tell she felt safe and secure in my arms as if nothing could ever harm her. I just hoped it wasn’t me who would end up harming her in the end.
I would wait forever for her to wake up if I had to. It would be worth every second of waiting to look into her beautiful eyes just one more time. I would wait an eternity just to see that look of acceptance and desire. I was also desperately hoping the other thing I saw in her eyes was love. Our differences be damned. I could keep myself in check even though to be so close to her would no doubt be very difficult for me. I was willing to try… well, scratch that. I had no choice. I was in love with her and I had to be with her, it was beyond my control. I would only leave her if she told me to and I was wrong about the way she looked at me.
Chapter 6
Awakening
William studied me for a minute as I slowly woke up. I wasn’t even sure what to think of him being in my hospital room, at first. If it had been any other guy, just sitting there while I slept I would have freaked out. It wasn’t that way with William though; it made me happy to see him again. I didn’t feel awkward or self-conscious with him, which for me was very rare.
“Are you feeling okay?” He asked as he got up, stretching his arms out.
“I guess I’m sort of stiff.” I moved my shoulders and they felt like I had been laying there for years. “Gosh.” I whispered as I rubbed my stiff neck.
“The doctors want to do some more tests. They can’t figure out what caused you to black out.” Concern filled his eyes. “You were really dehydrated too.” He noticed me eyeing the tubes in my arm with disgust.
“What else is wrong with me?” I hated even to ask.
“I was here for all of it so here it is,” he sighed. “They found four bruised ribs and of course a bad cut on your head. You got stitches in the back of your head and a cut on your left leg.”
“I’m in bad shape then, and you said I have to have more tests to see what caused me to pass out by the river?”
“Afraid so, they were waiting for you to wake up before they did anything more.”
“Well, it could be worse.” I looked down at my hands, a bit embarrassed. “I could have woke up and you wouldn’t have been here.”
“That wasn’t going to happen.” He smiled. “I knew since that day by the river that you needed me in your life. I hope that doesn’t sound weird. I don’t want to freak you out or anything.” He shook his head slightly. “I cannot explain it all really.” I could only smile and enjoy the fact that he was feeling exactly how I was.
The same pull I felt toward him was affecting both of us. I had been afraid the feelings I was having now were merely one-sided. The intense, deep look in his eyes told me this was no game. The feelings returned seconds after I woke up. He was here and he needed me as much as I needed him. I didn’t even know his last name or where he was born, but I did know I loved him. I knew then, Gram’s vision had been right all along. Fate had definitely stepped in, and he was sitting right next to me.
“I was afraid you’d think I was a stalker or something. I mean, your mom has been giving me some dirty looks. I get the feeling she wants’ me to leave.”
“Oh no way she’s not my real mom.” I gasped, the thought made me sick. “She’s my stepmother; she is half crazy and so self-absorbed it’s not even funny.” I frowned. “That explains it,” he smirked. “I’ve been avoiding her, but your dad’s really cool. He’s even invited me over for supper when you get home.”
“Wow, he must really like you. He’s never asked anyone I know over. I hope you accepted the invite?” I winked at him.
“No way would I miss that in a million years.”
The next week I felt like a lab rat, blood tests, and scans of all kinds. It was like some kind of modern-day torture. William was with me through it all, except the times I had my blood