Raindrops Book 1: Cry 26 Chapter 9A

"If this is a crush, then I don't know if I could take the real thing if it happens" – George Herbert

September 20th 2013; 6:42am

I opened my eyes slowly, expecting the white ceiling of my bedroom to greet me with the same silence it had for the past four months. Instead, there was a pair of large brownish-gold eyes staring brightly at me.

I screamed.

The girl screamed in shock, and jumped back.

I screamed louder.

The little girl staring back at me in shock screamed even louder and yanked herself back, ending up in a pile on the floor.

"Ouch," I heard a tiny voice say next to the bed but I couldn't see her. I put my hand on my chest and took in deep breaths.

What the h.e.l.l?

"Come on people, it's not even seven o clock yet" Avian walked in then, rubbing his eyes. His hair was all over the place, because he had just woken up, and he was wearing a pair of pajama bottoms that said 'go to bed for heaven's sake' all over it; and his s.h.i.+rt…wait where was his s.h.i.+rt?

I swallowed and trailed my eyes down his chest.

"Who are you?" the tiny voice said and I reluctantly dragged my eyes from his body and towards the girl who looked about five or six. She was on her knees on the bed, sitting on the back of her feet. I looked at her and gave her a small smile.

"I'm Shay. Who are you?" I asked, shaking the tiny hand she had extended towards me. She smiled, showing off her braces fully.

"I'm Lexi," she said, slowly poking my shoulder "why did you scream?"

"You startled me," I said with a small smile, glancing nervously at Avian. He still stood at the door, leaning against the frame and watching both of us.

He was still s.h.i.+rtless.

I turned back to Lexi.

"Is Lexi short for Alexia?" I asked as she sat down on the bed next to me. She gazed at me and nodded excitedly, before glancing at Avian.

"That's my brother" she said, pointing at Avian with her thumb. I smiled and turned back to Avian, who had now pushed himself off the frame and was walking into the room.

"I told you not to bother her, Lexi," Avian said, walking towards his little sister. Lexi frowned and crossed her arms over her chest.

It was adorable.

"Come on" Avian said, picking her from the bed and settling her on the floor "go finish your breakfast."

She frowned but nodded, before skipping towards the door. She stopped and grinned, before waving excitedly at me and then she was gone.

"Sorry about that," Avian said, scratching the back of his neck "she's had a lot of sugar this morning."

"It's okay," I said, laughing gently "she's sweet."

Avian smiled, clearly glad that his sister had not freaked me out too much, and nodded.

"So how are you?" he asked and my mind wandered back to last night.

I could still feel the boytoy's hands grabbing at me.

"I'm fine" I said, running my hands through my hair. That's when I realized I didn't have on the wig.

Or the contacts.

I blushed.

"You didn't exactly tell me what happened," he sat on the edge of the bed and looked at me, his hands playing with the beads on his wrist.

"I know, I was just paranoid but it is okay," I lied, avoiding his stare. He nodded, as if he didn't completely believe me, and stood up.

"I didn't know you were a blonde, or that you had green eyes. Why do you wear a wig and contacts?" he asked, stopping on his way out of the room.

"Thank you for last night," I avoided his question and shot out of the bed, before stalking hastily towards the bathroom "I'm going to take a shower now."

I didn't wait for his answer; instead, I raced into the bathroom and slammed the door, maybe a little too hard in my eagerness to get far away.

I stood behind the door and listened to see if he had left yet

"I put some fresh clothes in the bathroom," he yelled from behind the door "they're on the rack."

"Thank you" I yelled back, glancing at the clothes. It was another pair of sweatpants and a black hoodie. I waited until I heard the bedroom door close, then I let out a breath I didn't realize I had been holding in.

I glanced at myself in the mirror; my hair was all over the place as a result of my frantic escape last night, in addition to bed hair. There were tiny bags beneath my eyes and a drop of drool had dried on the corner of the right side of my mouth.

I can't believe he had seen me looking like a troll and hadn't run for his life.

I groaned to myself, as I brushed my teeth slowly. When I was done with that, I washed my face then got into the shower, turning the hot water up.

I stood beneath the shower, and let the water wash away the hands that had gripped my skin greedily; the tingling and disgusting feel of his breath on the base of my neck; the bruise that had formed on the right side of my mouth when he had slapped me.

I closed my eyes and prayed for the water to wash away the memories.