Watching Over Me

Parties on weeknights were a bad idea, especially since it was a school night. Since my sister had come to this party I was her designated driver. Not that I minded. Seriously, what was attractive about puking and passing out in front of everybody? I certainly didn't want to be taken advantage of by some loser because I was saving myself for marriage.

"This is some party huh?"

A random dude had siddled up to me, seeing my stony face as a challenge. He looked to be a couple of years younger than me and not much of a looker. No human boy was as attractive as... Todd. Yep. I would die alone.

"Can I get you a drink?" he asked. I shook my head.

"I'm the designated driver," I told him, shifting my attention. Realizing that he wouldn't get anything from me, he left me alone.

My eyes narrowed as I saw my sister being led away from the dance floor by a guy in my grade. I knew this guy. He had a reputation for preying on drunk girls and being brutal with them. My sister was clearly drunk and I felt a surge of protectiveness as I crossed the room to get her. There had been a couple of months when I had been the reckless party animal, but no more. I had responsibilities now.

Todd fell into step beside me and confidence filled me as we approached them.

"Sis, we're going home," I said sharply. She frowned and tried to go to me, but he held her.

"Maybe you'd like to provide some action too," he said lazily. Todd got there before me and slammed his feeding hand into the guy's chest. His eyes rolled into his head and he passed out on the floor.

"No one messes with my woman," Todd snarled. We supported my sister between us, tucked her in the back seat (Todd sat in the front) and I drove us home.

When my sister was tucked in bed a wave of tiredness washed over me. I crossed to where my sister's couch was and sat down. Todd sat beside me and pulled me down so that my head was in his lap and my body was all on the couch.

He didn't say anything - just stroked my hair. We watched over my sister as she slept and I fell asleep in Todd's lap. Strangely though, when I woke up, he was still there and still stroking my hair.

Todd was watching over me too.