Disclaimer: I don't own Winx Club.
Brandon immediately relaxed and let out a breath of relief when he saw Stella make her way out of the trees and into the clearing. His relief quickly turned to horror when he saw the amount of blood on her.
"Stell!" he cried as he ran up to her. "Are you okay? Where are you hurt?"
"I'm fine. It's not my blood." lied Stella.
Brandon closed his eyes and exhaled.
"Thank god." he said. He then hugged her tightly, glad she was okay.
His hug made her wound protested in pain. Stella's fists were clenched so tightly her knuckles were white. Any tighter and she was sure they would break. It was all she could do to keep her from screaming in agony and pain.
Brandon had felt her stiffen when he hugged her. He pulled back, and he put his hands on her shoulders.
"You're not fine. What happened?" he asked.
"It's just shock that's all." said Stella.
Brandon raised an eyebrow.
"No Stell, that's not all." he said.
Before he could say anymore, Stella got out of his grasp and walked away.
"Come on. We still have to find food and shelter, and it's getting dark. Let's go." said Stella, struggling to walk normally. The pain was really getting to her, but she shook it off.
She knew she couldn't fool Brandon for long, but she tried her hardest. She tried not to get too close to him, fearing he'll see the light sheen of sweat covering her or hear the shallow breaths she was taking to ease the pain. She always either kept ten feet in front of him or ten feet behind him. Whenever he would approach her, she would walk away, seemingly looking for something.
Later on, as day turned into night, Stella was always at least ten feet behind Brandon. She no longer had the energy or the strength to even catch up with Brandon much less be ahead of him.
They had found a small cave big enough for both of them to sleep in. Brandon and Stella had gathered firewood, and now Brandon was lighting the fire.
Stella had excused herself. Once she knew she was a safe distance from Brandon, she took off her shirt and inspected her wound. To her dismay, it was showing no signs of improvement. It just seemed to get gradually worse. Not only that, but the blood stained her favorite bra. The sweater she used to wrap around her was soaked with blood. Slowly, she untied it and unwound her sweater. Let's just say it hurt like hell.
Stella scrunched up her face in pain as she slowly peeled her sweater off of her wound. Her breaths became raggedy and awfully loud.
Damnit! I had to go and get stabbed. I'm such an idiot. If I show Brandon this, he's going to think I'm the most useless person in the world and that I'm a burden. thought Stella.
She then used the water she brought with her to clean the wound. This time, Stella couldn't hold it in anymore. A groan of agony escaped her lips.
Shit! I hope that wasn't too loud. she thought.
As she finished cleaning her wound, she could see the cut more clearly. You know how sometimes things look worse when it just happens and the blood worsens the situation? This wasn't one of those times.
Stella's insides turned when she looked at the stab. The cut was extremely deep and long. The blood refused to completely clot, so it kept bleeding. Stella was extremely pale and weak from the lack of blood.
She sighed. This is going to be a long night. Let's hope I get my powers back soon so I can heal myself.
That was the plan. Hold off long enough until Stella hopefully gets her powers back. When or if she does, she'll heal herself using her fairy dust.
Stella turned the sweater to the other side with the less blood on it and retied it super tight. She then put her shirt back on and walked back to the cave.
Brandon heard her approaching and turned to her smiling. "Hey." He immediately looked concerned when he saw her expression.
"What's the matter? It looks like you just saw a ghost." he asked.
Stella chuckled. If only
"Yeah something like that." said Stella.
Brandon frowned. He was about to press more on the matter, but Stella's expression made it clear that she didn't want to talk anymore.
She tried her best to walk normal. She couldn't help but grimace when she sat down.
Brandon looked at her, his expression alarmed.
"It's dirty here." she lied.
Brandon rolled his eyes and laughed. "Of all the things you're unhappy about. You complain that it's dirty in the forest."
Stella just laughed along nervously.
They sat like that for a while, not really talking. Just enjoying each other's company. Neither of them felt pressured to strike up a conversation.
That night, Brandon slept like a log. Stella had never been more uncomfortable in her life. She was freezing, but she didn't dare go near Brandon for warmth. Stella waited for Brandon to chose a spot, then she went far away from him and turned away from him, so he wouldn't see her face grimacing in pain.
Brandon was hoping he would get closer to Stella tonight, but it seemed like that wasn't going to be the case. He was disappointed when she chose to sleep apart from him.
How can I get through to her? I know something's bothering her. But what? She was acting really strange today. he pondered. Soon he fell asleep to those thoughts and inquisitions.
Stella barely got a wink of sleep. The pain was almost unbearable. Every breath caused a whole new wave of pain to hit her, and just thinking about how deep the cut was made Stella light headed.
Stella finally managed to truly fall asleep at around five in the morning, exhaustion winning over pain. She got about three hours of restless sleep before she turned to her side subconsciously. She cried out in pain. Her eyes flew open, and she immediately clutched her side.
Brandon woke with a start. By the time he was fully coherent, Stella had already masked her pain and played it off.
"What happened?" he asked, alert.
"That was your wakeup call sleepy head." teased Stella.
Brandon groaned and rolled his eyes. "Of all the ways you could have woken me up, you scream. You made it seem like you were dying or like we were getting attacked."
Brandon got up and stretched. "Well I'm going to go to the river and freshen up. Want me to wash the blood off your shirt?" he asked.
"No!" said Stella too quickly.
She must still be shy around me thought Brandon.
"I mean, I can do it myself when you're done." she said.
"Okay. I'll be right back." said Brandon. He then walked over to the river.
Stella waited until she no longer heard Brandon's footsteps.
That was close she thought. She cursed her luck. Who's doing this? What did I do?
Stella then got took out what little food they had managed to come by the other day and started preparing breakfast, which wasn't an easy considering the fact that she have a foot long gash in her side.
Breathless and light-headed, Stella put down the food on makeshift plates and sat down.
I better get my powers back quick. I don't know how much longer I can take. she thought. She then frowned. I'm so pessimistic. Of course I won't last long if I keep thinking like this. I'm going to make it.
Stella was then alerted when she heard rustling leaves. She exhaled a sigh of relief when she was Brandon walk over to her, looking significantly cleaner. He was shirtless since he washed his shirt. He laid his shirt under a patch of sun to dry.
Stella got up carefully.
"Hey you done?" she asked.
"Yeah. River's all yours." smiled Brandon. He then caught sight of the food. "What's all this?"
"Oh when you were at the river, I made some breakfast." explained Stella.
Brandon was touched. "Thanks Stella." he said gratefully.
"You eat first. I'll be right back." said Stella.
Without waiting for a response from Brandon, Stella turned and walked away as quickly as she could.
She approached the river and stripped, wincing with even the slightest movement. She bathed and savored the clean water. No matter where it was, it still felt nice to "shower". She cleansed herself thoroughly and tried to clean her wound as best as she could. She wrung out her sweater and once again, wound it tightly around her cut. She then dawned her still wet shirt and walked back to where they set up camp.
Brandon looked at her wet attire and raised his eyebrows.
Stella couldn't help but blush. His shirtlessness also contributed to her nervousness. She rolled her eyes at him while he smirked.
"How long do you think we're going to be here?" Stella asked as she sat down.
"I don't know." answered Brandon. "We have to find a way to contact people back at school. Do you have your phone on you?"
"No." replied Stella, sadly.
The one time I don't bring my phone! cursed Stella.
Brandon sighed. He had his phone in his bag, but his bag was somewhere in the quad at the Academy. He put his face in his hands and groaned.
"I'm sorry! It just wasn't my priority to grab at the time." defended Stella.
"What? No I didn't mean it like that. I'm just frustrated at our entire situation." explained Brandon. He walked over to Stella and sat down next to her.
She shifted uncomfortably. He noticed, but he decided not to push it.
"I'm sorry." said Stella.
"No, I already told you. I wasn't frustrated at you." said Brandon.
"Not for that." said Stella.
"Then what?" asked Brandon.
"I got you into this mess. It was me you were saving from the vortex. If you had just let go, you wouldn't be here right now." explained Stella.
Brandon was shocked. "You think I regret saving you?" he asked.
"If it weren't for me, you'd be back at Red Fountain right now, laughing with your friends, going back to your girlfriend." said Stella.
"First of all, I don't have a girlfriend." stated Brandon. "and secondly, I'd be damned if I didn't try and save you."
Stella didn't answer.
"Besides, who knows if the vortex would have stopped with you?" said Brandon.
"You could have run away and grabbed hold of something sturdy." said Stella.
Brandon groaned. "Stell. Listen to me. I wanted to try and help you. I couldn't let anything happen to you."
Just tell her how you feel idiot! thought Brandon. Tell her you like her!
Stella sighed. "Thanks. I really just needed to talk." she smiled at him and slowly got up.
Brandon immediately followed her.
"Where are we going?" he asked.
"Well, since we don't know how long we're going to be here for, let's go find some food and stock up on water." said Stella.
"Alright." said Brandon, and off they trudged deeper into the forest.
Way to go! You just missed your chance! cursed Brandon.
Not long after they started walking, Stella started lagging behind.
She felt fatigued, pain, and dizzy.
"C'mon Stell." said Brandon, a few yards in front of her. "We're almost to the berry bush I saw the other day."
"O—kay." managed Stella between pants and gritting her teeth. The pain was unbearable. Her side and abdomen was screaming in protest. She was frantically grasping hold for consciousness.
Is this the end? she thought.
Brandon looked behind him to find Stella pretty far away, supporting herself on her knees.
"Stell! You okay?" he asked. He stopped and turned around.
"Yeah, just out of shape." laughed Stella. She regretted laughing as she hissed in pain. Her knees then buckled, and she slumped down on the ground.
"Stella!" Brandon frantically called as he ran up to her.
She held up a hand to signal for him to stop, but he ignored it and was at her side in an instant.
"You know how… I said it wasn't… it wasn't my blood on me the other… day?" Stella said through her teeth
"Yeah." answered Brandon, dreading the answer he already placed together.
"Well, I lied. It was…it…it was my blood." confessed Stella.
She then lifted her shirt and unwound her sweater, wincing in pain.
Brandon's eyes widened in horror. His eyes gazed at her body and rested on the side of her stomach. There was a long, deep gash that started from the side of her right breast to her lower right abdomen, next to her belly button.
"Aw Stell!" managed Brandon as he quickly rushed to her side. "Why didn't you tell me?"
"I…I didn't want to be…a burden. I was…I was waiting for my…my magic to come back." panted Stella.
"Who knows how long that will take!" yelled Brandon. He was frantic. Undoing the wrapping around the wound had reopened it. Blood was now flowing freely down her stomach and dripping on the ground.
Brandon took off his shirt and ripped it. He then tied it securely around Stella's wound.
"Let's get you back to the campsite." he said. He carefully picked up Stella bridal style and walked her back to camp.
He laid her down and felt his heart heave when he saw Stella grimace in pain.
"You're no burden." he told her.
She smiled at him. "Thank you."
She couldn't stay conscious anymore and slipped away.
Brandon sighed. Did I make her feel like that? Did I act in a way that made her seem a burden to me?
He then ripped what was left of his shirt and created a padded cloth. He then dampened it and rested it on Stella's forehead.
Brandon then stroke her face and her hair.
Please get better Stell. I don't know what I'd do without you he thought.
As Brandon sat next to her and watched over her, he remembered a time when things were different; When they were both happy and carefree.
Flashback
Stella was gazing at the ocean, and she was standing on the sand. The sun was shining, and there was not a cloud in sight.
Brandon was staring at her in awe when an idea came to him.
Brandon grinned, and ignoring Mitzi and other girls' desperate attempts for attention, he snuck up on Stella, walking as quietly as he could.
Stella was deep in thought when she felt Brandon sweep her off her feet.
"Wha—Hey! Put me down!" she laughed.
"Magic word!" said Brandon, swinging her in his arms.
"PLEASEEE!" yelled Stella.
"Nope sorry. That's not it." smiled Brandon as he edged closer to the edge of the water.
"What? What's the word?" asked Stella, laughing.
"Not telling you." grinned Brandon.
"What? No fair!" said Stella.
"One last chance. What's the magic word?" asked Brandon. He was knee deep in the ocean already, ready to toss Stella into the water.
"Wait! Give me a second here. Hm…what word would Brandon think is important?" mused Stella.
"I'll give you a hint." Brandon said. He easily carried her weight with one arm while he beckoned her closer to him.
"It's…" he started.
Stella waited.
"Nothing!" and with that, he threw her into the water.
"Ahh!" screamed Stella. When she came back up, however, she was laughing.
"You jerk!" she screamed, splashing him with water.
Brandon was laughing hysterically. He then dove into the water after her and went underwater.
Stella waited for him to come back up, but when he didn't, she got worried.
"Brandon?" she called.
She then felt arms grab her legs and pull her underwater.
She gasped as she came back up to the surface.
Brandon emerged right next to her, laughing.
She splashed him and pushed his head under the water.
Brandon came back up and shook his head dramatically, sending water flying everywhere.
Other people were staring, but they didn't care. They were with each other, so nothing in the world mattered to them.
They caught their breath.
Brandon couldn't help but marvel in her beauty. Her honey-golden eyes, her soft, supple skin, the way her chest rose as she caught her breath; everything about her attracted Brandon.
End Flashback
A spark flying out of the fire broke Brandon out of his reverie.
He looked over at her and tried to nudge her awake.
"Hey Stell. Wake up. You need to drink some water." he said, while gently shaking her shoulder.
She did not respond.
Brandon felt her head, and it felt like it was on fire.
"Stell?" asked Brandon, shaking her a little bit harder. He felt his heart stop. "Please Stell. Wake up."
Stella still made no movement. She was limp and felt like deadweight.
"No... No!" said Brandon. He was on his knees beside her. "No Stell, no. Don't leave me. Keep fighting!"
It was no use. Stella still wouldn't even so much as twitch her fingers.
Her fever spiked again and she was slipping away. Her heartbeat was slowing down and her breathing was so shallow it was barely audible. She was going cold.
A tear trailed down Brandon's cheek as he desperately tried to save her.
All of a sudden, Stella glowed and lit from within. Brandon sat back, watching what was happening.
Her eyes fluttered open and she sat up.
"Stella!" Brandon screamed, never so relieved and happy in his life.
"My powers are back." said Stella, weakly.
It's now or never she thought.
She slowly got up and quickly sprinkled her fairy dust on herself. Her wound instantly healed , and she felt rejuvenated.
She beamed at Brandon.
She laughed when she saw the expression on his face. It was a mixture of pure joy and utter bewilderment.
"I feel so much better now." she exclaimed.
Brandon wasted no more time. He quickly enveloped Stella in a hug.
Stella gladly returned the hug, enjoying his embrace.
"I missed you." said Brandon, into Stella's neck.
"Me too." said Stella. "I guess I was pretty stupid, huh."
Brandon chuckled, and Stella felt his warm breath against her neck. "If you do that again, I swear I will bring you back to life just to yell at you."
Stella rolled her eyes. Then a thought hit her.
"Why do you think they gave me back my powers?" she asked.
"I don't know." answered Brandon. He, too, wondered why they decided to give Stella her powers back.
Did they know she would be able to heal herself? he thought.
As if they had been listening, the voices boomed over them.
"Wondering why you can be a fairy again, huh?" said the female.
"We told you already. You two will slowly deteriorate right before our eyes, and we don't want to rush things." said the male.
"It's no fun if you die now. We want you to suffer as long as possible." said the female.
"You better watch your backs..."
Those words echoed through the forest, sending chills down Brandon and Stella's spines.
