“We need to stop meeting like this,” Blaine jokes.
My tongue darts out to wet my lips. “Where?”
“Bathroom. You didn’t hide well enough.”
When I attempt to move, nothing responds to me. Not even my fingers will twitch. Blaine kneels at my side, stroking my arms and bruised face. From the scent of leather, I think his jacket is cradling my head like a pillow.
“Take it easy.” He continues caressing me. “That was an intense one.”
“How… l-long?”
Blaine glances at the silver Rolex on his wrist. “About three minutes. I read somewhere that you’re supposed to time it. You took a bit to come around after.”
My eyes squeeze shut as tears pool in the cavities, threatening to break cover. The cold hand running up and down my arms stills.
“Hey, I can go get someone. If you’ll just let me?—”
“No,” I bleat.
“You don’t have to hide this from them, Ember.”
“N-No.”
“Alright, then. You’re stuck with me.”
“Go a-away.”
He scoffs under his breath. “Unlikely.”
I’m unable to move or shove him aside. Frankly, his chilled fingertips feel great on my clammy skin. Blaine pushes hair from my face, adjusts his jacket to support my neck better then resumes rubbing comforting circles on my arm. It’s soothing.
“F-Feels… nice.”
He smiles faintly. “I’ve got you. Just focus on breathing.”
We fall into an easy silence until the excruciating needle-tingle phase has come and gone. Relieved that my body is my own again, I let my lungs expand on a deep inhale. I’m exhausted and aching like I’ve been hit by a loaded truck.
“Water… p-please.” My voice is wispy as it pulls from my dry throat.
“Hang on.” He climbs to his feet. “There’s a vending machine outside.”
When Blaine returns, I’ve managed to wrestle my trembling body up and weakly shuffled to rest against the stall door. My hand wavers as I wipe tears from my face, avoiding the cuts and scrapes from Carlos’s beating.
“Here.” Blaine sits next to me, extending a water bottle. “Drink up.”
Once he’s popped the cap, I take several long gulps, ignoring the trickles running down my chin because I can’t hold the plastic steady. Embarrassment forces me to look ahead, avoiding his stare.
“What else do you need?” he asks.
“Just rest.”
“I’ve come to realise you’re pretty terrible at that. I have half a mind to kidnap you and not return you to those assholes until after you’ve had some real rest.”
“Doubt Sabre would agree to that.” I laugh hollowly.
“I’m excellent at making people disappear. They wouldn’t find you.”
His long leg brushes mine where he sits next to me on the floor. Too tired to fight, I let my head slump to the side, resting it on Blaine’s shoulder. After a pause, his head leans against mine almost tenderly.
