The next day, after the morning classes ended, both Lana; and Blaine's classes let out at the same time. He asked about her plans really quick and she said she wanted to go to the library. Almin was taking Kattie to the park. He asked, "can I go with you so we can talk?"
"Sure," she nodded. "I'm just going to buy blankets. Do you want to help?"
Blaine chuckled, "you and your blankets!"
They marched back to the dining facility with their classes then those who were going somewhere met their friends and marched off.
Inside the library, they sat down at the market computers. While Lana logged in, Blaine decided to speak.
"We need to talk about last night."
"What about it?"
She typed in blankets in the search bar and hit enter.
"The kiss and hold hands… That can't happen again," he replied to her with sadness in his eyes.
"First of all, you did more than that to me," she smirked then continued more solemnly.
"I know there are two of you in there and I can tell your situation is complicated. We were caught up in the moment. I know neither of you want a relationship with me. Why would you?"
Looking at the screen, "this is so cute!" and she clicked add to cart.
Blaine looked like he wanted to hit something. "That is not what I said."
"Then what did you say?"
The screen listed some recommended items, two more blankets and sheets to match them.
"You are right. My situation is complicated. You could make it even worse. In fact, you are making it worse," Blaine's voice got lower as he got toward the end so it was almost a whisper.
"How am I making it worse? Kyle," she pointed to the other side of Blaine's brain, "seemed to always stay at the back when I first saw you that first week. He seems to come forward more often now. Is that not a good thing?"
Back at the screen, she noticed they were very cute as well so she added them all to her cart then completed the purchase.
"It would seem that way but no."
"So, he's being more interactive but that's bad? How is he to heal from his trauma if he doesn't come forward? Why would you deny him the chance to heal? What are you afraid of?"
She printed off her receiving ticket and stood up. She headed toward the receiving station and Blaine followed her.
Blaine sighed, "he was a child when the trauma happened, only 8 and that is his maturity level. His power level is much higher."
She nods, "so you fear temper tantrums."
She scanned her ticket and moments later, her items arrived in a box.
Blaine just looked at her, "it's not that I fear him. He gets me in trouble. He can be…impulsive and temperamental."
"Look. I'm not afraid. I'm used to waking being shocked that I'm still alive because it was always a real possibility that I would not wake up. I was told quite often …" Lana stifled a sigh.
Holding her big box, she started walking toward the exit. Blaine took the box from her and refused to let her carry it.
"When I got here, the environment was so much more relaxed than what I was used to. I'm now wondering if it's possible that I might actually have a future. For now, I live as if there is no tomorrow as much as I can because I still have Dobin to take care of."
Blaine sighed and nodded. "Let's get this to your room."
Not long later, she opened her door, allowed him to enter then closed it behind her. Kattie was at lunch with the others so she took the time to open the box and take everything out. He watched the excitement grow on her face with each blanket and sheet. He wondered what she went through that such simple things would make her glow like that. Kyle, if we touch her, SHE is going to kill us.
They watched as Lana pulled the blanket off her bed and replaced it with one of the new ones. It had a red heart on it with a sword through it and vines wrapped around it, constricting, thorns almost puncturing it. Blaine had some concerns for this girl but he was being drawn in by her level of happiness. This was something he had never seen before. Authentic happiness. Over a simple thing.
Totally immersed in her work, she forgot Blaine was standing there until he asked if he could help in any way.
Lana shrugged, "do you want to put those sheets in the wash? I can wash blankets when we get out of class tonight."
He did so then returned to the main room. She was smoothing out her blanket tenderly.
"May I ask," she was startled at the sound of his voice and looked up, "what is it about this blanket that captivates you so? Why are you so happy?"
Lana didn't know how to answer. She didn't want to tell him too much yet. "I guess… I guess it reminds me of all the times I've tried to make friends. All the of the times life stabbed me in the heart. Took away my happiness. Reminded me that I'm unlovable…"
Blaine couldn't take it anymore. He picked her up, wrapped her legs around his waist again and put her against the wall, careful of her head. He stared intensely into her eyes. "You are not unlovable."
Blaine slammed his fist into the wall above her head which hurt his hand and he howled in pain.
"What's wrong with you?" Lana asked softly, genuinely concerned for him.
Do you have any idea how hard it is to spend time with you… to look at you, to be near you… and not be with you? He said in his head. He took several slow deep breaths before he trusted his mouth to not say what was on his mind. Without looking her in the eyes but at her forehead, "you are a beautiful, kind, wonderful person. You are very lovable. You are going to make a man very happy someday."
Blaine closed his mouth and eased her to the floor, "we need to get to our afternoon classes" before I do something I'll regret, he continued in his mind.
Without saying another word, they marched back to class. They were both lost in their thoughts.
Blaine said Kyle had a temper but what was that? He punched the wall for no reason.
In Blaine's head:
Blaine: Kyle, I don't know if I have the strength to stay by her side.
Kyle: We need to. They don't know me. They know you.
Blaine: She knows you. Well, she's met you…
Kyle: I want to hunt down all those who hurt her.
Blaine: I want to skin them alive and slowly roast them over an open fire and bask in the music of their screams until they die.
Blaine didn't realize it but by the time they got to the school, he had dug his nails into his palms so badly, they drew blood. Lana noticed it and pulled him into her class to heal him.
Once he was no longer bleeding, she lowered her head, "I'm sorry for making you angry. You should go to class. The others are here now."
Blaine had a knot in his throat and couldn't talk. He had no idea what the afternoon lessons were about because all he could think about was losing his temper when she didn't deserve it. Kyle, you know she's far better than we deserve, right? Kyle simply nodded. Elemental class was just a timewaster for him. Anyone he sparred against in the class failed to be a challenge for him.
It was a Friday, she'd have class in the evening. He was anxious to get back to the dorms. He needed to stop somewhere before joining her and their friends for dinner. At this point, he considered them friends as well.
As soon as their class marched back to the dorms and formation as dismissed, Blaine took off running to his room. He took off his uniform and just left it on the floor. He put on a nice outfit then ran to the library. He looked in the market for a nice piece of jewelry. He wanted to get her a necklace but she had that locket and refused to wear it.
That was when he saw it. A gold and rose gold bracelet that had roses and hearts alternating, vines intertwining between them. The leaves on the vines had emeralds, the hearts and roses had rubies. He didn't even look at the price. He bought it, retrieved it from the receiving station then ran to her tree in the Agricultural area.
Lana was a little worried because her friends were there but Blaine wasn't. It wasn't like him to be late for dinner. Was he really that mad at her? Why did her words upset him so?
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