Chapter Twelve

          The resounding blare of Newton’s loud alarm blares against the walls for the hundredth time. Groaning my back lifts off the bed the loud crackles coming from my back as my tail whips out. Pushing up into a sitting position I look over to the still sleeping Newton, the blanket covering him as we had somehow switched places my body now against the wall as he laid sprawled on the other side. Allowing the sleepiness fall from my shoulders Newton moves to sit up rubbing his eyes for a second before jumping. Careening off the bed and onto the floor.

          “Oh shit, you good?” I move to the edge of the bed where he was now rubbing the back of his head.

          “Yeah, ouch what happened last night?” Pushing off the floor he staggers for a minute before laying his hand on the edge of his bed. Turning around he reaches for his phone hitting the alarm before falling back onto the bed the unnerved silence cloaking us. “Derek?”

          “Yeah?” I responded watching as Newton’s face turned bright red, his fingers grabbing the blanket beside me to cover up.

          “Why am I naked?!”

          “Well, to make things short and sweet. You got caught last night by dumbass one and two. Broke you out but you were shifted.” I shrug, “You’re also a big cuddler so I couldn’t really get out.”

***

          ‘Wait, what? I- no way. The last thing I remember was someone running their fingers through my fur, falling asleep.’

          As the words flowed through my thoughts the argument from prior makes itself known. Groaning, I lean against my knees letting everything sink in.

          “What the hell, I’m supposed to be mad with you.” I grumble, from between my fingers Derek’s staggering movements catch my attention. His tail drooped against the mattress, his usual deep honey brown eyes dull, exhausted, no drained.

          “Well, you can be mad. I’m going back to sleep.” He grumbles, pulling my comforter from the end of the bed and wrapping himself up his back to me. Getting up, I dig through my closet. Every so often looking back at his now shivering form. Grabbing and pulling on some clothes, and essentials my fingers grace a small bag. I’ve only seen this thing a few times and every time I’ve ever asked Derek would block the question with something witty.

          Temptation graces my mind and for a minute I almost put it under some of my clothes, But I stop putting it back ang getting up, making my way towards the door. Stopping as Derek moves to cuddle against my pillow, trickles of sweat coming from his wrinkled forehead.

          “Hey? Do you need anything? The nurse? A-“

          “No. Just leave me alone.” The snap was half-hearted, broken, I’m tempted to call his mom and ask her if there was anything I could do but right now isn’t the best time for either of us. So, I head out into the hall leaving him curled up as I close the door. Heading for the showers the grim against my body was terribly uncomfortable as I slipped into one of the stalls. Placing a change of clothes in the corner while I pull of the clothes I haphazardly pulled on.

          My fingers trace the soft irritations against my chest, the chains had dug deep into my fur but most of the pain was the electricity that had coursed through my body like fire. Everything was one big blur, between the fingers that ran through my fur to the muffled voices that drew my attention.

          ‘After everything, did Derek actually help me last night?’

          Shaking my head, I turn the water on and let it fall over my shoulders. After a long minute, I let my mind wonder the water feeling good as I close my eyes.

          ‘Could he really be trying to change.’

          By the time I open my eyes the shower looks more like a sauna. Turning the water off, I dry off and pick up my phone. Sending my teacher, a quick email, as I start to get dressed.

          Making my way back to our room, towel atop my head and glasses hanging from my shirt. Swiping the keycard, a pain grips at my heart. Laid out on the ground, blanket strown across the room on his stomach was Derek his fingers gripped around that small bag from earlier the aroma of magic against every nerve.

          “What in the hell?” Dropping my things, I close the door and rush over. Turning him over his tail weakly wraps around my wrist in a vain attempt to pull my away. The usual smell of magic that would come from him barely there as Derek lifted his hand to push me back.

          “Go away.” He grumbled, his fingers barely gripping the  bag as it lands in his lap. Helping him upright his tail drops to the floor.

          “What in the hell is going on Derek? And no bullshit you better tell me now.” Reluctant with his shoulders slumped he spoke softly, almost inaudible.

          “Hungry, S- Just hungry. Go away.” Even though the reluctance danced over his words he tried once more to open the bag. Pulling it from his fingers his arms just gave up, falling to his side as I lean him against the bed frame.

          “That medicine of yours isn’t for headaches, are they?” The drop of his head confirmed my answer as I lifted my hand to his chin making him look at me. “Is it?” I needed to hear it, even though the pained look on his face shattered my heart as he gulped.

          “No.” Finally responding the familiar aroma of magic no more against his prickling skin. Craving and pulling at my own source. Releasing his chin his head falls back against the mattress eyes gluing themselves anywhere else but to me. Opening the bag, I look at the small syringe and jars more surprised than anything. Compared to the EpiPen looking device I see him try to sneak out of the room with when he complains about headaches.

          “How much?” Falls from my lips and for a long minute Derek just stares at the ceiling. Agitation started to nip at me as I grabbed his chin making his eyes meet mine. “Derek How much?” as I spoke his body seem to shake, his body tensing against my fingers as his tail flayed and hit the syringe from my hand. “Derek I am trying to help you; stop being fucking stubborn and let me.” I hadn’t meant it to sound threatening but his tail all but wrapped loosely around my wrist.

          “Just, leave me alone.”

          “Derek, I am going to help you one way or the other or I swear I will throw you out the window and make it look like an accident.” Taking the syringe off the floor, I take a quick glance at it finding a small black tab against the glass. “Is that how much?” Showing him the mark, he groans and looks away.

          ‘Guess that’ll have to do.’

          “Do you remember when we first meet? Out on the driveway cause our parents thought we would be friends?” His voice is slurred as he continues to go down memory lane. “Hadn’t realized what an obsession was till I laid eyes on you. Love at first sight and all that.”

          Filling the syringe to the small mark I keep my eyes on him as his tail loosely fell from my wrist.

          “Wanted to make a good impression until I realized that I wasn’t just obsessed with you, I loved you and my heart hurt so much.” Soft chuckling breaks the air. Then- then-“ His head drops forward and for a minute my heart is so loud in my ears. Looking his body over, I try ton find where he had been sticking himself only finding it against his wrist when his arm fell from his lap. Puncturing it into the spot, I can’t help but watch the fluids flow into his veins a soft hum against his skin.

          “Come on. Come on. Wake up.” Placing the syringe on the bag, I lift his face to look at me. Watching any sign as the thudding in my ears grew deafening. Drawing down his face to his neck my eyes land on a rough looking bruise against his throat all sorts of beautiful colors as though someone had tried and failed to choke him. That someone coming to mind just as fast as the fear drained to anger.

          ‘Pompous no good fucking stick whip. I’m going to kill him!!’

          Laying my fingers against the side of his neck a soft pulse makes itself know against my palm. The aroma of magic against his skin hits me and with a deep sigh I lay my forehead against his. Pulling away, I pick him up and help him back into my bed. Throwing my blanket over his shoulders and making sure he was comfortable before turning my attention towards the small jar of liquid.

          Time to figure out what in the hell is in this.

***

          ‘Huh? I’m alive? I was positive my body would have crashed by now. What happened?’

          The familiar feel of my mother’s magic against my veins makes my it obvious but what seemed to play in my mind was something completely different. Sitting up, I look around the room. The sun has all but fallen leaving behind the soft glow of the moon and lamplight that pooled from Newton’s desk. He’s leaned back his head against the wall and his glasses perched against his forehead.

          “What happened?” His glasses drop onto his face as his eyes glare me down.

          ‘Should have stayed asleep.’

          My mind screamed at me as Newton sits up a bit.

          “I know what you’ve been using. Did you seriously think I wouldn’t?” The question stung as my eyes caught a glimpse of what laid on his desk. “Have you been using this since we were back in high school?” Nodding, I shrug as he stands. “Back then you could have come to me you know. I would have done anything. Even after all the stupid shit you did.” The smell of magic wafts through the air as I groan and lay my hands against my face.

          “Did that invite even matter after what happened?” The question even though it pained me to ask, seemed to click a switch behind those deep eyes that went from a calming rage to something far worse as he shoots up out of the chair.

          “STOP BRING THAT UP ALREADY! YES, FUCK I KILLED SOMEONE, YES YOU FUCKED UP! ITS DONE! ITS IN THE PAST LET IT REST ALREADY!! YOU WEREN’T SUPPOSED TO STARVE YOURSELF IT WASN’T YOUR ANGER TO BARE!!” Now standing in front of me, the red of his face and the stream of tears was something I hadn’t wanted to see. Looking away, I can’t breathe my heart and lungs feeling as though they were being squeezed with ever ragged pull.

          “Then, what could I have done? Huh? You wouldn’t even look at me? Let alone talk to me. You stopped being yourself, smiling, laughing, everything, I thought I finally truly fucked it all up. Now-“ Throwing my arm out for emphases I look up at him. “Now I’m doing it all over again. Should have tried to snap this in the bud day one!”

          “Snap what? The obsession?” He questions, stupid as it sounds his voice is so quiet as though confirming.

          “Yes, the fucking obsession. I just want it to stop hurting. I wish I was never born an incubus, but shit lives got to pull a fast one on me sooner or later.” Falling onto the bed, my hand moves to rub my eyes as his blurred form moves close. “Look, I’m done. Your done. Let’s just forget this shit happened and go back to ignoring each other okay.”

          “I’m so done with arguing with you. Just this once let me do something and stop trying to hide shit from me.” His hand falls on mine as soon as I pulled it from my face. “Can we just start over?”

          “From what point?” The question falls from my lips as his fingers weaved into mine.

          “What about this, tomorrow before class. You, me, and a long walk outside the track near the woods. No talking just relaxing, just forgetting this entire argument happened.”

          “But it did Newton we can’t ignore that.”

          “I- I know and we will get back to it. But another time.” He waves his free hand to shush me as he spoke his voice calmer then I expected. Before a small smile graced his face, I don’t know if it was in some vain attempt to make me smile but it does. “Now, why don’t we just sit for a bit.” He pauses his fingers still molded with mine. “You know how much I hate seeing you cry.” He finally mumbles out.

          “Whatever.” Pulling him back into the bed, I’m surprised he follows me not once pulling his hand away as he gets comfortable with his back against the wall. My free hand finding the blanket and pulling it over my shoulder.

          “I’m sorry.”

          “For what?” I question him back the silence that had begun to cloak us all but turning away as he pulls his glasses off. Placing them on the head of the bed.

          “After everything, I’ll be honest, I was beyond mad with you. I saw red every tie you came into view. But now, now after everything all these years of relearning control and actually talking to her I shouldn’t have gotten so upset with you.” He finishes those greens as blurry as they were watched me as I sat up on my elbow.

          “Well, if you got that off your chest.” Taking a deep breath, I lay my hand on his face and for a second, he just stays still. “Sorry I didn’t know how to tell you.” The smile on his face makes my heart jump for joy. The air feeling a little more clear than it has been in a while. Silence quickly wrapped around us till something came crashing down.

          “WAIT, YOU’VE TALKED TO HER?”