by Sara Daniell
"Is Reese with you?" I asked as I got in my truck and cranked it up so I could get the heat going. Man, I felt like shit.
"Yeah. You sound pleasant. What's up?"
"Sick. Tell her thanks for making me wait." I hung up the phone and headed home.
When I got in the house, I fell onto the couch. I didn't plan on leaving the couch for the rest of my life. I'd die there. That's how bad I felt.
About half an hour later I heard doors slam shut. Reese and Garrett walked into the house.
"I'm sorry I didn't tell you," she said quietly.
"Whatever," I mumbled.
She sighed. "Do you need anything?"
“Death.”
“Damn. That bad, lil bro?” Garrett seemed concerned. I figured it was just a show for Reese.
“Worse,” I groaned.
"Well, I guess we could continue the Clue game," Reese mumbled.
I wanted to laugh, but if I did, I was risking throwing up from the movement. "Just make it quick and not painful."
Reese smirked a little. "I'll go do some research now," she said as she left the room.
When I sat up, my stomach churned. I hurried up the stares to the bathroom and made it to the toilet just in time. After I was done, I shut the door and turned on the shower.
I stayed in the shower until the water ran cold and even stayed longer because the cold water felt better than the warm.
I turned off the water and grabbed a towel as I stepped out. I wrapped it around my waist and put my dirty clothes in the hamper, I brushed my teeth then walked out into the hall, running into Reese. My towel fell to the floor and her eyes widened when she looked at me. That would have been hilarious if I didn't feel so bad. I picked up my towel, wrapped it back around my waist and went in my room without saying anything to her.
I put on a pair of boxers and climbed into bed. Just as I was about to drift off to sleep, I heard a voice outside my door.
"Come in," I mumbled into the pillow.
"I brought you some medicine," Reese said as she came into the room.
“Did mom send you up here?”
"No, she's not home yet," she said as she placed a cup of water on the table next to my bed. She felt my head. "You're burning up. Here take this medicine. I promise it's not poison."
"Wouldn't care if it was. It'd put me out of my misery." I took it then laid back down.
She stood up and left the room. It wasn't long and she was back. She put a cold washcloth on my head.
"That should help some," she said, her fingers lingered on my skin a little before she pulled back.
"Do you need anything else?"
"Will you read me a bedtime story, tuck me in, and turn on the nightlight?" I said, making my eyes big and pouty like a toddler.
"I was just trying to help. You don't have to be an ass," she said as tears filled her eyes. She stood up and walked towards the door.
"Holy shit! Are you seriously crying, princess? I was kidding. Damn, loosen up."
She stopped walking for a moment, but then walked out of the room shutting the door behind her.
~~~
I woke up a few hours later to a noise outside. I stood up and looked out the window. Reese was bent over the engine of my truck, working on it.
I opened my window and whistled. I was already feeling better. Must've been a short lived bug, or maybe it was the nice view taking my mind off being sick. She hit her head on the hood of my truck then turned and looked up. She rubbed the back of her head then blushed.
I put the window down, threw on a hoodie, pajama pants, and shoes. I went outside and opened the door to get my cigarettes.
I sat in the passenger seat with the door open and smoked while I watched her work.
"I didn't mean to wake you," she said quietly as she continued to work.
"It's fine. I'm feeling a lot better. But I have to ask, what the hell are you doing fixing my truck at three in the morning?"
"I couldn't sleep and I thought since I made you run into a tree, I'd fix your truck."
I laughed. "This thing has always been a piece of shit."
"It's not a piece of shit. It just needs some love." She shut the hood as she finished up, looking up at the sky. "Well, see you in the morning."
I shut the door and hurried after her. "Wait up." She stopped and waited for me.
I stepped in front of her. "How do you know so much about vehicles? You don't seem like the type."
"Dad told me that if I could build a car he'd teach me how to drive. So I learned." She looked down at her hands.
My head started pounding, and I knew I needed to lie back down. I half grinned.
"Night, princess." I walked inside and headed up to my room.
I laid down but falling back to sleep wouldn't be happening. Dark eyes and long dark hair consumed my mind. There was something mysterious about Reese that I found undeniably attractive. As much as I'd like to tell myself to stay away, I liked the idea of having something I shouldn't way too much.
After being around her the past two days, I realized she wasn’t crazy. She was wounded.
I got up and sat down at my desk. I picked up my pen and grabbed a piece of paper. It had been a few months since I had wrote anything. I didn't have any inspiration, but I think I found my muse.
I spent the next few hours writing about dark hair and dark eyes. Her lips and her curves. I painted her entire image with words. I pulled the curtain back as the sun rose and looked outside to see the ground blanketed in a sheet of snow. I knew today would be different somehow. I didn't know if that was a good or a bad thing.
I still wasn't feeling my best, but I was much better than I was yesterday. I got ready and headed down to the kitchen to grab something to drink. Reese was there asleep with her head on the table.
I shut the fridge door loud enough to wake her. "Morning," I said as I took a long drink of my water.
My new found interest in her wasn't enough to change my snarky attitude. I smiled when she looked at me.
She blinked and sat up rubbing her eyes.
"You riding with me or Garrett today?"
"Who’s leaving last?" She asked as she rubbed the back of her neck.
"I don't know. Not sure if he's leaving early today or not." I sat across from her. "So, the incident in the hall last night..." I smiled when her cheeks turned red. "You should really watch where you're going." I meant to pick with her about it the night before but I felt too bad.
"I should go get ready." She literally ran out of the room.
Garrett walked in looking behind him. "What was that all about?"
I shrugged and took another drink of my water.
REESE
I woke up from more nightmares. I looked out the window at the snow falling as I thought of something to draw. I looked down at the unfinished drawing and realized it was Havock.
I rolled my eyes and turned the page. I had lived there for three weeks now and the cops still didn't have any leads on my dad. I put my head to the window and tried to ease the headache.
With my eyes closed, I saw my dad. Then I saw my nightmares. Him covered in blood screaming my name. It changed suddenly to Havock screaming out my name. He was in pain.
"The time is coming for you to choose," a dark voice purred in my ear.
I jerked awake with a scream. I fell off the window seat as tears fell down my face. My door flew open and Mrs. Johanna was standing there looking around the room. Once she found me on the floor, she hurried over to me and held me as I sobbed.
"Shhhh, it's going to be alright," she said calmly as she held me.
Once I was calm, she pulled away but stayed seated next to me on the floor. "Do you want to talk about it?"
I shook my head no and wiped my eyes. "Just nightmares."
"I'll go get you something to drink." She kissed my head and left the room.
I heard her coming back up the stairs then heard her talking to Garrett in the hall.
"I'll take it to her," he said quietly. "You go back to sleep."
His mom agreed then my door opened. Garrett walked in with a cup of water.
He knelt down next to me and brushed the hair out of my eyes. "Here," he said as he handed me the water.
"I'm sorry I woke you guys up."
He got the throw blanket off my bed and wrapped it around my shoulders.
"It's okay." He sat down next to me. "Want me to stay with you until you fall asleep?"
"Please," I said quietly.
He helped me into bed and laid down next to me. That nightmare really shook me up, and I didn't want to be left alone.
He wrapped his arm around my waist. "You're safe here, Reese."
"I'm scared, Garrett. Not for me, but for my dad."
"They'll find him," he whispered as he played with a strand of my hair. He twirled it around his finger and kissed it. He smiled when our eyes met.
I gave him a small smile then closed my eyes. What the hell was that? I wondered as I slowly drifted off to sleep. I was just too tired to think about it.
~~~
I opened my eyes as the sun came through the window. I groaned and buried my head against the pillow.
I pushed myself up and stumbled to the bathroom. After getting dressed, I headed downstairs, sat at the table and hit my head against it. I didn't have the energy to fix my hair and my curls were everywhere.
"Morning, princess. Rough night?" Havock asked as he came in.
When I looked up at him I noticed his right eye was slightly bruised. He turned when I noticed to keep me from seeing.
"What happened to you?" I asked then groaned as the movement made my head hurt.
"What'd I tell you about drinking, Reese? You're too young!'” He teased as his mom came in.
Mrs. Johanna rolled her eyes then kissed her husband's cheek when he walked in. "Morning, babe."
He kissed her. "Morning."
Havock motioned for me to follow him. I got up and followed him out. I rubbed my head as we walked.
"They are about to announce a family vacation. They do this close to Christmas. They pull us out of school even though we get a long break and take us on a trip. Garrett and I dread them. They want to bond and well, it's lame." Havock straightened up and smiled when his mom came in. "Hey, mom."
She sat on the couch and pulled her legs underneath her. She drank her coffee and shook her head at him. "Not suspicious at all, Honey."
Garrett walked down the stairs and I noticed his lip busted. Havock grinned evilly.
"What did I miss?" I asked as I looked at them both. Then what Havock said sunk in. By law I wouldn’t be able to go with them. I wondered where I would stay.
"Have you checked your blood sugar lately?" Mrs. Johanna asked.
"I haven't yet this morning," I answered. "I haven't been sleeping well, though."
She reached over to the end table and got the glucose meter she kept downstairs just in case. She motioned for me to come over.
"You slept just fine last night, didn't you?' Havock said, and Garrett nudged him in the side with his elbow.
I stood up and moved over next to her. "After the third time I woke up. Yes."
She took my finger and pricked it. After the test was over, she frowned. "Insulin. Now," she said pointing towards the stairs. She showed me how high it was.
I groaned and stood up. I headed up stairs and grabbed my shot then gave myself the insulin. I laid down on the bed and waited for it to work. I fell asleep.
What felt like a few minutes later I heard someone yell my name and shaking my shoulders.
"Reese?!" Havock shook me again and when my eyes focused on him, he let out the breath he was holding. "Shit! You scared me! Mom told me to come check on you when you never came back downstairs."
"I don't feel too good."
"Where's your blood tester thingy?" He asked as he looked around.
"Top drawer. Dresser," I got out with difficulty.
He got it and hurried over. "How do I work this thing?"
I explained how it worked the best I could as I tried to keep myself from going back to sleep.
I felt him prick my finger. I then heard the tester beep.
“Is 692 bad?"
“Very.”
"MOM!"
My eyes grew heavier and heavier, but I kept them opened and focused on Havock.
I heard her run into the room. Havock told her the number and she told him to call the ER to tell them we are on our way. She yelled for Rick.
"Load her into the van! I need to grab her insulin to take with us."
I felt him lift me into his arms. With Garret's help, they got me in the van. Garrett sat with me in the back on our way.
"I don't feel good," I mumbled.
"Almost there," Johanna said from the front seat.
"I'm almost positive they will keep you over night. Havock is packing your things and is going to meet us there."
"Garrett, do I even want to know what happened to your lip?"
"No ma'am."
"We're here," Mr. Rick said, and I felt the van come to a stop.
My skin felt hot, I couldn’t focus on anything, and I needed water. A lot of water. Garrett carried me in and down the hall as the nurse showed us the way.
As soon as I was laid down, I felt a prick in my finger then almost immediately a shot in my stomach followed it.
"Reese, are you feeling any relief?" The nurse asked as she laid a cool wash cloth on my forehead.
"A little," I got out in a whisper. "I'm really thirsty."
She smiled and patted my hand. "I’ll get you some ice chips. You don’t need to drink a lot right away. I don’t want you throwing up."
I nodded then groaned as my head throbbed. She left and Garrett came to my side. He was about to say something when the doctor walked in.
"Let's take a look at you," he said in a friendly tone. Garrett moved out of the way.
The nurse came in with a cup. She stuck a spoon in it and handed it to me. The doctor helped me sit up. While I chewed the ice chips, the nurse re-tested my blood.
The doctor looked at it. "Still high, but much better. Girl, you were knocking on a diabetic coma's door."
"What?!" Garrett snapped.
The doctor looked up at him from his stool. "Garrett Satterly? Played a good season kid. You playing for a college next year?"
