CHAPTER 37
CHLOE'S POV
I woke up with a banging headache and cold. I got out of the tub and dried myself.
I wore a big cardigan and sweatpants. I went downstairs to make myself something to eat and I settled with chicken soup.
I ate and felt sleepy again and I was about going upstairs when I heard a knock on the door.
I opened it and saw Keith standing there.
"Can I come in?"
No where to run to
"Sure", I said rubbing my forehead.
"Is it okay if we talk?"
"We're already talking now so....", my vision was getting blurrier by the minute.
"I just wanted to know why you've been avoiding me"
"I... haven't.... been.....avoi....", I blacked out.
KEITH'S POV
Dad finally decided to let me off work, and I washed up before heading to Chloe's house.
She was looking kinda pale and just blacked out.
"Chloe?", I tried shaking her gently but it was useless.
"Chloe, wake up", I tried calling out again.
What do I do now?
Wait!
I have Matt's number....
I brought out my phone and called Matt.
"Hey, dude, what's up?"
"Umm, is Jess with you?"
"Yeah, why?"
"Chloe just fainted"
"What?"
"You heard me. Just pass the phone to Jess", I heard shuffling before Jess spoke.
"What's going on?"
"Chloe just passed out"
"Is she burning up?"
I placed the back of my palm on her forehead and her temperature was just fine.
"No"
"There's nothing to worry about. It's just girl stuff but she needs attention. Why didn't I think of this sooner?"
"What do you mean?"
" I shouldn't have left her alone. She's about to....you know"
" Right. So it's like this with other girls?"
" No, we visited a doctor and he said it's different for most girls"
" Ok"
" Please, take care of her. We aren't in the country right now. We were supposed to be back tomorrow but we got delayed"
" No, problem. I'll do my best", I hung up and stuffed my phone into my back pocket.
I picked her up bridal style and took her upstairs to her room before placing her on the bed.
I noticed she was sweating so I took her cardigan off and she was wearing a tank top underneath.
She looks really peaceful, and beautiful.
I really can't explain what she does to me
I laid down beside her and watched her like a hawk.
I wouldn't want anything to happen her.
I picked up her hand and kissed it.
She really means something to me.
============================
It's 8:27 and she still isn't awake, I'm beginning to get scared.
What if she doesn't wake up?
What if she ....?
No, it's not possible.....
Just then she gasped and started breathing heavily.
"Hey, calm down. You're fine, I'm here", I cooed and she took deep breaths before she started breathing normally.
"What happened?"
"You passed out"
"What are you doing here?"
"I'm looking after you. Jess told me you need attention"
"You don't have to"
"But I want to"
"And you really don't have to. I can take care of myself", she tried to get up but she winced and lay back down.
"Are you ok?"
"I'm fine"
"Ok"
"I remember you said you wanted to talk"
"We can talk about it later"
"Let's talk about now"
"Your health is important"
"I know it is but I wanna hear what you want to say"
"We'll talk about it tomorrow"
"We can't keep being intimate", she said, ignoring my warnings.
"Why?"
"Because I said so. It feels wrong. I think it's a distraction. We need to set boundaries, no kisses, no make outs, no pet names. Maybe after the project we can continue with our normal lives", she said and that was all it took to break my heart into a billion pieces with no way to put it back together.
" If that's what you want then fine. We'll set boundaries but I'm still gonna take care of you, because your sister said so", I said before she could protest.
" Fine", she got up and looked at her body.
" Why'd you take off my cardigan?"
" You were sweating profusely"
" Oh. Thank you"
============================
I tried to keep up with the boundaries but it was super hard knowing that she's here but I can't calm her mine, nor can I kiss her, touch her or cuddle.
She seems totally unaffected by the boundaries and she's acting like what we had or still have, doesn't exist.
We talked only about school related stuff until she fell asleep.
I tucked her in and laid down on the couch in her room. I brought out my phone from my pocket and dialed Matt's number.
" How is she?"
" She's fine and she's asleep but I wanna talk to Jess"
" No one wants to talk to me. Dude, don't you try to take away my girlfriend from me", Matt joked and I chuckled.
" No way in hell will I do that. Now can I talk to her?"
" Sure", I heard shuffling and Jess spoke.
" What's up?"
" She's currently asleep and I wanted to ask if she was gonna start....you know....this night", I said and she laughed.
" It's okay to actually say the word and no, passing out is just a sign that she might start menstruating a couple of days from now"
" Oh"
" Anything else?"
" No, not at all"
" Tell my baby sis I said hi when she wakes up later in the night"
" Will do. Wait, did you say 'later in the night'?"
" Yup. Bye", she hung up before I could say anything.
Great.
Just great.
I slept off and I was having a really nice dream where I was a successful model and I wanted to get married but I didn't know who.
My bride was about to reveal her face but then I heard a shrill scream. I opened my eyes and got up, only to see Chloe... crying?
Why on earth is she crying?
"Mom? Dad?", she kept on saying.
"Talk to me, please"
She's having a nightmare.....
"Don't leave me, please"
"Chloe, wake up. It's not real"
"Mommy? Daddy? Please wake up", she cried even harder and my heart clenched.
I guess I can't stand to see her cry.
"It's okay. It's not real... It's all just a nightmare", I cooed and she stopped crying.
"Stay on the bed with me", she whispered and I obliged.
She clutched onto me tightly and my insides were dancing. I embraced her and let the sleep consume me.
============================
I woke up at midnight to ease myself and when I came back, she was crying again.....
"What's wrong?"
"You left me...just like them...you don't love me....they don't too...", she said but it was obvious she wasn't awake.
This is quite strange...
"I love you and I won't leave you like they did", I cuddled her and started patting her back.
She hiccuped a few times before falling asleep.
She looks so vulnerable...
What did she mean by 'they don't to'?
I'll ask Jess in the morning...
TUESDAY
I woke up and saw that she was still asleep. I carefully removed her hand from my chest before quietly slipping out of her bed and her room.
I got to the kitchen and made breakfast, eggs and avocado toast.
I went back up to her room with the food in my hand and she was wide awake.
"Good morning", I chirped, placing the tray on the bedside table and sitting on the bed.
"Good morning"
"How are you feeling?"
"Tired and sleepy"
"You could skip school today"
" No, I'll go"
" You sure?"
" Yeah"
" Ok, here's your breakfast. I have to make a quick call", I placed the tray on her lap and left the room to the hall.
I dialed Matt's number and Jess was the one that picked it up.
" Keith? Is anything wrong?"
" No, not at all. I just wanted to ask you if she normally have nightmares"
" Oh, crap.... She only does when she's about to.....you know"
" Wow... This is very weird"
" Yup. She says things and cries but she doesn't remember in the morning"
" She doesn't?"
" Yeah"
" Ok, I'll call you back later?"
" Yeah", I hung up and went back to the room.
" Do you like the food?"
" Yes, except I will need some orange juice to go with it"
" Right", I hurried downstairs and grabbed a bottle of orange juice and poured it into a glass.
I went back up to the room and handed it to her.
" Here you go"
" Thanks", she took a sip of it.
" Did anything weird happen last night?", she asked.
" Huh?"
" I mean, did I say stuff?"
What should I tell her?