Chapter 19: Dandelion Seeds

Jill's POV:

"God I hate fluorescent lights," I moan, shielding my eyes.

When my eyes adjust I look at the room around me. Everyone stands there, dumb-founded and staring.

"What happened guys, I don't get it…" I say.

Then, the doctors come in and start checking me, and they wheel me into a room to run tests.

"Wait," I say, looking back at my friends. Then it hits me. My leg is in a sling; my arm is bent at an odd angle. "Wait, please!"

Then someone laces a hand through mine and squeezes hard.

"I'm still here," Skye says, and I realize I'm shaking. "It's okay Jill."

After a while, they release me. I'm free to go.

"Class starts tomorrow," Skye says setting me into a wheelchair. Claire is smiling at me, even though I can see her eyes watering and her cheeks are wet from tears.

"Perfect," I say, rolling my eyes. "I'm so prepared for a new French lesson."

We all laugh at the sheer stupidity of the situation.

"So…LET'S GO WATCH A MOVIE!" I say, and we all go. Claire calls up Luna, Maya, Gill and Chase, and we all go out. We sit in a darkened theater and throw popcorn at each other like we're friends.

And maybe we are.

The bus crash that seemed to tear me apart actually brought all of us closer together somehow. Like now we can all be happy for a few moments while we rejoice.

Then we go back home and I try and use my crutches. My leg is severely injured, and it'll take a while to heal. My arm is alright for the most part. I hadn't been given any information about May, which nagged me a little in my mind.

It gets late, and after Luna and the others help me pick out what to wear and what to put in my backpack, I recline on my bed and think.

I wish I wasn't alone right now.

A knock sounds softly on my door. I barely hear it and I don't have the strength to open the door. I groan. A couple of clicks later, the door open and Skye walks in, looking surprised to see me.

"I didn't think you were awake," he says.

"Oh sure, so you just let yourself in," I say, even though I'm grateful for his presence.

He smiles at me. "I'm glad you're back."

"Never left," I whisper, and he sits on the edge of my bed.

"You had me really scared you know," he continues, scratching the back of his head

"Mmhm."

"I mean it," he insists. "I thought you were going to die."

I stare into his eyes to find a lie, but there is none. "Come on Skye, I'm way stronger than that," I say, smiling weakly.

"Are you?" he asks, raising an eyebrow.

"Mentally, I can withstand torrents of fire and ice. In reality I've got the upper body strength of a hamster. And I use it to my full extent," I say, nodding.

Skye lets out a rumbling laugh, then stops, smiling at me. "Really glad you're back."

On impulse, I put my arms around his waist and smile as I hear his heartbeat. "Never left."

Skye slides a hand under my knees to turn me. He slides over my coves and pulls me in with him. I get under the covers, my leg aching. I put my head to his chest and he rubs my thumb in a slow motion. He hums a song that seems so familiar to me, but I can't remember from where.

"Do you remember anything while being…comatose?" Skye asks suddenly.

I shudder myself awake from my sleepy state. I try and remember from the crash. The images of May make me shake involuntarily.

"Dandelion seeds," I blurt out.

Skye doesn't answer, and I steal a look at his face. He's smirking, and seems to be blushing. I'd never seen him blush.

"What?" I ask him.

"It's a really…cheesy metaphor," he says.

"Aren't all your metaphors cheesy?" I ask him, chuckling.

"Come on," he says, laughing lightly. "The cheesy ones always work the best!"

I roll my eyes. "SURE THEY DO!"

He smiles, and I nudge him. "You didn't answer the question."

"I'm a thief Jill; maybe you can figure it out for yourself."

"What do you mean by that? You being a thief has nothing to do with dandelion seeds."

He laughs again, and then turns his head to look at me. "Your first impression of thieve is bad isn't it?"

"I guess so, in general, but I always think of Aladdin. That guy was awesome."

Skye laughs again, and I smile, praying the darkness would hide my expression and the way my cheeks had turned pink.

"You know how when you blow on a dandelion seed, it's like you've made a wish? And that wish blows up into the sky, and you watch it go, then look away? You never look at where it'll land, or what will actually happen. Sometimes these are just natural, and the wind has a wish for you too. It's…like magic."

"What does that have to do with me?"

He shifts at an odd angle. "Can't give out everything just now can I?"

My heart was thudding in my chest like the stupid teenage girl I was, the one who read way too many romance novels.

He leans towards me, hovering over my face. I'm acutely aware of everything about him, the parting of his silver hair, the angle of his knees, his arm under my head, the sparkling green of his eyes, and of course, the pair of lips that speak words I can't begin to comprehend.

"Hello?" he asks, chuckling.

I snap back into reality. "Oh hi!"

"I asked," he breathes, leaning closer. "Why do you hate fluorescent lights?"

My mouth slants open and I slap a hand to my forehead. "Oh come on!"

"Hmm?"

Did I say that out loud? Perfect.

"It takes away shadows," I respond, rolling my eyes. "It casts no glow. Everything looks pale and almost deathly so."

"What's with the mood drop?" he asks, laughing.

I roll my eyes. "I'm a girl, do some math."

He laughs again. "That time of the month hmm?"

I groan.

He just keeps laughing.

"That's not what I meant!" I whine.

"Sure thing," he says, but breaks out in laughter all over again.

"You're impossible!"

He smirks contentedly at me. "So glad you're back Suzumiya."

"Yea, yea."