Chapter 10: Can You Feel My Heart
"Can you fix the broken?
Can you feel…can you feel my heart?"
-Can You Feel My Heart: Bring Me The Horizon
….
….
Dawn squeaked when a beach ball bounced off her wet hair and bounded to the side of the pool near the lawn chairs. She whipped around to find her brother laughing at her until Gary dunked him into the pool. She was more than happy with just floating around in the shallow end of the pool, but the abundance of loud, intolerable, high school boys at the other end made it difficult.
Taking the steps out of the pool she was to her stomach in the water preparing to get out, intent on grabbing the beach ball to smack it at her brother in revenge. She made it out a few steps when a wolf whistle sounded loud in the semi-quiet fenced in area of the pool.
"Lookin' good there Drew's sister!" Gary called and Dawn blushed at his cat-call. She was already in the pool when the brunette male had arrived and he hadn't seen her yet, the only boy that had ever seen her in a bikini was her brother.
Drew immediately started lecturing the taller male on not bothering his sister when Dawn reached for her beach towel to wrap around her for her modesty when she heard the glass doors from the house slid open and Paul closed them behind him.
He put his fingers to his lips and took the beach ball from where it had landed behind the lawn chair near the door and tossing it high before spiking it right into Gary's face. The sound of plastic on wet flesh loud had everyone paused for a moment, Ash and Drew erupting into laughter at the red mark forming on Gary's face.
"Paul you ass!" Gary yelped and rubbed his face in hopes to decrease the pain. Dawn giggled and Paul smirked, setting his bag down on the ground next to the lawn chair and sat down to untie his tennis shoes.
"Hey Paul, what's up?" Dawn sat down next to him on the end of the long lounge chair, he shrugged and tossed his shoes and socks next to his bag.
"Nothing much." He stood up, pulling his shirt up from the waist and leaving him only in black plaid swimming trunks. Her mouth hung open as he tossed his shirt on top of his bag and walked towards the pool. She froze, gripping the lounge chair.
Paul was ripped. She knew he was muscular, but she didn't know that he possessed drool-worthy abs and enough muscle definition that created curves and valleys all over his form. He jumped into the pool and she blinked, her cheeks heating with a type of blush that she had never felt before.
Dawn shook her head for a moment, she and Paul were friends, and she wouldn't want to ruin their friendship by openly drooling over him. Unwrapping her towel and hanging it back on the lounge chair she saw that her brother's back was turned towards her in the pool and smiled, jumping in with a large splash in revenge for earlier.
…..
…..
Dawn picked up several blankets and all the pillows on her bed, gathering them in her arms and heading down the hall towards her brother's open door. She found that no one was in there at the moment and dropping them all on the floor between Drew's bed and the TV. She headed back downstairs, wearing the sweatpants and tank top she had put on after washing all the chlorine from the pool out of her hair, and found all the boys in the kitchen getting snacks.
"Pizza will be here in a few minutes." Drew informed her and put another bowl of popcorn on the counter. Dawn picked out a few pieces and popped them into her mouth. The doorbell rang and Drew went to get the pizza while Gary and Ash grabbed bowls of snacks.
"I've got this." Paul took the last bowl before she could and she followed him up the stairs where Gary and Ash were standing there not sure where to sit or put the bowls of snacks.
After fighting over pizza and what to watch, Ash took the desk chair and Gary took the bed, pushing her brother over to make room. Dawn decided that she would lay on her stomach on the end of the bed, Paul took the floor and leaned back against the bed. His long legs stretched out so that they almost brushing the TV cabinet.
Dawn ate her pizza as the opening started, the lights dimmed in the room. Drew's feet brushing against her calves as he stretched out. The blunette looked around and found one of her pillows near Paul's feet.
"Paul, can you hand me that pillow?" Dawn pointed at the said pillow and Paul reached for the pillow to hand to her, she set it under her head to she could watch the movie without hurting her neck.
The movie edged on and Dawn felt her eyes began to flutter shut, but a pull on her hair caused her to open her eyes, finding Paul's eye watching her as he pulled his fingers back from her hair.
"Don't you fall asleep too, someone has to watch the end with me." Paul said and Dawn looked around to find that indeed, Gary, Ash and her brother were all asleep. She laid her heavy head down on her pillow with a sigh.
"I don't even remember what's going on." Dawn admitted and watched the screen, Paul didn't answer, taking the popcorn from the bowl in his lap instead. She reached down to grab a few kernels herself, at least she wouldn't fall asleep if she was eating.
"The guy regained his memory and is going to the tower to stop the villain's plan right now." Paul informed her and Dawn huffed in defeat, she was too lazy to watch the movie but at least Paul was awake to talk with her.
The movie ended and she stretched out at the edge of the bed as Paul turned off the TV and looked around at their sleeping friends.
"You coming?" He asked and paused at the door to leave her brother's room, she sighed loudly.
"Too tired." She whined and Paul smirked, his dark eyes catching the light from the hallway as he opened the door. "Will you carry me?"
She really was expecting him to take her seriously, but he pulled her up into his arms and carried her out of her brother's room and into the hallway. He went to set her down, but Dawn blushed and he smirked.
"Why are you blushing Blue?" Paul chuckled and Dawn felt her cheeks heat as chest vibrated with the sound.
"You surprised me that's all." She shrugged and he started walking towards her room.
"You asked me to carry you." He said and opened the door to her room with one arm still around her.
"So." She huffed in defeat and he set her on her bed, turning back towards the door.
"Goodnight Paul." She called and he sent her a smirk.
"Night Blue."
….
….
"Drew?" Dawn opened the door to her brother's room. He looked up from where he was making his bed, the clutter on the floor picked up and pushed aside. It was already mid-afternoon on Sunday.
"What's wrong?" Seeing the worry on his sister's face made him stop what he was doing and watch her with concern.
"I can't find mom's bracelet." She admitted and Drew looked thoughtful for a moment.
"You checked in your bathroom?" Drew asked and she nodded, biting her lip. She needed to find her mother's bracelets, her daily reminder that her mother still stayed with her.
"Ask May if she had seen it?" Drew asked and Dawn walked back to her room to text her friend.
Have you seen my bracelet? I had it yesterday and now I can't find it.
-Dawn
It was a few minutes of pacing through her room and looking for it places that she had already looked before her phone beeped with a new message. The blunette looked at the message.
Is it the one with the black chain and blue beads? It was in my car. I'll bring it tomorrow for you?
-May
Dawn sighed in relief and did a small jump of excitement as she texted her friend back.
Thanks May! You're the best!
-Dawn
….
….
Dawn shoved her way through crowds of students in the early Monday morning, looking more ready for the day then all the others. She popped out of the walking crowd to her locker and found May already there, holding out her bracelet.
"Thank you May! Thank you! Thank you!" Dawn gave her friend a strong squeeze and put her bracelet on, watching it fall around her wrist. The weight was a reminder that it was still there.
"You're welcome, why is it so important?" May casually asked, yet gulped when she saw the look of sorrow on her friend's face.
"It was my mother's." Dawn said and May looked guilty. "But it's safe now, thank you so much for finding it May!"
May laughed with her friend as they walked to their history classroom. They sat in their seats and found themselves to be the first few in the classroom. Dawn set her books on her desk and pulled out her phone to see if she had any new messages but found none and put it back in her pocket.
"So what are we doing for plans for homecoming?" May asked and Dawn shrugged in response.
"I know Drew is going, so do you just want to tag along with the group?" Dawn asked and May bit her lip as more students came in the door to the classroom.
"I don't want to intrude." May said and Dawn shook her head.
"You won't! You're with me remember?" Dawn smiled but May still looked unsure as class started and Dawn decided that she would discuss it with her brother later.
….
….
"Oh Paul!" Dawn called for the boy as he started to walk towards his locker after biology. He turned around at his name, pushing his way back towards her and came to stand next to her as she stood by her locker.
"I have your sweatshirt for you. I forgot to give it back to you this weekend." Dawn turned the dial on her locker to unlock it and retrieve his sweatshirt. She froze, feeling his hair tickle her cheeks.
"Keep it Blue, it looks better on you anyways." His deep bass voice tickled her ear and it stepped away before she could say anything. A girlish giggle broke out and Dawn blushed.
"Oh girl!" May laughed and Dawn wanted to stick her head in her locker to avoid the looks that she was getting from the few other students in the hallway. May leaned against her locker as Dawn put her stuff away to prepare for gym.
"He's got it bad." May teased and Dawn rolled her eyes and closed her locker, taking off into the hallway leaving May to catch up with her outside the locker rooms.
"He does not May." Dawn said as she opened the locker room door, walking past the other girls to find her gym locker and started undressing. May copied her movements.
"He so does, he even let you keep his sweatshirt." May whispered and Dawn fought a smile. "He doesn't talk to any other girl you know."
"He doesn't?" Dawn couldn't help but be interested, maybe Paul did think of her more than a friend.
"Yep." May confirmed and the two finished getting dressed and left the locker room, leaving a pink-haired girl staring after them.
…
….
A game of volleyball was being played and Dawn found herself enjoying it very much. It was fun and everyone seemed to be having a good time on their teams, it helped that May was on her team. Being athletic always made sports and gym come easy to her, effortless like her brother.
"Serve!" A girl's voice called out behind her and Dawn readied herself to play. But the ball hit her in the back of the head, white filling her vision and causing her to stumble to her knees as she barely caught herself with her hands.
"Dawn?" Drew's hands pulled her up to her feet and she struggled to open her eyes, setting her hand on her brother's shoulder to steady herself as he guided her off the court.
"You alright kid?" Mr. Surge came over, kneeling in front of her and peering into her eyes.
"I think so." Dawn answered and Drew squeezed her arm reassuringly as he helped her sit against the wall of the gym.
"You can just sit here for a few minutes okay? Take a break." The teacher blew his whistle again, calling for the rest of the class to continue playing. Dawn leaned back against the wall, touching the back of her head to feel a tender bump beginning to form. A headache was already edging around her mind.
May jogged over as soon as the game was over, gesturing for Drew to go ahead and change. The brunette did not look happy as she helped her friend up.
"Ursula hit you on purpose." May said and Dawn looked to see the pink-haired girl walking into the locker room with Brianna, giggling.
"Why?" Dawn questioned, she had personally never spoken to the girl before and took May's arm as she helped the blunette to the locker room.
"She's probably jealous." May shrugged and opened the door for her friend, most of the girls were already gone and Dawn opened her locker to change slowly.
"Why would she be jealous? I've never even talked to her before." Dawn shrugged and May took off her gym shirt to throw it in her locker.
"She dated Paul back during freshmen year. It didn't last very long." May shrugged and Dawn rolled her eyes dramatically.
"Great, now I have some jealous girl after me." Dawn spoke and May giggled, waiting for her friend to finish changing and the two left the locker room together.
"Hey Dawn, are you okay? She hit you pretty hard." Ash said as the two came into view with the boys standing there. Dawn looked at her Drew as he looked at her, concern in her eyes.
"I'm fine, I just have a headache." Dawn said and gave them a smile, May patted her shoulder when the girls split ways at the hallway and Drew put his arm around his sister.
"Are you really okay?" His voice was low so that the others wouldn't hear him, she nodded catching Paul's eyes as he watched her from her side.
"Ignore her." Paul said, his tone was short and his eyes looked dark. Dawn looked at her brother who shrugged and opened the door that led to the parking lot. They waved goodbye as the group split and Dawn got in the car with her brother leaning her head against the window.
"You should lay down when you get home." Drew advised and started the car, Dawn nodded in agreement; a nap would be nice. As soon as her brother dropped her off at home she headed to her room and changed into her pajamas, settling into her bed for a much needed nap.
Waking up she felt much better. Her headache had retreated back and she only felt a slight soreness when she stood up. Glancing at the clock she released in was already past 8 o'clock in the evening; she had missed dinner.
Her stomach grumbled as she made her way downstairs and Rose spotted her when she passed the living room. Her step-mother walked into the kitchen when she grabbed a drink from the fridge.
"Drew said we should let you sleep, how are you feeling?" Rose asked and her eyes wandered over the smaller girl as she took a drink. Dawn shrugged.
"I feel okay now, is there any dinner left?" Rose nodded and started the microwave, letting the girl know that her dinner was in there.
"I set some aside for you, just let it warm up. I'll be in the living room if you need anything." Rose set a fork on the counter before heading back to the living room. Dawn pulled out her cell phone as she waited for the food to warm in the microwave. She found several new texts.
Hey, how are you feeling?
-May
Dawn smiled and sent her friend a quick reply to let May know she was feeling better and went to the other next message she had. She opened up the message that was from over two hours ago.
Feeling better?
-Paul
Dawn smiled even though no one could see. Paul's concern for her was sweet, although she could hardly find him one to be sweet. He was more of a strong and silent guy.
I'm feeling better now. Thanks for asking.
-Dawn
The microwave beeped and Dawn took out her plate and headed over to the counter attached to the kitchen and sat in a barstool to eat. The meat was good and the potatoes were soft and creamy, she cleaned off her plate then set it in the sink along with her fork.
Finding her homework left to do she set down in her desk chair and started on her history first. After finishing that it was on to the A.P. Biology assignment. She was happy that even despite having three advanced classes this semester that her work load was relatively light in response.
She didn't finish until almost 10:30 and her phone beeped as she answered the last question of her science homework. She decided to finish writing and then left her books on her desk to clean up in the morning and took her phone from her desk.
It's good that you're doing better. English project can't do itself.
-Paul
Dawn smiled at Paul's humor and saw that it had been over 2 hours since she had texted him and wondered what he had been doing.
Have you been at work?
-Dawn
His reply came after a few minutes and Dawn found herself frowning.
I just got home.
-Paul
Dawn thought as she spun around in her desk chair, Drew didn't get back from football practice until 5 and if Paul had practice until 5 and then worked until 10:30, when did he do his schoolwork?
Why do you work so late?
-Dawn
His reply was quick and Dawn read it when it popped open.
I have to help my brother.
-Paul
Dawn set her phone down, she didn't really give much thought to when Paul said he worked every night but Wednesday and Fridays and sometimes had off on Saturday morning. Then she knew again that he wasn't one of the rich kids. She briefly wondered if his parents were around, but decided that it was a question for another time. She didn't want to lose their friendship over questions.
It's good that you help your brother.
-Dawn
She got up to go to the bathroom and took off her mother's bracelet and set it on the bathroom counter so she could put it on in the morning before school. She found a new message waiting when she was brushing her teeth.
I do the best I can
-Paul
A small smile graced her lips, she never would be one to think that Paul would give up on something. If he did anything like he played football then she believed that he could do anything he set his mind too. Her phone beeped with another text.
What did you get for question 3 on the biology assignment?
-Paul
He was just now doing his homework? Dawn blinked and looked at the clock again, seeing it was almost 11:00 at night. She looked to her desk and found the answer she found.
I got 'diffusion'. Are you just now doing your homework?
-Dawn
She put her books in her schoolbag as she waited for a reply.
Yes, I had to work after practice.
-Paul
Dawn settled into her bed with her phone in her hand and turned off the lights of her room, snuggling into her blankets her replied to his text message.
You must be busy. Where do you work?
-Dawn
….
….
Dawn woke up when her brother knocked on her door to wake her up the next morning. She stretched and looked over the side of her bed when something fell. She found her phone on the floor. She must have fallen asleep texting Paul.
Opening her phone she found it was almost out of battery and she pulled it in so it would be okay until she got home later. She opened the text from last night.
I work at Dave's auto.
-Paul
Dawn set her phone down deciding not to reply. She had learned a few things about Paul last night and she felt as though she knew him better overnight.
She could almost feel her heart through her skin and she wanted to know,
Can you feel my heart too?
….
…
Thanks for reading!
Please read and review
Bradley