Page 21 of Shiny Things

Feeling like I’d composed myself a bit better, I reluctantly went back inside.

“It’s a great view, right?” he asked me.

“Yeah, it really is.”

“Bathroom’s down the hall if you need it. I know they pumped a lot of fluids into you, but I heard the doctor say to keep pushing fluids today. So take a seat and relax.”

On the large coffee table there now sat an entire case of water.

“You don’t actually expect me to drink all of that.”

He shrugged. “I don’t know how much you need. David said you pulled water through your body or something like that.”

“I’m a water manipulator. That’s what I do.”

“That’s really cool.”

“I guess. It’s not something I really embrace.”

“Why not?”

I was not about to explain how my cousin had tormented me over my lame powers from the second they surfaced, and I really couldn’t remember ever not having them. That is, until the incident occurred that left him with a concussion and me in need of a car repair. I’d mostly stopped using my powers after that for fear I’d hurt someone, which brought its own form of torment. Plus I’d been bullied plenty as a kid just for being a Grimes. I’d been so proud of my powers up until about third grade. I had rarely used them since, well, until today.

Since I wasn’t willing to let him in by telling him all of that, I just shrugged instead.

He looked dark and frustrated, but he didn’t press me for more.

Instead, he picked up a remote and turned on the television. It was the biggest one I’d ever seen in real life, taking up a whole wall of his apartment. It made it feel like we were at a movie theater or something.

Elias moved to the corner of the sectional just behind me and then he carefully pulled me back against his chest.

“What kind of movies do you like?” he surprised me by asking.

“I don’t know, how about an action movie?”

Anything but romance. There was no way I could handle watching some cheesy chick flick while lying there with him wrapped around me.

He put on a movie and then reached over and handed me a water bottle.

I groaned, but begrudgingly drank it.

Using my powers the way I did today really did drain me of fluids in a way that I couldn’t really explain to him, but I also didn’t want to make a big deal about it and just worry him more.

For all the tough exterior, Elias was just a big, sweet teddy bear. And while he may purposefully push others away, all he seemed to want to do was hold me close.

As the adrenaline from the day began to wane, I didn’t have the strength to tell him no this time. I’d regret it later and remind myself just how stupid I’d been. But right here, right now, I was just going to lay back and enjoy it.

Exhaustion started to set in about halfway through the movie, and I couldn’t keep my eyes open any longer. I curled into Elias’s side, using his chest as my personal pillow. I would have been mortified if it didn’t feel so good.

There were a million reasons I shouldn’t be here. It was just setting me up for heartbreak. But I couldn’t help it. Not today. I knew he was reacting to the fear that something bad could have happened. This wasn’t real. It would never work, no matter how badly we both wanted it.

Today, I could have died. It wasn’t very likely. Being a water witch certainly gave me some protection over fire, but it could have happened. I could have lost him today too. And the thought of never seeing Elias again wasn’t sitting well with me.

I squeezed him a little harder and breathed in his fresh scent. He smelled like the wind after a soft summer rain. And I knew that after today it would be engrained in my memories forever. Every time it rained I would think of him.

“What are you thinking?” he asked.

The deep rumble of his voice vibrated through my body when he spoke.

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