Chapter 27

My eyes slowly opened and I felt my neck and back hurt from the position I was sleeping in. I stretched out my limbs and rubbed the back of my neck and slowly got up.

I needed some water and more medicine.

I opened my door and headed downstairs for a cup of water and aspirin. I didn't bother to think about the time or anything when going down.

I went down to the kitchen and grabbed a glass and filled it with water. Before drinking any I grabbed some aspirin from a nearby cabinet. I took the medicine and drank the water a little bit at a time to enjoy the cool feeling.

I put the cup down and started to head back when I saw Sebastian from the corner of my eye. I tensed up but kept going remembering Christopher's words.

"I'll tell them to back off."

They would listen to him, right? He's like the head of their family, right?

I kept walking hearing footsteps behind me. I turned my head to see Sebastian following me. I got to my room and saw Sebastian to only go to his room. I walked into mine and sighed falling to my bed.

"He was just going to his room. There's no need to be so paranoid."

I closed my eyes and thought back to my dream. Memory more like it.

Why was I having these? I purposefully tried locking away those memories to protect myself and yet the guys were making them come back.

No. Don't blame them. They didn't do anything, not really.

I just needed to relax, calm down.

I got up and went straight to my bathroom and turned on my shower.

A hot shower will work.

I got it ready and and undressed myself before stepping in.

It was so warm and I felt my limbs relax. I could just stand here forever.

I looked up and closed my eyes feeling the warm water trickle from my face down my body.

This is heaven.

After standing there for a while I started to wash my body and hair taking all the time I needed.

When I finished I felt so refreshed.

I put on some clothes, after drying off, that I usually wear just around the house. The clothes contained a tank-top with an old sweatshirt over and short-shorts.

It felt amazing with my still warm body from the shower exposed making this cool-warm feeling over take me.

I could get used to this.

Sadly, I couldn't always treat myself like this. But it felt good when I did.

I heard a knock from my door and from it I knew who it was.

"Come in, mom."

My mom hesitantly opened the door and came in closing the door behind her. She looked like she just got home from work.

"Hey dear. You feeling any better?"

She looked at me with a kind look only mothers can have. A kind of look made from a mother's love for her child.

"Yeah, a bit. Just took a nice hot, long shower which really helped."

I smiled at my mom when saying that feeling the love that I felt for her. It was different than what I felt come off of the guys as they spent time with me. It was how I knew they meant what they said even though I want to deny it. Being with my mom only made things more clear.

The love from her was one for a family. The love from the others was much more. I couldn't tell which was stronger.

"That's good. Did you eat?"

I forced out a little laugh as I thought about how I pretty much slept all day.

Oops. I forgot.

She put her hands on her hips and gave that "I'm not mad just disappointed" look at me and shook her her head side to side sighing just a bit.

"Same as always. You get so engulfed in your room or by that tree that you forget about everything else. Speaking of which, you didn't go there, right?"

"Didn't even cross my mind."

She raised her eyebrow when looking at me not believe it. She had heard this excuse before when I did do it.

"Cross my heart. I didn't even leave this room."

I made the motion of crossing my heart and tried to keep a serious face on.

Finally she let up.

"Oh all right. I believe you. Now, come on. Let's go downstairs and get something to eat."

"No thanks. I'm not hungry. Tired, if anything."

Mom looked at me worriedly and I started to feel bad for saying no. But I really wasn't hungry and I didn't want to force myself to eat anything.

"You know how it is. When you're sick you don't really want to eat," I said trying to make things not as bad as I felt it.

She sighed.

"Alright, but, call me if you change your mind. I don't want you to starve yourself."

I smiled glad things were okay.

"Promise."

We stayed in silence for a bit before my mom started heading for my door.

"See you tomorrow honey. Sleep well."

"Thanks mom."

Then she left quietly closing my door as she did.

I sat on my bed and sighed as I looked around seeing how empty it really was. I fell down onto my bed bouncing just a bit as I curled up in a ball already starting to feel sleepy on the soft bed.

I thought back to my mom.

Glad some things haven't changed.