Oh look! It's an update! Sorry for the lateness, I had a friend over yest and I didn't really touch my computer and we had a movie marathon! But, without further interruption. . .
HEART WARS
Chapter 6
so tired of routines
DAY EIGHTEEN
They'd fallen into a routine.
Everyday, Shane's alarm would ring at 6:30am and he'd get up, shower and go make breakfast before Mitchie stumbled into the room, smiling as she always did, and happily eat whatever he'd made. Then he'd feed Anakin. At 7:30am, while Mitchie had a quick shower, he'd lay out her school uniform and then go and take Anakin for a walk around the block. By the time he got back at 8am, Mitchie would be dressed and ready to leave. They would then get to her school by 8:15am.
Shane would then return home and either go straight back to bed or dress properly and go to work. Everyone either ignored him or he ignored them once there. They'd practice until 1:30pm and he'd leave to grab some lunch before going to pick Mitchie up. They'd eat in the car as he drove her to therapy and have light conversation until they reached the help centre. Shane would drop her off and go back to work or home. Finally, he'd pick her up again at 4:15pm and they'd go home.
While she was busy doing her homework, he would prepare them dinner and they'd eat at 7pm. After that, all they basically did was either make small talk or watch TV. Mitchie would just listen, but it didn't matter.
Bed time was at 10pm and then the routine started all over again.
Weekends weren't very different and they'd both sleep in.
But this particular Monday was very different to the rest.
ACHOO!
Shane winced as Mitchie's sneeze filled the entire room. He groaned and brought her some tissues. She would have to be bed-ridden for the entire day. The sneezing girl offered him a weak smile as she coughed.
It was currently 10am and he'd just woken up.
He'd only woken up due to her loud coughing too.
"You really should've come and woken me earlier Mitchie," he told her as he placed a hand on her heated forehead. "You've got a fever."
"I didn't think I was bad…" she mumbled an excuse, her voice all scratchy. He didn't like not being able to hear her proper voice. He sighed as he took his hand off her heated, clammy skin. She was quite pale and blue bags had formed underneath her glassy eyes. Not to mention the fact that her nose had taken on a new shade of red. Her hair was completely messy and hardly had any style to it. She looked a mess.
A beautiful mess
"You should've told me yesterday that you were coming down with something," he growled as he stood up from her bed. They could've prevented this from happening if she'd just told him. "I could've gotten you something from the pharmacy when I went yesterday."
She looked apologetic as she hung her head, "I'm really sorry Shane. I didn't think it'd get like this." She began playing with the unused tissue in her hands as she hung her head, some of her bangs cascading over her shoulders.
He sighed. He really couldn't stay mad at her. "I'm not angry okay? I'm just… worried." He really was and it was hard for him to admit it. As much as he tried to deny it, he didn't like seeing her in this state. It just didn't suit her.
"Now I'm going to take Ani for a walk and go get you some medicine so just sit tight okay?" She nodded and shook as another cough wracked her small frame.
"Well, there's not much else I can do other than sit here. I don't think I have the strength to really go anywhere," she lightly joked with a timid smile. At least she hadn't lost her humor.
"Come Ani," he cooed to the golden dog as he went to grab the leash from the kitchen counter. The poor dog was getting restless at being kept inside. He clipped on the hot pink lead to the dog's matching collar and they were out the door in seconds. He bit his lip in frustration as they waited in the elevator.
What was wrong with Mitchie? It'd been so sudden this flu of hers. It couldn't have been in anything she ate because he'd eaten nearly the exact same as she had and he felt perfectly fine. She must've picked it up at school. It was the only logical explanation. What bugged him the most was how sudden it had struck. She'd been fine yesterday.
An agitated sigh left his lips as he searched his memories of last night. Nothing about her actions last night had given him any indication as to how she felt. Or maybe, he just hadn't been paying enough attention to her.
But, he had been paying attention to her. Too much almost. He couldn't help it. Ever since they'd shared that moment together a week back, he hadn't stopped paying attention to her. Only problem was that she seemed to have no memory of any of it.
And that irritated him.
Yet, as much as he hated to admit it, it made sense. What could he offer her? Such a pure, untainted innocent? He felt like he was poisoning her every time he touched her. It would be wrong to try and begin anything with her. Not to mention she was too young. Their four year age-gap was too much when she was only 17.
He was glad he was wearing his sunglasses as camera flashes immediately began catching his eye as soon as he left the building. Darn paparazzi hadn't left him alone ever since last week, when he'd been seen with Mitchie again, but that time they'd been at the mall, shopping for school stationery.
He hadn't answered any of their questions and so the world was still trying to figure out who exactly she was to him.
Anakin whimpered as the paparazzi got too close. The flies were getting too close for comfort. Luckily, the pharmacy was in sight and he increased his pace to a jog. Ani eagerly joined him as they ran into the medicine store. The flies didn't follow him in due to the security guard glaring at them at the door.
For this he was grateful.
The pharmacy was mostly grey coloured with white tiles. Numerous shelves stood before him, all filled with various medicines and syrups for every condition. Then, further back was the counter where all the pharmacists and the cashiers stood. Behind them were more shelves.
"Mr. Gray, what can I get you?" the friendly owner of the store spoke upon seeing him. He flashed an award-winning grin at the aging man and placed his arms on the counter-top. Mr. Keller knew him quite well now and he always found the graying man interesting.
"Actually, it's for my friend," he sighed, remembering Mitchie's condition, "She's sneezing, coughing and has a fever. She's also pale with bags under her eyes." He tried to remember if she had any other symptoms. "Oh, she doesn't want to eat anything either."
The old man furrowed his brow as he went into the back of the store.
Shane waited patiently.
He was back a few minutes later with two bottles in his hand. He couldn't pronounce either name on the containers.
"Give her this twice a day," he held up the blue container, "And this one once. She should be fine in about two days."
Shane smiled and paid for the two bottles.
"Thanks Mr. Keller."
HEART WARS
Mitchie was lying limply in her bed when he returned and this only caused Shane to frown. She seemed to just be getting worse.
"Hey Mitchie, you have to drink these pills for me okay?" he whispered to her as he brought them to her bedside. She grunted a little and begrudgingly sat up. She seemed even paler than before and she was beginning to shiver. This wasn't a good sign. If she wasn't better by tomorrow, he'd take her to the doctor.
"Here we go," he gently said as he placed one of the pills in her hand and gave her the glass of water in the other. She drank the pills easily and then flopped back down into the bed. He gave another disapproving glimpse over her shaking form and pulled the covers over her, hoping the medicine would work soon. He didn't like seeing her this way.
She sighed and snuggled deeper into covers.
Mitchie was asleep within moments and Shane slowly crept from her room, keeping her door open should something happen.
Grabbing his phone, he opened a new text message.
TO: Nate
Hey bro.
Won't be in today – Mitchie sick.
He sent the simple message and relaxed back into the couch. Now all he could do was hope that the medication would work.
A soft whimper caused him to look to the side and Anakin sat at the bottom of the couch, looking up at him with his pleading doggy eyes. He groaned, he had to resist… these couches cost more than the dog would ever dream of… Anakin whimpered again and Shane felt his defenses collapsing…
He might not have more value than the couches…
But Anakin meant the world to Mitchie.
"Fine," Shane murmured and patted the space next to him, "Get up here you big show off." Ani shot up and leapt onto the leather without much other persuasion. He eagerly lapped Shane's nearest hand with his tongue and Shane made a face. He considered shoving the dog off, but Mitchie's face came to mind and he ignored the slobbering.
Next thing he knew, Ani's muzzle was on his right thigh and the dog was sending him worried glances. Shane sympathized. They were both anxious about Mitchie.
"She's going to be okay buddy," Shane comforted the Labrador as he gently touched the dog's shaggy fur. "And it seems like you and I both need a haircut."
HEART WARS
Nate's jaw promptly dropped as he read Shane's curt text message.
He motioned for Jason to come over and the eldest Gray brother did so with curiosity on his defined features. Nate was hardly ever rendered speechless by a simple text message.
Nate said nothing as he handed Jason the phone. Once reading over the message, his own jaw dropped.
It was working.
Joshua's crazy scheme was actually working. This blind girl was impacting Shane's life like the way they'd hoped. He was actually becoming bearable at work again and he'd dropped some his drama. And now he was staying at home to look after her. He was actually caring about another human being. It was almost unbelievable.
"Are we thinking the same thing?" Jason questioned as he and Nate both moved their heads in each other's directions at the same time, looking each other straight in the eye.
"As long as it doesn't involve pogo sticks, dynamite or cats, we're thinking the same thing," Nate joked, knowing his brother's crazy tendencies and absolutely and utterly whack thoughts. But he was loved all the same, weird thoughts and all. He was also one of the best guitarists out there.
"Psh no," Jason snorted as he crossed his arms, "Unless Mitchie is on a pogo stick, holding lit dynamite and waiting for a cat to cross the road-
"Just… don't go any further."
Mitchie had been asleep for the past eight whole hours, not even waking up once to use the bathroom. Well, not that she'd eaten anything during the day, but still, fact of the matter was that she hadn't arisen in quite some time and Shane Gray was officially and utterly worried sick.
He knew it was normal for a sick person to sleep, but they at least woke up every now and then right? He shook his head as he continued to pace his living room, occasionally staring out of the gigantic glass window that lead out onto his balcony and served as a wall. It was now nearing nine in the evening and he had barely eaten anything himself.
Anakin hadn't touched his gourmet doggy chow either.
They'd basically sat on the couch, both in the same position for most of the afternoon, simply staring out the window and onto LA. He hadn't even thought about anything other than Mitchie or he'd allowed his mind to run blank.
Not even when his shiny iPhone had rung had he made any attempt to answer it, even thought it was on the glass coffee table a few feet in front of him. He just didn't feel like talking to anyone.
As he completed another lap of his pacing, he decided it was time to wake Mitchie to feed her the second tablet of the blue bottle. He needed to give it to her if she was going to be better by tomorrow. With uneven steps, he stalked over to the open-plan, silver and black modernly decorated kitchen and pulled a glass from one of the overhead wall-cupboards. Then, he went to the fridge and filled it from the filter system there. The pills were still in Mitchie's room.
Anakin followed him into the beige, plainly decorated guest room where the sickly Mitchie lay in an awkward position on the queen-sized bed. His heart clenched at the sight of her. Even in her sleep she was sweating as her ghostly skin was clammy and a few tendrils of high-lighted hair clung to her cheeks and forehead. Her eyes were shut tightly and her mouth was in a thin line. She seemed to be in pain.
With silent movements, Shane was at her side, already seated on the edge of the bed and a hand on her shoulder. She was still shivering.
"Mitchie," he whispered as he shook her shoulder, reminding him of how she'd woken him the first time. He cracked a tiny grin at the memory. "It's time to take your medicine sleeping beauty."
She whimpered as slowly, she opened a glassy, chocolaty eye. It almost felt as though she could really see him, but the dullness of her iris told him otherwise. Her other eye soon followed and they were blinking in unison.
"Shane?" Her voice was so pitiful that he clenched his fingers into a fist with his free hand. He nodded and she sighed as she saw the movement coming from his static figure. She breathed out as she weakly lifted herself into a half-hearted sitting position on the bed, having to use the cool, wooden headboard as a support. She felt utterly horrible. Every muscle felt limp and it was as though her bones were fragile. Her head was aching and her face felt puffy. Her throat was beginning to hurt too.
"You have to take your other pill," he informed her as he comfortingly began to rub her back. His touch was soothing and Mitchie found herself breathing out in content.
A pill was placed into one of her hands and a glass of what she assumed to be water was put in the other. Then, as mechanically as possible, she had tilted her head back and thrown the pill down her throat. With one sip of the water, it was moving down her throat and hopefully to make her better.
Shane took the glass from her hands and she was grateful. It had felt too heavy.
"I think you should go back to sleep," she heard him say as she sensed his movement. He was beginning to stand and then he would leave the room. Panic filled her; she didn't want him to go. Even by just being in the room, he made her feel better.
She mustered as much effort she could and thanks to him moving, she was able to grab his wrist. His figure stopped and she could no longer see his outline but she knew he still there.
"Ple…ase don't go…" she croaked, feeling her arm socket already begin to pain from the effort. But it was worth it if he stayed with her. "I don't want to be alone." Her voice sounded firmer there as her touch around his wrist slipped and she couldn't find the strength to stop her hand from hitting the mattress.
Shane moved again, probably turning to face her and she could hear his breathing clearly. She could smell his perspiration too. He was debating; she could feel it and she hoped he'd choose to stay with her.
She could hear Anakin in the background, panting rhythmically.
She sensed his hand before it even grasped her own and a half-hearted smile curved her dry lips.
"I'll stay," he spoke as he took his earlier position and sat on the edge of her bed. But then he did something that surprised her. He continued moving and soon, she felt him gently nudging her more to the side. Next second, their bodies were touching and he'd pulled her closer to him.
She welcomed the warmth he provided.
Both his arms were wrapped protectively around her and his chest acted like a pillow. Their legs were now intertwined and Mitchie felt her body temperature rising, and it wasn't just because of the warmth that flooded through her veins.
"You were still shivering," Shane's velvety voice whispered as she snuggled her head into his chest, her new 'pillow'. She could've sworn his arms tightened around her at this action. This was the closest they'd ever been and since their little incident a week back. But, she wouldn't kill this moment for anything in the entire world.
"Tell me a story…" she mumbled, coherent enough for him to hear.
But before he could reply, Mitchie sensed another movement and a blurred figure jumped onto the bed. She smiled, it was Anakin. The dog clearly didn't want to be left out of the picture and he warmed her feet rather well. Shane chuckled and then cleared his throat.
"I don't know any stories," he paused, "But I do know how to sing."
And sing to her he did – his upbeat songs turned into whispered lullabies.
And he sang until she submitted into a peaceful slumber.
IT'S SO. . . FLUFFY! Hehe, hope you enjoyed! Thankies for the reviews and the alerts!
Lorey =)