Page 66 of Distortion
I’m wokento a door opening and light blinding me.
‘She’s here! I found her.’
I’m picked up in burly arms, and I’m so out of it, I don’t even think to struggle at first.
I blink in the light, trying to figure out what’s going on, trying to focus on the face above me.
I freeze.
‘Put me down!’ I shriek and I’m deposited roughly on the mattress.
I scramble away in a panic and almost fall on the floor as I slip off the bed and stand up.
‘It’s okay. It’s okay.’
Mav?
‘What’s going on?’ I ask, rubbing my eyes and belatedly yawning. ‘What time is it?’
‘Twelve.’
‘At night?!’ I shriek.
‘In the afternoon.’
Oh.
I’ve slept for hours. I still feel exhausted, though, at least the thumping music has stopped.
‘What are you doing in my room?’
Mav takes a step toward me and I take two back.
‘I knocked,’ he explains. ‘I wanted to make sure you were okay. But you didn’t answer. And then we couldn’t find you.’
‘We?’
I belatedly realize the other two are at the door, watching.
‘What were you doing in the closet, Daisy?’
Shade’s voice is hard.
I snort, trying to make light of it. I didn’t think they’d find out and I don’t want to explain it to them. ‘The music was bothering me and I was tired,’ I say. ‘The closet blocked out some of the noise so I could sleep.’ I shrug, hopefully nonchalantly.
I yawn again and close my eyes. My headache is coming back with a vengeance. I wince as I roll my shoulders. My back is killing me. Maybe sleeping in the closet was ill-advised. My chest feels tight, too, and I hope I’m not coming down with a virus.
‘Anyway, I’m here. You’ve found me. Can I go back to sleep now?’ I ask.
The other two seem to share a look and leave without a word. I’m left alone with Mav.
‘How are you feeling?’
‘Besides bruised, aching, tired, and probably coming down with something thanks to you guys and your little games? I’m fine. Nothing a little rest won’t fix.’ My eyes narrow. ‘Is that what the music was about last night, too? Were you trying to find me today, so that we could go on another fun little trip together this afternoon? Maybe we could go through my dead mom’s room again before hiking in the cold autumn rain in short sleeves followed by some bungee jumping and another seafood dinner along with a few more hours of death metal?’
I stop, afraid I’m giving him tips.
He doesn’t say anything, but I think I’ve surprised him.
