Page 46 of Withered

“What did you say? I didn’t quite hear you.”

Of course, I heard him. Very clearly. As clear as this night sky. I can’t believe he said it. Well, didn’t take me much to make him agree with me.

“You better get your ass here before I change my mind.” His teasing tone makes me grin.

I close my window and sneak out of my house, grabbing the first aid box on my way.

As expected, he opens the door and I make my way inside. The lights are off but I can see him leaning against the wall near the staircase. We tiptoe our way upwards to his room, closing the door behind us.

The room looks untouched, the same as I remember from the last time I was here.Does he even stay here?

Jake leans against the headboard, and I quietly join him. Gently removing his hand, I examine the bruise.

“This looks pretty bad,” I say, eyeing the bruise which is dark purple.

I want to know who he fought with but last time he got angry when I asked him about it, so I stay quiet.

“It hurts pretty bad,” he mutters.

I apply a little pressure on the bruised part by dabbing a finger.

He jumps a little in surprise and shouts, “What are you doing?”

I retract my hand and answer in a casual tone, “Just checking if any bone is broken.” I meet his eyes and say, “Apparently not. And please keep your voice low, Aria heard me last night.”

He chuckles, “She heardyou. So, you keep quiet, Missy.”

I narrow my eyes at him. “What is it with you and your nicknames? Just call me Rose.”

I roll my eyes at him as he shrugs. I carefully apply the ointment to his bruises and those that have nearly faded away. If it hadn’t been for him, who won’t stop moving, I would have finished my work swiftly.

“Can you just stay still?” I bark at him.

I’m trying my best not to hurt him more than he already is, but the constant heat from his body and sheer closeness isn’t helping me.

He looks shocked by my sudden outburst and stiffens immediately while I wrap up my work before he starts moving again.

“There! All done!” I say, throwing everything into the box.

“Thanks,” He says and I nod.

I take a quick tour of the bathroom and go back into the room to find Jake sitting on the edge of his bed. When I walk into the room, his eyes contact mine and glide down my body.

I left the house in such a rush that I forgot to put on some decent clothes. I’m still in my camisole and shorts that barely cover my butt. I clear my throat snapping Jake out. His eyes are now heavy again with strong intensity, dark green eyes boring into mine.

I break the silence. “I should leave now.”

When he doesn’t speak, I take the silence as a solid yes, grab the first aid box, and get ready to leave. When I get to the door, he says, “Hey, don’t leave.”

When I return my eyes to him, he avoids it. “What do you mean?” I ask.

“Can you… uhm, stay?” He stutters, which is unlike him.

“Why?” I ask, totally confused now.

He shakes his head. “It’s just… nothing.”

“Are you okay, Jake?” I move closer to him.

---