, and a female called for us to enter. Skylar opened the door and walked in first. I spotted her mom in the first bed closest to the door, and she had tears shining in her eyes seeing it was Skylar. She held open her arms and Skylar dove into them.

      “Oh, my baby girl. I am so sorry to scare you.”

      “You will
never
do it again,” Skylar scolded.

      I looked over to the far bed and found Dad sitting up in bed smiling at me, our own eyes glistening with tears. I was across the room in seconds and in his arms, being careful of the wound in his shoulder.

      “Dad, you are
not
to go out to the supermarket again on your own.”

      “I know, sweetheart. I can’t believe I nearly left you.”

      More tears came, and I held back a sob. “I can’t lose you too Dad, never. You have to be safe.”

      “I will, princess. I will be.”

      “Don’t worry, Alex. If I know my Momma, she’ll be your dad’s angel on his shoulder from now on to repay him for stepping in last night.” I looked over to Skylar sitting on a chair beside her mom’s bed.

      “You know me too well, child.” Her mom smiled, patting Skylar’s cheek. “Hello, Alexandra. I’m Jenny, and I owe my life to your father.” I glanced back at Dad who was now blushing. “Your Dad has told me so much about you; I feel I know you already.”