A/N: I know my chapters are looking to be a bit shorter each time, but the thing is, remember, that chapter 4 up until now has all happened in the same day. So each chapter and each section within that has been significant. Please bear with me...! It's really hard to write and update as frequently as I have with school AND work. Plus, most of this stuff I haven't even pre-written so I'm just kind of winging it! I hope it's turning out great. You guys are awesome and the positive feedback really does help, so thank you so much to all my reviewers!!!
CHAPTER 10:
Swollen Appendages
Chase ran a shaking hand over the bed as if Sheila had just made herself transparent and not completely disappear. 'What the fuck?'
"You okay?"
He jumped at the voice, looking up to see Sheila lounging on the window seat, concern etched on her face. She went to stand, but he waved her off. She let out a huff of air and adjusted the ice pack on her hand. "You sure?"
'It felt so real...' He wiped his mouth, groaning. "Yeah... Why?"
"You never answered my question..."
That's when he heard the chuckle. At first, he thought it was her, but Sheila just looked at him, eyebrows knitted together, oblivious. Realization dawned on him and he narrowed his eyes. "Gorman..." He growled.
"Who?"
Chase stood, planting his hands on his hips, and shook his head, letting out a nervous laugh. "I'm sorry. I didn't hear your question."
"I asked you if your roommate would be gone a while."
'Cheeky little bastard...' He shrugged, scratching his belly. "I don't know. He's probably in the cafeteria. Why?"
"I just don't want to go back." She cleared her throat. "Not yet... I don't want to face Kate and the million questions right now..."
"You can hang here if you'd like..."
She smiled. "Just for a few more minutes, I promise."
He shook his head, bending down, and grabbed a pair of sweat pants. "Stay as long as you'd like." She nodded her thanks and they stared at each other for a moment, smiling, before she blinked, turning to look out the window. "Do you mind if I change?" She shook her head, his footsteps pounding as he strode swiftly to the bathroom, slamming the door behind him.
Sheila looked at the door, then shrugged. "Wonder what his problem is..."
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Chase splashed cold water on his face, but the effort was futile, his face red as the anger made his temperature rise. The water journeyed down his bare chest, causing him to shiver.
He heard another chuckle, this one louder, deeper and he pulled his lips back in a sneer, a deep rumble of agitation forming in his chest. He leaned against the sink, gripping the sides so hard his knuckles turned white, and gazed into the mirror.
"Gorman...?" No reply, not even a chuckle. "Gorman." This time he said the name louder, more forceful. His eyes flashed to ebony. "Gorman, you son of a bitch, I know it's you. Show yourself."
He heard a sigh and took a step back as the man in question suddenly appeared in the bathroom mirror, a look of pure mischief on his face.
"Yes... What can I do for you?"
Chase let out a bark of a laugh. "I think you've done enough already, old man." He spat at the reflection.
Gorman's eyes widened in mock innocence. "Whatever do you mean...?"
"Eat me, Gorman. You know what I'm talking about. I know it was you." He ran a hand through his hair, clenching his fists at his sides. "How dare you use an Illusion on me!" He flashed his eyes at the mirror.
Gorman laughed, throwing a hand over his mouth. "Oh no, please don't." He said in a high pitched voice, his taunting laugh echoing in the small bathroom. "I was just having a little fun. Nothing like a good Illusion to jumpstart someone's libido."
"Yeah, her libido, not mine, asshole." He waved his hands over his still hard crotch. "And what am I supposed to do with his. It won't go away."
Gorman snickered, tapping the glass. "I think there's some lotion in here somewhere." He grinned. "Go on, put those swimmer's muscles to work."
"Fuck you."
"Fuck me?" Gorman's face suddenly turned serious, almost maddening. For a very brief moment, the image on the mirror shimmered to one of Sheila sitting on the window ledge in the next room before going back to Gorman. "Fuck her." He jabbed a finger at Chase, causing the younger boy to wince. "Claim that bitch, then we'll talk." Gorman raised a fist and punched the air, the mirror on Chase's side spider webbing with cracks, but not breaking. "Don't disappoint me, young one..." His eyes flashed. "I'm watching you..."
Gorman's image faded away and Chase was left to look at a distorted reflection of himself, tiny rivers of blood running from his palms, his fingernails digging deeper into his skin.
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Sheila sat idly on the window ledge, cradling her somewhat reduced swollen hand in her lap. Her pronounced phantom was elongated in front of her, its unformed clones silently dancing around her still body as the lightning slashed the sky, thunder rumbling low in the distance. She sighed, watching the rain come down in sheets, the wind pounding it against this side of the building.
She had a perfect view of the courtyard and she watched, amused, as she saw people running across the grass towards the dorms, the rain attacking their bodies. She sat up a bit straighter as she caught sight of Caleb exiting the cafeteria. He was running, his jacket thrown over his head, his feet kicking up water as he splashed through the puddles.
He was heading towards the parking lot and she saw his Mustang lights flash as he unlocked the doors. She placed a hand flat against the window pane, her arm forming goose bumps from the cool glass. 'Caleb...' She closed her eyes on the thought, smiling.
The faint light from the street lamps filtered through the huge trees, catching the water droplets clinging desperately to the window pane. They looked like little star bursts on the clouded glass, growing heavier and sliding away from her palm as they fell and joined each other in heavy puddles at the bottom of the sill. 'Caleb...' She opened her eyes, her breath shuddering to a halt.
He was looking dead at her, hands cupped around his forehead, like he was trying to make her out through the rain. She clutched her chest. 'There's no way he could've heard me...' She peered down at him, her breath fogging the glass. She saw him shake his head before throwing open his driver's door and was swallowed up by the sports car. 'Right...?' He turned the car on, the deep rumble of the engine audible to her even though she was three stories up.
She shook her head, her focus being brought back to her surroundings when she heard the soft click of the bathroom door opening. She didn't turn to look at Chase, but watched his reflection as it made it's way slowly around the bed and towards her. He stood a few feet behind her and she shivered inwardly, noticing that his blurry reflection was only wearing a pair of pants and nothing else. She swallowed, blushing, and brought a hand to her throat. 'Oh my...' She let out a tiny cough.
"Thirsty?" He walked over to his mini fridge. "Would you like some water?" She nodded, still not turning to look at him. "Do you want crushed ice or whole?"
She shrugged. "What's the difference?"
"Soft or hard, I guess."
She followed Caleb's Mustang with her eyes as it exited the parking lot, tires screeching on the wet pavement. 'He's in a hurry.' "It doesn't matter." She paused. "Just give it to me hard."
Chase's movements faltered at her comment, but he just shook his head, smiling. 'Soon, little peach.' He poured the water into the glasses, the ice cracking at the drop in temperature. He walked over to her and held one out. "Here you go." She turned, setting the ice pack on the ledge, and accepted it with a small smile, bringing her pink lips to the brim and taking a long, slow drink.
She smacked her lips in satisfaction. "Thanks." He nodded, taking a swig from his glass. Some of it sloshed onto this chin. She watched, fascinated, as it descended to his chest, then his abs, before disappearing below the waistband of his pants. Her eyes widened. 'Whoa...' She thought, having the sudden urge to lean forward and lick it from his chest. She shook her head, the blush on her cheeks spreading rapidly to the rest of her body.
Chase hid his grin as he finished up his water. He watched her with rapt interest as she watched the water slide down his tanned chest. He set the glass down on the bedside table behind her, his body rubbing against her slightly. He wiped the corner of his mouth with his thumb and looked at her.
"You okay?"
Sheila watched his thumb, licking her lips, then blinked, giving her head a slight shake. "Hmm? Yeah, I'm fine." She fanned herself nonchalantly with her free hand. "It's just getting a little hot in here..."
"Here..." He stepped forward, taking the glass from her hand and held it between both of his for a minute before setting it on the table next to his. He placed his now chilly hands on either side of her neck. She gasped, taking a step back. She stared up at him, her eyes as big as saucers. "Better?" He whispered. Sheila nodded, distracted by his heated touch, and closed her eyes.
She felt her head tilt back.
She placed her hands on his chest.
A feathery sensation tickled her lips as he lightly ran his mouth over hers.
Her eyes snapped open. She drew her hands back an inch, then forced them forward again, pushing him back with such tenacity that he stumbled.
She brought a hand to touch her lips, her eyes flashing. "What the hell do you think your doing?!"
Chase rubbed his chest, a hint of magic tingling just below the surface she had touched. He shook his head. "I don't know... I'm sorry..." He took a cautious step towards her and Sheila's eyes flashed dangerously when she noticed his erection.
"Oh my God!" She held up her hands. "Whoa, Casanova." She pointed at his crotch. "I am not that kind of girl!" Chase looked down, blushing, and turned away from her so he could adjust himself. She made a sound of disgust. "Listen, thanks for the water-" She snatched her sweater quickly from the back of the computer chair, walking over to the window ledge to pick up the small ice package. She held it up. "-and the ice, but I really think I should go now."
Sheila had her hand on the doorknob when Chase came up behind her, touching her shoulder. She jumped, slapping his hand away. "Look, I'm sorry, okay? Stay, please..." Chase shrugged, no words forming on his tongue.
Sheila was floored by the sincerity in his voice. She clenched her jaw. "Thanks, but no thanks." She threw open the door and stepped out into the empty hallway.
He followed her, stopping in the doorway, arms crossed over his chest. "I don't know why I did that. I'm really sorry. Just please don't go..."
She looked at him, her eyes traveling downward, stopping on the bulge in his pants. "I don't think so." She laughed, the sound eerie in the silent hall. She looked at the ice pack she still clutched in her shaking hand. "I think you need this more than I do..." She threw it at his bare chest, where it hit, then landed on the floor with a dull thud. She grinned, her eyes flashing. "It'll help with the swelling..."
Chase watched as she took off down the hall at a dead run, her light footsteps echoing in the corridor as her Converses slapped the newly waxed floor. He sighed, bending down to pick up the little blue square she had thrown at him. 'Fuck me...'
He hooked his thumb into the waist band of his pants, pulling them out an inch or so, and winced as he dropped the ice pack disgracefully into them. 'What a waste...'
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It wasn't until Sheila was safely in her room, leaning against the door, and clutching her heaving chest that she realized that she didn't even know the boy's name...
A/N: Finally, that's over with! So, see... be happy... Chase pushed Sheila away by making himself look like a total pervert so now her first impression of him has been tainted! Yay! Sheila now sees what a douche Chase is! HA!