EMBER IN DARKNESS Chapter 6 (Breathless)

“I can carry the boxes.” I grabbed them from River and shut myself in my room to try the new dress out.
People find me weird when I don’t get depressed over hurtful things. It’s just the way I made myself. Why should I worsen situations when I have a better way to deal with it? It’s painful and requires a lot of guts but it’s more than pushing further-it became my own, personal treatment.
Losing a family is hard, being turned against by the only one who was left is still the hardest…I bitterly thought, taking the contents out from the boxes.
With a heavy sigh, I squatted on the carpet and leaned my head and back on the bed to ponder on why there was an explosion in the first place when the guy, like Spade had said, was looking for me.
I can’t think of a certain person who could need anything from me or hate me so much to shatter my whole life because I could feel that from almost everyone.
Moments later, I was subconsciously drifting off to sleep.
In my dream, Spade and I were running around the new swing Dad made…we were really small, quarreling over who should go first, but Dad just made us hang on both ropes and stand together on the wooden seat since it’s long enough. We stopped fighting and did as we were told. Then, rain started splattering around until I was all wet, so I jumped off and fell flat on my back. Spade saw me and jumped on me-only this time, he was exactly as I saw him the other day, the same clothes and in the same place where he squeezed my windpipe. He did it again and again and I can’t do anything-I can’t move.
Fathom jumped from the bushes and ripped my brother apart. I looked at my dress, stained in red. His body fell limply beside me.
“Spade…come back.” I took his hand and held on to it tightly.
It’s warm…I opened my eyes and almost jumped when I saw River kneeling beside me.
“I thought you were my brother…I dreamt of him a while ago.”
He grabbed the clock on my bedside table and brought it to my face.
Five thirty…”Crap! I still need to shower and pick a lip shade-Jeez! I fell asleep!”
“Lily, you guys will be late!” Dr. Burke called downstairs.
“Coming!” One last mirror check: small, sparkly clips on both sides…floral perfume…sandals…tiny gold earrings…purse…red lipstick…gold dress…perfect.
It feels like a movie, where the princess slowly descends the stairs as everybody below lift their heads and stare in awe while the hot prince awaits at the foot of the stairs and proposes to her.
“You wish.” I scolded myself.
Whoa. I almost stumbled on one of the steps when I saw River wearing a dark red polo opened mid-way to his chest. What-a-man. He really shouldn’t expose his chest that much. Girls are already drooling all over him.
“Nice shirt, River!” I complimented him, avoiding eye contact after that. I cannot look at him because I’ll just end up in the same color as his shirt.
“Beautiful. You really know how to carry yourself.” Dr. Burke smiled.
“Thank you. Actually, I overslept.” I winked and hurried to his car.
It’s going to be one long drive.
Dr. Burke sat in the front seat and chatted with the chauffeur while River and I remained quiet-of course, it’s normal for him to be quiet. For me, air is running out. He’s just beside me and instead of opening the windows and allowing air from outside, I’m doomed to inhale his strong, addictive scent for thirty minutes, excluding traffic!
Lo, and behold! Traffic it is! We became stuck for more or less fifteen minutes. I had a hard time forcing myself to ask the time from River.
Ugh…What’s wrong with asking the time from him?
“River-“ I stopped the moment I saw his face-he’s sleeping.
I looked away. There is no way I’m going to spend the remaining time gawking at his face.
“Sweetie, we’re almost there. Wake River.”
“It’s alright, he’s awake.” I pinched his waist gently. As a result, he jerked and eyes were shot wide open.
Hmmm, ticklish are we?
River narrowed his eyes at me.
“Don’t make me do it again!” I clawed my fingers and grinned.
“Okay, get out. You guys are late.” Dr. Burke waved goodbye and waited for us to step out and enter Triston Events Hall before they disappeared.
“Give me your arm.” I told River.
He wasn’t moving, so I just pulled his arm and hooked it with mine. Finally getting the idea, he bent his elbow and opened the door for me.
“Thank you.”
I recognized the song being played on the large amplifiers. Slowly, the lights faded into a faint glow.
Only a pair is left on the dance floor and they are even about to leave, to wait for the song to be finished when it has just started.
“It’s Far Away by Nickleback.” I glanced up, a little surprised to meet the stars and the evening sky. I never knew that the roof can be taken off.
“You’ve got to dance with me! This is my favorite song.”
River’s obviously going to back out. Before he could, I dragged him to the dance floor. I just can’t help myself if it’s a good song especially if it’s my favorite-even if the whole crowd is staring at us.
River and I started a small tug-of-war. He’s trying to escape!
“Don’t leave me in the middle of the dance floor…” I pleaded
For a moment, he looked around, sighed….and nodded.
That not what exactly surprised me-before I could put my hands over his shoulder, his have already made their way to my bare back and he has led us to the MIDDLE, where, despite of being the only pair dancing on the floor, the big, yellow, bright and attention-grabbing spotlight shone on us.
We shifted slowly from one foot to another, no special moves or ballroom stuff-my nerves are dancing on my back, at the part his palms are touching.
My sole purpose of dancing is the song, not the mere fact that I am dancing with him.
I’ve always dreamt of dancing with the right person and it would either be my first or last dance.
Using his shoulders to pull myself up and apologize for forcing him, I unintentionally swung forward and fell on his chest. River reacted right away and pulled me closer to prevent a fall.
He shouldn’t have done that. Hell, his chest is even warmer than his palm-it’s like my body’s soaking up all the warmth to make me blush…and again, his scent is suffocating.
The heat, the scent, the pressure and the song all built up in my cheeks. Any fool could see that I’m flushed.
Once I regained balance, the distance was no longer recoverable so I leaned my head on his chest so he wouldn’t notice.
WRONG MOVE.
I blushed more and my heart fluttered wildly in my chest.
You know…you know…you know that I love you, I’ve loved you all along and I miss you, too far away too far too long……I keep dreaming you’d be with me, stop breathing….the song went on.
“I wish I knew what you were thinking.” I mumbled away, closing my eyes at the wonderful melody filling my ears.
River’s hand ran up to my head, and he leaned closer…
“You take my breath away.” He whispered in a voice deep as his eyes.
My mouth dropped open-I’m frozen in place!
The song ended with us still in the middle, next song picking volume.
When a lot of people gathered around us, River pulled me outside, and let me sit by the fountain.
“You can talk?”
“Yes.”
Time for an interview.
“You…can talk…” I blankly stated. AGAIN.
Composure, I reminded myself. After feeling that I’m back to normal, I started asking questions. “Why didn’t you talk before?! I actually thought you’re retarded-no…more than retarded! You’re unbelievable! Dr. Burke even thought so-You fooled your own uncle! Heavens.”
Then, I took a deep breath.
“He mustn’t know. No one must know.” Oh, wow. His voice sounds good.
“Why?”
River just shook his head. “It’s just that way.”
“I have so much to ask you…I don’t know where to start.” Out of nowhere, a shadow stepped beside me, almost making me disgorge my heart out. “What are you doing here?!” I yelled at Neon, our uninvited audience.
“That was your favorite song a while ago. I asked the Jock to play it…and you had to dance with HIM.” He glowered at River and, without any warning, took a gun out of his pocket.
“You’re hopeless.” I snapped at him.
He stepped nearer and took a bunch of my hair.
Like the weirdo he is, he started smelling it, inhaling whatever he could pick up as if it was some sort of drug.
River abruptly stood, ready to attack Neon.
In response, Neon pointed the gun to my throat. “Take another step and none of us will have her.”
“Look at yourself. You need professional help.” My voice evidently shook. What is it with him?!
Neon continued heaving his way to my neck. “I just find you hard to resist, baby. You tempt me too much.”
Tears began to form in my eyes…He never spoke to me that way. I don’t want to be in this kind of situation, being threatened and violated at the same time.
River pulled Neon’s shirt. As soon as Neon pointed the gun at him, River swiftly seized it and aimed it back at his chest.
“Damn it.” Neon hissed, releasing my hair.
I shoved him away and ran behind River.
I want to get out of here.
River tossed the gun away, following me out of the school, beyond the front gate…Off to somewhere far from where Neon is.
“Neon doesn’t want leave me alone.” I shoved a mouthful of ice cream in my mouth, since it’s the only picture I recognized on the menu. It’s the trick with this restaurant: you can only pick a dish that you can smell and see; no names, just the little smelling patch sample, the picture and the price.
There’s nothing below 10 bucks except for a glass of sparkling water (which didn’t require a patch sample). River always has to pick the expensive stuff. There’s 24-hour pizza and fast food lying around and it has to be this confused restaurant.
“Out of everyone you can attract, why did it have to be him?” River suddenly burst out. Everybody turned to our table, surprised at the loudness of his voice.
“Can’t you pipe down a little? I know it’s tasteless and stupid, but I-he never told me how much of a jerk he is!”
“You don’t need to wonder why he’s not letting you go, it’s his nature.” He lowered his voice, alright, but he’s gritting his teeth as he scolded me.
“You sound like you know him well enough. Why, are you friends?” I crossed my arms, waiting for an explanation.
River tightened his fist into a ball. “You attracted a vampire. It would have been fine if it was a demon. Doesn’t that strike you in any way?”
“Vampires and demons aren’t real.”
“Then tell me, what did Fathom look like to you?”
“A crazy person who sharpened his teeth; with what, I have no clue.”
“Of course, you don’t.” he slammed on the table with the balled fist.
“You have serious anger issues. I’m calling Dr. Burke to get us.”
“Don’t. They might be waiting for us at home.”