Page 75 of Shadowed With Fear

She nods. “He left pictures and notes, and he gave me a dahlia.”

Recognition sparks as I remember the plant sitting outside her balcony window.

“I meant everything I said to you. I’m also saying this now. We will find him, and he will pay.”

“I believe you…So where does this leave us?” She asks me, staring at her hands in her lap, fidgeting with the sleeve of my hoodie.

“Well, I hope it leaves us right where we left off…” I murmur, coming up beside her, hand raising to hold her face. Her beautiful soft face, with those stunning hazel eyes, and pouty lips the color of a dusky rose, and her adorable chubby cheeks.

“Yeah,” she breathes, “And where was that exactly?”

I hum, “Somewhere around here.” I lift her chin up, my lips hovering over her own. “May I kiss you, sweet girl?”

She doesn’t respond, only stares at me. The milliseconds I stood waiting for answer were an eternity I never want to live through again. Just when I thought she was going to turn me down, and I begin to pull away, she surges forward, arms wrapping around my neck, pulling me in close.

There are no fireworks. No burning sensation where our lips meet or electricity shooting through my body. Kissing her feels like waking up on Christmas morning as a kid, to the smell of cinnamon rolls, and your parents standing around the kitchen wearing bright smiles. Happiness, wonder, joy. It feels like coming home after a long frustrating day and taking a hot shower and crawling into bed. Relief, contentment, comfort.

The cold barren place in my chest fills with light and warmth in a way that is so foreign. Being in her arms—being in Dahlia’s light, it’s standing beneath the sun on a July evening, the golden rays soaking deep into your bones, shining from the inside out.

I don’t want to pull away. I wat to stay here in this very fucking moment for the rest of my life. Until the universe collapses and all that’s left is the atoms of our lives floating infinitely.

She pulls away, burrowing her face into my shirt. I can feel the heat of it radiating through the fabric, directly in the spot her presence so often occupies in my chest.

“You ready to lie down, D? You’ve had a long day. You should get some rest, okay?” My voice is strained, but she looks up at me, eyes dazed before nodding.

I turn and begin to walk to the living room, when her hand stops me. “What are you doing?” She tilts her head, staring at me confused.

“Showing you where the guest room is, sweet girl. You need to sleep.”

“I know that, but why are you taking me there? Your rooms right here,” she says pointing to the hall.

I shake my head in amusement. “Okay, if that’s what you want.”

I haven’t finished my sentence and she’s already making her way down the hall, jumping into my bed.

She wiggles around in the sheets, and sighs happily.

“We’ll be in the garage if you wake up, okay? Just come get us if you need anything.”

“Grays?” She whispers.

“Yeah?” I turn back to her in the doorway.

“Thank you.”

I nod, shutting the door, but leaving it cracked.

If anyone should be thanked, it’s her for giving me this feeling again.

Dahlia

I will admit, willingly, that riding to school on the back of Grayson’s bike is so much better than Liz’s car. Love her. Love her to death, but that’s just it. Death. I’m pretty sure the girl is going to kill me, her, and at least eight pedestrians at any point of entering her vehicle.

And having the rush of the wind blowing through my curls, and the cool, early October morning air nipping at my skin, it’s perfect. I haven’t even needed to drink coffee this week. The minute I wake up my body is buzzing with energy waiting for a chance to ride.

Things have been going well being Grays’ roommate. Nothing…salacious has happened, much to my slight disappointment. Everything has remained innocently rated G. A few kisses, pecks on the cheek, cuddles watching TV, and hand holding. It’s like were in middle school, and he completely forgot about the fact he fucked my thighs in a public place two weeks ago.

While I wish he wouldn’t be so cautious around me, I’m kind of thankful. It’s given me the time to sort through everything that I know now.