I woke up again, lonely and frightened, and worried.
The house is way too still when I’m the only one here.
In just 12 short hours I’ll see your face again.
So I’m holding on with all the strength I can.
4:29 is the longest minute of my day.
That’s the minute before I get to see you.
But after that you’ll be in my arms.
Safe from harm and I can’t help but think.
Somehow me and you will be okay.
How long the minutes tick here without you.
It feels co dependent and scary in it’s own way.
But that won’t matter…
In 12 short hours…
you’ll be back in my arms again.
“Better, sure,” she said with a grin, patting him on the back. ”At least you’re not coughing anymore.” Reaching up Laura placed the back of her hand against his forehead. ”You don’t feel warm…” she murmured, squinting to try and concentrate to be sure. ”Do you feel achy at all?”
Derek nodded. “I do kind of feel achy but more like I need a good stretch, a pot of coffee and a run to campus.” he put his hand on his chest. “My chest still hurts though…”
“Hey hey hey,” she murmured, taking his hand and squeezing it. ”It’s okay, take a few deep breaths. And smoking isn’t going to help at all with you sick like this.” She rubbed her thumbs in circles on the back of his hand, trying to help him calm down.
Derek plopped back down. “I’m supposed to be quitting anyway.” He shoved the drawer to the bedside table shut. “I feel better than I did yesterday.” Derek said. He covered his mouth and sneezed three times in rapid secession.
Laura stirred and blinked open her eyes. ”Der? What’s wrong?” she asked, sitting up and resting a hand on his arm. ”Are you okay?”
“Bad dream.” Derek huffed. He ran his fingers through his hair. “I need a smoke.” He triffled through his bed side table with no avail.
Drew smiled brightly, humming along with the song. Derek smelled and looked amazing tonight, and Drew couldn’t help blush at the tight feeling in his stomach at being so close to the other male. “D-Derek…” He sighed contently, pressing his face into Derek’s chest and inhaling the soft scent of soap mixed with Cologne. “This is wonderful.”
Derek smiled and stroked Drew’s cheek. “This is perfect.” he sighed and reached down to kiss Drew again. ”Thank you…for such an amazing night…”
Laura’s hands ended up tucked against Derek’s chest as she let herself be enveloped in his warmth. ”Night Der…” she breathed, the rise and fall of her chest slowing and evening out.
Several hours later, Derek sat up in a cold sweat. His heart was racing, and he was a little more than out of it. “Kay?” He asked to the emptiness. He looked down out Laura. “Laur?”
Danny kept moving, no longer thinking about the boy behind him. He just keep swimming forward until he was out of breath and paused. He spread his arms out and laid back on the water.
Derek finally caught up with Danny. He was breathing a little bit perhaps too hard. “Good god boy, what are you, a merman?” he asked teasingly. He flipped himself back into a float too and tangled his hand with Danny’s.
Laura nuzzled him, tucking her face into the crook of his neck. ”Mmm…I am pretty tired…” she murmured, eyes fluttering closed.
Derek wrapped one of his arms loosely around Laura and closed his eyes. He took a deep breath, and silently prayed that the nightmares would stay away…at least for one night.
“I think my brother would be more than happy to help you with that,” Laura mumbled, cuddling into him. ”He never…liked the guy,” she said through a light yawn, trying to cover it up. ”I thought he was just being overprotective. Guess which of us was the wrong one.”
Derek pulled up the covers over them both. ”Justin doesn’t like anyone though.” he laughed. “Come on Laura…let’s go to sleep? Be lucky I’m sick…” he yawed.
“Oh…” she murmured as realization dawned on her. ”You mean…that? No…no, he didn’t take my name. He wanted to…tried, but I wouldn’t give him the pleasure.”
Derek snuggled again. “Good, because if he had, I might have to go to England and kill him for real.” He ran his fingers through her hair.
