A/N: Hiya! I'm glad you've decided to stick with the story and check out the next chapter! I really hope you enjoy it
Chapter 2: An Offer You Can't Refuse
Orihime found herself in a large white hall of wide-spreading dimensions. It was absolutely empty, with many doors. Her gaze traveled around, taking in this new, unfamiliar place as she tried to remember how she had gotten there in the first place.
"Orihime"
Her eyes grew wide with shock, as a voice suddenly entered her mind. She anxiously looked around to locate its source, but there was no one in sight.
"Orihime"
The voice kept echoing in her head again and again, and she could hear it along with her racing heartbeat. She clenched her eyelids shut and tried to steady her breath, but suddenly her skin was burning, the pain felt as if she was on fire.
"Orihime"
She kept hearing her name, as the voice kept sounding louder and clearer. She found herself in a state of panic and raced to one of the many doors, but soon realized it was locked. She moved on to the next, and the next, and the next, but she couldn't get out.
Suddenly the place felt as if it was about to crumble around her and she dropped to the floor and…
She woke up screaming in her bed, sweating copiously and gripping the sheets. She was panting heavily and could hear her heartbeat still racing.
She sat up to open the window above her bed to let some fresh air in and let her head drop on her knees. The night breeze caressed her skin and she took in the smothering summer scent. Everything around her seemed so composed and relaxing, yet on the inside, Orihime felt as if she could break down any minute.
Tears started forming in the corner of her eyes, and she let them slip down her cheeks, burying her head into her knees.
Why was this happening to her? It had been a week since she had her first nightmare and it seemed they only kept getting worse.
She hated them. They weren't like anything she had experienced before. She felt a sudden chill rush down her spine as she remembered the images from just now. And what was up with that voice? It was as if someone simply entered her mind, and kept calling her name out from the inside and she had no control of it what so ever.
She didn't want to let that happen ever again! But what was she supposed to do, deprive herself from sleep until she figured out how to make it stop?
She was already having trouble catching up with school, not to mention her friends getting suspicious over her drained look.
She clutched the sheet tighter as she remembered Ichigo coming up to her the other day. She had felt bad about lying to him ever since, but the last thing she wanted was for him to worry about her. Again.
She had played the part of a burden for far too long in the past.
Orihime desperately tried to think of a reason why her mind hasn't been working properly. Her everyday life seemed so normal and carefree at the moment, so what was the cause of these utterly disturbing nightmares?
She couldn't think of a single thing.
She let out a deep sigh as she closed the window and laid back down. The night was still far from over.
"Che, how can I not worry about you?" Orihime heard her tomboyish best friend reply as they walked through the school hallway together. She sighed as she realized Tatsuki wasn't about to let this go. "I mean, no offense, but you look like you haven't slept in ages!"
"Tatsuki-chan, I'm fine, really! So, your karate meet is tomorrow, right?"
"Don't you try to change the subject!" The two friends entered the classroom and headed for their seats. "Just tell me what's going on already! Ichigo, Chad, help me out here!" Tatsuki called out to the group of boys gathered around one of the desks.
"Tatsuki-chan!" Orihime panicked, suddenly becoming the centre of attention as the boys joined the conversation.
"What's up?" Ichigo narrowed his dark eyes at her, and she could feel heat rising to her face.
"I'd normally discuss this with her alone" Tatsuki started. "But she's just being too damn stubborn!" She gave Orihime a bit of an angry glare and continued. "She obviously hasn't slept in days, but refuses to say why!"
"You do look exhausted, Inoue" Chad remarked and Inoue's gaze dropped to the floor. This was all starting to feel more and more like an interrogation! The nasty feeling of anxiety started to take over her again.
"Inoue?" A deep, yet noticeably softer voice jolted her out of her thoughts. She looked up and saw Ichigo's eyes studying her carefully and… worriedly?
"Ah-uh, I…" she stuttered, feeling something stir in her stomach. "I…" Was all she was able to mutter. She cleared her throat, trying to collect her thoughts but it was really hard to focus with him staring at her so intensely, not to mention the other two watching on the sidelines.
Should she just confess what was bothering her and get it over with? At this point, it seemed like the only option left.
She let out one last deep sigh and tried to gather up all her courage. "T-the truth is… I've been having these dreams" She swallowed hard. "N-nightmares actually. And they keep getting so bizarre and feel so real, I just…"
"What?" Tatsuki urged her to go on, her voice sounding much softer than before.
"I keep waking up in the middle of the night" She confessed weakly, her gaze falling down again. "And then I just can't go back to sleep at all".
"Why didn't you come to me about this, Orihime?" Tatsuki asked gently, placing her hand over hers.
"Y-you have that karate meet, and I didn't want to worry you because I know you need to focus and…"
"Since when is that more important to me than you?" Tatsuki sighed deeply. "I don't think you should be alone at night till this passes though".
Silence lingered for a few moments, until Tatsuki spoke again. "I'm leaving for the meet tonight and won't be here for a couple of days, but I can always…"
"She can stay at my place" Ichigo suddenly offered, his voice cool and serious.
Tatsuki looked at him suspiciously, while a dark blush spread like wildfire over Orihime's cheeks. She felt something stir inside her stomach as her throat went dry.
"I'm serious, she can stay at my place" he repeated firmly. "She'd be around people she knows, maybe that'll make her relax and get some sleep. And if she wakes up from a nightmare, she won't be alone".
"Hmm" Tatsuki didn't seem convinced. "Are you sure that's the only reason you want her at your house-"
"Tatsuki-chan!" Orihime blushed even more if possible, clutching her friends hand to prevent her from embarrassing her even more.
"Oww! That hurt you know!" Tatsuki hissed. "So, would you be okay with staying with him for a couple of days?"
Orihime sweat dropped at the question. She felt all eyes were on her again, but decided to take a moment to think.
L-living in Kurosaki-kun's house? S-sleeping in his house?
She felt her body temperature rise at the thought of it! Wouldn't she be a nuisance? Again?
Still, having Kurosaki-kun near sure beats being alone in her lonely apartment while those nasty dreams drive her mad.
"Inoue?" her train of thoughts was once again interrupted by a familiar voice.
She lifted her gaze to Ichigo. "I-if it's not too much trouble, I-I guess…".
"Why would it be trouble?" he replied with a small smile. "It's not a problem at all. We can go get your things after school".
"O-okay then" she stuttered, too embarrassed to look him in the eyes.
Tatsuki still had a suspicious, don't-you-dare-try-something-weird look directed at Ichigo, but the thing seemed settled, just in time since class was about to start.
Orihime sat down at her desk and tried to figure out what just happened.
"She can stay at my place."
She felt her cheeks turn red as she remembered that line and tried to hide her face from the sensei. She sighed for what seemed the hundredth time.
This was going to be one long day.
To be continued...
A/N: Short chapter, I know! I planned on it to be longer, but then it just seemed too long so I kind of chopped it in half! xD
What did you think? Bad, ok, not so good, great? Just tell me your thoughts, that'd make me really happy!
I promise, there is SO MUCH more to come, as dumb as it might be to say that about your own story, I think you'll like the next chapter more! So I hope you decide to stick around :)
THANK YOU GuiltyIchiHime, nypsy, Lord Jaric, PoeticNonsenseNinjaStyle, Areej Binte Jawaid, stormsomemore and S0phi34wn for your awesome reviews! :D
Have a nice day, ya'all!
xo
