The awakening II

Valerie

"Blake I'll. . . . . Call you later, alright?" I said to him as we stood in the kitchen.

"Are you asking me to leave? Valerie, I can't leave you alone with that stranger."

"I know but. . . . He's not gonna hurt me."

"How do you know that, Val?"

I stared at him, bereft of words. Surely I didn't know that but I just believed he wasn't gonna hurt me. Not because he said that earlier but because I saw it in his eyes. There was just something vulnerable about him.

"You're right, Blake, I don't know, but I can't tell him to leave my house. He's wounded, what harm could he do?"

"Val. . . ."

"I'll be fine. Trust me. Besides, Shelby would be here soon. You need to go to school and talk to the professor for me, okay?"

He watched me for a second before saying, "you sure do know all the right things to say, Val." he smiled gently. "Just don't hesitate to call me if you need any help, okay?"

I nodded before I watched him walk out and drive his car out of the compound. Then I walked back to the bedroom.

I stopped at the sitting room where I'd left my phone since last night and dialed Shelby.

The instant she picked it, I spoke "He woke up, Shelby"

"Okay. As soon as I'm done here I'll be at your house okay?" She replied.

"Okay." I nodded before disconnecting the call.

I stood there for a while, wondering how the hell I was going to walk back into that room with the stranger staring at me like he knew me and me staring right back as if I knew him. That was awkward enough. It got more awkward now that I remembered that I was still in my pajamas and I hadn't even brushed my teeth or anything.

Neither has he.

I slowly stepped back into the room and saw him moved into a sitting position, our eyes met for a brief moment before I quickly looked down shyly.

"I'm sorry about your friend, " He spoke first, "He is not very comfortable that I'm here."

"Don't worry about him, he's just looking out for me." I gave him a small smile that faded instantly as he kept looking at me in a way that felt discomforting.

Stopping next to him, I added. "I hope you're better now."

"I'm fine " He replied but I saw how he still clutched his side as he tried to get comfortable on the bed.

"May I?" I asked, pointing at the bandage wrapping his stomach and across his shoulder. He nodded, his eyes looking past me as I bent over to touch it. I heard him draw a sharp breath and I stopped, feeling like I'd hurt him.

"Did it hurt? I'm sorr. . ."

He chuckled softly, amusement lacing his voice and I looked up to find his eyes on me, his perfect dentition on full display.

"I'm not hurt anymore. See for yourself."

I nodded and slowly unwrapped his bandage. What I saw shocked me. The wounds from the arrows were gone, almost completely vanished except for a trace that still told you something had been there and it's just been a day. What the hell?

"You're healed, " I commented, wonder and shock filled my voice. "How is that even possible?"

I saw the amusement in his eyes as they watched me before he coughed and replied. "I think it's something you must've given me."

"Oh yes, of course. . Um. . . . Shelby would be here soon to check on you. She's a doctor." I said out of concern because I couldn't understand the situation at all. He was healed? Overnight? How come?

He nodded and continued to stare at me. I scratched my forearm uncomfortably, trying to look anywhere else but him but the plan kept failing miserably. The more I tried, the more awkward it got.

"So. . . . You must be hungry," I said nervously. "Why don't I fix us something to eat. You can shower, right? That's the bathroom." I pointed toward the bathroom door and realized right there and then that I didn't have any male clothes here that he could change into.

"I'm sorry I don't. . . . I don't have anything you can wear now. Do you live around here? I could get your stuff for you."

"Don't worry, Valerie, I'm good."

I was stunned when he called my name but wasn't too stunned when I recalled that Blake was all over the place calling my name an hour ago. I just gave him a small smile before turning away and walking out, praying that I don't fall over my feet and luckily, I didn't.

I thought of what to cook. I didn't know what he liked. Should I ask him? I thought about asking him but stopped when I realized he'd probably be butt naked right now, trying to get into the shower so I decided I'd just make eggs and tea. Everybody loves that.

It took me thirty minutes to put the breakfast together. Picking up the tray of food, I turned around to proceed toward the dining table and almost dropped it away when I saw him standing at the door, his chest naked.

He stood there, watching me but seeming surprised the instant I turned around and saw him. He was on his weird pants, his abs on full display, his pants leaving only little for the imagination because of how slim they were on him, but I tried not to think about it, or how ravishingly hot his skin color looked, and how awfully satisfying the six-packs arranged on his chest looked.

"Sorry, I didn't mean to startle you like that. . . ." He started but I cut him off with a pretentious shake of my head that said everything was good.

"It's alright. . . . You didn't startle me. Do you need something?"

"Yes. . . . I can't run the water. Could you help me out with it?" He asked and all the while he was talking, I realized I was just staring at him till I didn't hear him anymore and forced myself to snap out of it. The last thing I wanted was to make him feel uncomfortable here.

"Oh, sure!" I walked over to the table and set the tray down before hurrying past him. I walked straight into the bedroom and inside the bathroom. I pushed the cubicle door open and turned on the water.

I turned back to find him walking in. I tried to swallow before I said, "there you go. You just turn that thing to the right when you're done." Why am I explaining it to him as if he was a child? God, I'm so dumb.

"Thanks," he said with a slight nod.

I nodded quickly and rushed out just as quickly, breathing out loud as soon as I was back into the safety of my kitchen. I quickly finished my breakfast before he came back out.

When he was done, I pointed for him to sit down and he did, right in front of his food. Like a good child.

"I hope you like it." I said, but after a few seconds I asked, "need more sugar?"

He looked up at me, gave me a sweet smile, and replied, "No thanks. That'll do."

I nodded.

He started eating and I just watched him. Again. I had a lot to say, a lot to ask him, but I didn't know the right time to ask that.

After just sitting there for a long while and watching him eat, I decided the silence was too awkward and a little conversation wouldn't hurt.

"Uh. . . . What's your name, if you don't mind?"

He raised his eyes and looked at me, his eyes seeming like some language I didn't quite understand yet, then he said. "I'm Luke"

"Nice name. Um. . . . I'm Valerie. Silly me, you already know that." I chuckled awkwardly to cover up my embarrassment. "What happened to you? I found you on that beach, unconscious."

He remained still for a while, silently having a conversation in his head before he asked, "Where is this place?"

"Uh. . . LA, California"

With that question, I continued to wonder who he really was and where he came from. It was one thing not being able to turn on the water but it was a whole other thing not knowing where this place was. But as quickly as I told him that piece of information, I noticed the change in his eyes.

"What happened?" I asked him tenderly.

"I. . . . Someone tried to kill me. I don't remember how I got here."

His reply struck me hard, and I realized I didn't know what to say. Tell him it was gonna be okay or keep questioning him?

"Well I'm sorry about that. . . ."

He nodded.

I heard the door ring.

"Excuse me," I told him before walking out to get the door. Shelby was standing outside.

"Hey, Shelby " I let her into the house. " I need to tell you something"

"What is it?"

I looked back into the sitting room before whispering. "He's all healed, Shelby"

Shelby's once curious face turned into a smiling face before she replied "Yeah I know. . . . What I injected him with was supposed to heal him, alright?" That said, she walked past me and headed towards the sitting room area.

She didn't know what I meant. Nothing heals as fast as that. Nothing.

I followed her in to see the surprised look on her face too.

"That's how much you healed?" She asked.

Luke smiled before riding up to his feet, his height appearing to be more intimidating than I'd noticed earlier.

"I need to check you out, young man," Shelby said. Undoubtedly looking at Luke as if she was seeing a medal.

"I'm alright. . . . . Thank you for taking care of me," Luke told her, his eyes leaving her for a minute to look at me as I stood at the back.

He looks at me for a long time, causing Shelby to turn around to look at me too.

"Something I need to know here?" Shelby said "Val, who's this man?"

"I don't know, okay? But we'll talk again, I promise,"

Shelley turned back to him and breathed in, then said, "I'm sorry, I didn't mean to be rude. Just . . . . I wasn't expecting you to be all healed even in a month. That arrow shot was pretty deep,"

"I know. . . . . I usually heal faster than normal." Luke replied like it was the most natural thing.

Shelby nodded anyway, even though I knew she didn't quite understand anything. I'm just as confused right now.

Just then, my phone started ringing from the counter. I walked past them to pick it up. I looked at the screen. It was Blake.

"Hey Blake," I said into the intercom as soon as I picked it up.

"Val, the professor said he wants to speak with you and needs you to come down to the school now."

"Oh, did he?"

"Think you can make it?"

"Yeah, I'm on my way. I'll be there shortly, just gimme a sec."

I disconnected the call.

"Shelby, would you be leaving anytime soon? Blake just called and I need to meet him."

"Sure. . . . . . I'll just wait till you get back."

"Thank you so much."

Turning back at Luke, I didn't know what to say to him. Instead, I just walked into my bedroom and took a quick shower before throwing on a pair of skinny jeans and a white embroidered shirt and running out of the house.