Page 46 of Patchover Fright Night
“Nope. Not showing anyone. My god! Rocket!!”
We watched the two of them charge around, hunting down Rocket, and I chewed my lip.
“Anyone else really want to know what her tattoo is?”
Lissa
It still felt weirdthat I’d lost most of the night, and all I really recalled was seeing Ice trying to charge into a burning building, with sparkly fairies tugging at his clothes, as they triedto stop him. Apparently those weren’t real, but his desperate attempt to die a fiery death was genuine.
As a therapist, I knew that it was a red flag, but honestly, if the situation had been reversed, I wasn’t so sure I wouldn’t have been the one trying to follow him into wherever the hell people go after life. As a person who wasn’t a believer in religion, or gods, or afterlives, I had no idea what waited for us after we passed on, but I knew I’d want to be there with him.
Ice had been checked over, and was concussed, and in agony with his shoulder, but some basic pain relief, and an ice pack for his injury were pretty much all he could have, to try and ease his suffering. Addiction was the curse that just kept on hurting him, and not because he’d fallen back on his old ways, but because he couldn’t even get some proper relief now.
I tried to get up, to bring him one of the hot drinks we’d been making from the supplies dropped here by Rossi’s people, but he tightened his good arm around me, and gritted out the word ‘nope’.
“Ice, I was just going to get you something to drink. You need to have something.”
“I said nope. You’re staying right here in my fucking arms… well, arm… because I nearly lost you, and I’m not ready to not be touching you. K?”
He’d cried when he realised I hadn’t died in that fire. We both did. Our connection was that intense and all-consuming, but this was bordering on obsessive now.
“I’ll be right there, Ice.”
“Nope.”
“I’m thirsty,” I finally said, the words coming out more as a grumble at this point, but my ploy worked, because he sighed heavily and released me, but caught my hand as I stood up.
“Help me up, babe. I’ll give you a hand.”
“I can do it, besides, you have to rest, remember? Concussions are not just headaches.”
He grudgingly released my hand, and watched me like a hawk, as I walked the few feet across the yard to the drinks table, and dispensed water into two cups, making tea for both of us. Did I happen to notice the occasional glitter trails as I moved things? Did I swallow hard, as I saw a fairy peeking out from behind the drinks urn?Nope. At this point, admitting to such things would be tantamount to lunacy, so no. I didn’t see a damn thing.
Sophie
He was so stubborn!“You were shot, Micro. Again!” Why was he rolling his eyes at me? The whole night was terrifying, but thinking I’d lost him, again, was the worst part of it all.
“It’s not a joke!”
Micro groaned, grabbing my hand and halting my angry pacing.
“Baby, I’m fine. Look at me. It’s just another fucking scar to add to the collection, but I’m fine. Would I prefer to not get shot every fucking time something happens? Of course. It’s actually pretty painful, but it’ll take more than that to keep me away from you.”
He looked so sweet and sincere as he spoke, but that just made it worse, because that tentative grip I’d had on my emotions failed me in that moment, and the tears filled my eyes as the first sob choked me.
“Aw baby, c’mere.” He practically crushed me against his chest, his strength belying the injuries he’d taken tonight, but he winced when I pressed close and let him hold me, because yeah, he’d been fucking shot!
“You can’t… I can’t lose… you nearly died, Micro!” I sobbed out, and he cursed, cupping the back of my head as he kissed the top of it.
“Shh it’s okay, baby, it’s all okay.”
“Rossi managed to get some rooms booked at the nearest hotel, so we’re all gonna start heading out, man,” Torch said, stopping beside us with Grace tucked under his arm. I felt her rest a soothing hand on my shoulder, and forced myself to look at them, their image blurry behind the tears still slipping from my eyes.
“Thanks for having my back,” Micro said quietly, and I caught the atmosphere between them, since I couldn’t see worth a damn. I dragged the back of my hand over my eyes, to get a better look. That atmosphere wasn’t the usual one, filled with animosity and hurt. It felt friendlier than that.
Torch sighed, pressing his face against Grace’s hair for a moment. Was this awkwardness between them a good thing? I couldn’t tell at this moment.
“Torch?”
