Chapter 7

Luce woke up lying on her side still, and slowly lifted one bleary eye, gradually taking in her surroundings.

The room looked like hers...but there were posters on the walls she'd never seen before. Small odd ornaments she didn't recognise. Then the realization hit her, this wasn't her room! 'Oh god!' she thought, as she tried to shift out of the bed.

"Urghhh" she moaned, as she struggled to move. Noticing a twinge and pain in her back. Gathering her thoughts together she remembered last night's events.

"Mmm" Her thoughts were disrupted when she heard a mumble down on the floor next to her, Luce looked down on the floor and her eyes widened in shock. Daniel!. He was sprawled on the hard floor, wearing the same clothes from last night, and using a hoodie as a pillow.

Luce felt awkward. Should she wake him up? He looked peaceful sleeping. She lay still while staring at him, taking in his hair which was ruffled from sleep, his full pink lips were parted slightly, and she could hear his steady breathing. The perfect complexion of his skin seemed to almost glow from the morning sun coming through his window. Her thoughts were interrupted when the pain in her back came back, looking around she saw two pills and a tall glass of water on the bed stand next to her. She tried to lean over and noticed one of her wrists were bandaged. 'Ergh, what happened last night' she thought to herself, still struggling to grip the glass. "OW!" she hissed, when her back stabbed with pain once more.

At that sound Daniel shot up, already looking wide eyed and awake. "What's happened? What's up?" He scooted up and kneeled next to her side, concern laced his eyes.
"Oh nothing...my back hurts...are those painkillers for me?" Luce asked, looking at the night stand.
"Yeah, sorry, I thought I'd be up before you, so you know...I could hand them to you". He leaned over, took the pills and water. Holding onto her shoulder and arm gentle, he helped her sit up slightly and she took the pills quickly while still wincing in pain.

After a few minutes of silence Luce spoke up. "So what happened last night" She asked while leaning back down on her side and looking into his anxious eyes.
Daniel looked away slight, almost as if looking for an explanation to appear in front of him in thin air. "Some crazy drunk attacked you with a knife at that bar. Was lucky me, Cam and Roland were going there that night too" Daniel turned back to Luce, but she didn't seem convinced.

"But he was saying things...about me being..." she paused for a moment, taking a gulp of air "...sacrificed"
"He was drunk and crazy, Luce" Daniel took her hand gently to reassure her "Trust me, there's nothing to worry about". He gave her a comforting smile, but his eyes betrayed his face, showing unease and worry.

"What about my back?" Luce could feel the painkillers working, they must have been strong, making her feel slightly lightheaded, she let her eyelids droop, and the pain dulling in her back to just an ache.
"We cleaned and wrapped it up, it'll be fine" He smiled and seemed more convincing this time. "I'll need to change the bandages though". Luce took another gulp.

"Come on Luce, if you keep still it won't hurt as much AND it'll be over sooner" Daniel had finished unravelling her back, and stopped to inspect it. It was healing well, still weeping in places, but the majority had stopped bleeding.
Luce was sitting cross legged on his bed, leaning over slightly with the covers pulled up to her front, and she hissed in pain as he prodded it.
"Sorry, I'll put fresh bandages on" He grabbed Arriane's bag and pulled them out.

"Isn't that Arriane's bag?" Luce asked, peering over her shoulder
'Crap' he thought. Thinking fast he responded "Yeah, she knocked on your door last night, when you didn't answer she started running round the school like a mad woman" he chuckled slightly for affect "knocking on my door I told her what happened, and she just so happens to have a first aid kit in her room".
"Oh...why are you doing this? Not the nurse" Luce instantly regretted this comment. Damn these painkillers! They weren't letting her think before talk. She didn't want to appear ungrateful. Quickly adding on "Not that I don't appreciate you doing this, I really do. I just don't want to cause you fuss" Luce looked down, as Daniel began reapplying the bandages again.
The corners of his mouth twitched up, knowing she was getting muddled up from the pills. "I don't mind Luce. And it was early in the morning, they'd know you'd gone out, so 1. you'd get in trouble, and 2. none of the rest of us would have a chance of getting out at the weekend again"
"Oh yeah...I suppose" Luce's head felt too fuzzy to think things through thoroughly. Agreeing was much easier.

"Ok, you're all done!" Daniel secured the bandage. "Oh, you hurt your wrist too, nothing major, I wrapped it up to give it some structure. I think it'll be fine in a day or two"
"Thanks for all this Daniel" 'Why was he helping her?' Luce thought. The first day he acted like he wanted nothing to do with her, and now he's being friendly and caring. Without thinking she turned around, still kneeling on the bed, and wrapped her arms around him and pulled him into a hug. Daniel tensed his muscle and Luce heard him take a quick intake of air. Before gently placing his arms around her lower back. "It's alright, not big deal".

Luce quickly untangled her arms from him and coughed awkwardly. "Well, I need to get back to my room" She slid her legs of the bed, still in her jeans, but with another top on. A baggy top, which obviously didn't belong to her.
"Erm..." She looked down at the top, then back at Daniel with a questionable look.
"Oh sorry, I thought a baggy top would be more comfortable" He stood up looking down at her. Luce felt her cheeks go hot, did this mean he saw her half naked? Sure she had a bra on, and being injured Daniel didn't seem the kind of guy to take advantage.
"You can leave it on for now, give it back later" he shrugged at her.
"Thanks" She smiled slightly at him and stood up.
"Go easy today...and...err...maybe not spread what happened last night around. You know...news travels fast here, and before you know it there's electric fences surrounding us to stop crazy people entering" Daniel tried to joke about the last bit. Luce simply smiled back "Ok, see you later".

Luce began walking down the corridor, still lightheaded from the painkillers, and started thinking to herself. It was Sunday, the last day before classes began again, and she wanted to make the most out of it. Then it hit her. 'Cam!' She mentioned she'd watch a movie with him tonight. Would he want to after what happened last night? Seeing her as a weak and feeble mess, he might want to skip spending time with her. She knew she probably didn't look her best, crying and bloody.

It was still morning, and Luce was desperate for breakfast. She got to her room, cleaned and changed, then went out and knocked on Penn's door. The door swung over and Penn answered looking panicked.
"YOU NEVER CAME BACK TO YOUR ROOM!" Penn shouted at Luce. Luce felt terrible, Penn must have been so worried. Luce stared down at the floor and shifted her weight uncomfortably.
"Yeah...stuff happened, I'll tell you over breakfast? I'm starving"
Penn contemplated for a moment, "Fine. But you have to spill over breakfast"
"Haha, oh Penn, I don't know where to begin" Luce chuckled.