Aislinn even tried to comfort me, but when she touched my shoulder I flinched and jerked away, into the arms of Tiyana, who hugged me and held me tightly like a sister would in a time of despair. In an act of kindness, Keenan went and retrieved a blanket, bringing it to me. But when he tried to exchange the blanket for the jacket, I wouldn't let him take it, crying out a loud, forceful, "Don't!" Aislinn touched his arm quietly and Keenan relented, leaving me alone, telling Tiyana to take me to get a bath and to get some fresh clothes. She did as he said and led me off to his bedroom.
After I had bathed (I stayed in the tub for at least twenty minutes, scrubbing and scrubbing at my skin, trying to make the scent and feel of the Hound disappear), I put on a dress that Tiyana had gotten for me. She tried to take the coat from me (under Keenan's orders, presumably), but I wouldn't give it up, keeping it cradled in my arms. We stayed in Keenan's room, watching as the rest of the Summer Girls trickled in and went about their usual business of laughing and dancing. I sat in my usual corner, hugging Niall's jacket to my chest, watching them silently. Tiyana sat beside me, stroking my hair gently, like a mother would do to a child. She didn't try to make me tell her what had happened. She simply tried her best to comfort me.
I felt confused and jumbled up inside. Why didn't I want to tell Keenan what had happened? Why didn't I want him to hold me, to comfort me? Was I ashamed? Did I have reason to be? Did I simply just feel dirty? Filthy?
Curling my fingers into Niall's coat once more, I buried my face in the soft fabric. It smelled nice. Heavenly.
It smelled like him.