“Just don’t do it again.”
I head out to stand in the cool air on the balcony watching the rain. I can already feel the sweat dripping down my back, so I place my hair in a bun on the top of my head.
“I thought I was helping you. We don’t have that kind of relationship. I knew if we’d gone there, given into our desires because of the heat, we would ruin a friendship that has become important to us both. You’re my best friend, Angel. I don’t want to lose you,” Nixon says softly, as he leans on his elbows on the railing of the balcony next to me.
I let out a deep breath. “I know, Nix. I’m sorry too.” I turn and look at him, lift my hand and place it on the top of his head, running my fingers through his hair gently.
“I don’t know what came over me. I’ve never felt that way before, but no matter what happens... I’ll always be here Nix. You know all my secrets, you couldn’t get rid of me even if you tried.”
****
The days fly by and I’m in and out of consciousness. My body is constantly on fire and I’m getting weaker by the day. Nixon helps to feed me, lifting my head to give me water. I can feel Faith writhing in pain too as she calls out for our mates. Nixon tells me five days have gone by, if we’re lucky I’ll only have to go through this for another two days. My parents keep trying to get through to us. I’m afraid that in my weak state I might not be able to hold up the barrier inside my head. My entire pack could get in there and find out all the secrets and memories I’ve kept hidden so well. Nixon told them where we were staying, but he told them that we’d invited a couple friends to join us and didn’t know how long we’d be staying for. Surprisingly they were cool with it as long as I was responsible; meaning, keeping my drinking to a minimum. I would rather them think that I was partying like a regular eighteen year old then know what was actually going on.
“I can’t do it Nixon, you need to make it stop!” I yell from where I lay on the bed.
“You know what I have to do to make it stop. I’m not having sex with you, Angel. I’m sorry,” he says, wiping his face with his hands. The past few days has been really tough on him, he looks exhausted.
“I don’t care anymore, Nixon! Just do what you have to do. My body is on fire, just make it stop!” I start crying.
“Dude, if I had a girl begging me to bed her, I’d jump her.” I hear Axel’s voice. I turn to see him through tear-filled eyes leaning against the bedroom door.
“What the hell are you doing here? How did you get up?” Nixon stands quickly and looks back and forth between Axel and me. He looks a little worried that Axel may take me up on the offer.
“I’m good at climbing,” he shrugs, walking past as Nixon keeps his eyes firmly on Axel.
“Chill, bro. I’m not gonna jump her. I was joking. I have more control then you think, dude.” Axel calmly sits down on the side of my bed near me.
He looks down at me, giving me a little smile. He reaches into the bowl full of ice and wets the face cloth.
“How you doing, sugar?” He says, using the gentlest voice I’ve ever heard him use. He places the ice cold cloth on my forehead and I let out a sigh of bliss. The fact that I’m lying in one of Nixon’s shirts and nothing else doesn’t even faze me at this point.
I close my eyes. “I don’t know how much longer I can do this, Ax. We’re hurting.” I speak for myself and Faith.
He brings another ice cold, wet cloth down my arms, then goes towards my legs.
“You need to eat more, Angel. You’ve lost weight,” he says, sounding concerned.
He looks up to Nixon.“You too, dude. Go shower and have a rest. You look like shit. I’ve got this.” Nixon rolls his eyes, but reluctantly leaves the room, too exhausted to argue with him.
After Axel feeds me, he helps me to the shower and stands outside the shower curtain until I’m done. He gives me privacy when we enter the bedroom so I can place my underwear and bra on. I don’t even bother putting on a shirt, my body can’t take the material sticking to my wet skin.
I lie on the bed and curl in a ball of pain. Axel opens the door and clicks his tongue.
“You’re determined to make this harder on me, aren’t you, Angel?” He chuckles to himself as he looks down at my half naked body.
“I can’t wear clothes, they keep sticking to me,” I say, as I roll over onto my other side and fall asleep.
I hear Axel’s angry voice speaking over the phone. “Either one of you get your asses over here and help her or I’ll ease her pain, and you know what I mean when I say that. She’s in so much agony right now, man and I’m struggling to not do what I really want to. If you don’t get here in the next three hours I’m going to take her and believe me, when I’m done with her…you two won’t even be a blip on her fucking radar.”