Unraveling (Second Chances) - By Micalea Smeltzer Page 0,91

guess I did.”

“I really, really, liked it,” his voice rasped in my ear. “You should do it more often.”

I didn’t know what to say, so I didn’t say anything.

“Don’t freak out on me,” Jared said. “You’re the one that said it,” he joked.

“I’m sorry,” I finally replied. “It just –uh- slipped out and took me by surprise. Please, just be patient with me.”

“I’ll always be patient with you, Katy. You know that.”

I rubbed my sleepy eyes. “You’re too good for me.”

“You know that isn’t true,” he sang in my ear, before yawning again. “I’ve got to go to sleep kitten, and from the sound of your voice, I’d say you’re tired too.”

“I am,” I agreed, leaving out the fact that my tiredness was due to my dreams. The only time I didn’t have them, was when I slept with Jared by my side.

“I’ll talk to you tomorrow, after the fight,” he said and then hung up.

I dropped my phone on his bedside table and curled up in his covers, inhaling the citrus scent of Jared surrounding me.

~***~

Hands. His hands were on me. Touching me. I didn’t want him to touch me.

“Katy! Katy! Wake up! It’s just a nightmare! Wake up!”

He held me down. I was defenseless. I didn’t want to be defenseless.

“Katy!”

I came awake with a start, covered in sweat, clutching the sheet so tightly in my hands that my knuckles had turned white.

“Are you okay?” Karlie asked, a tear coursing down her cheek, which she hastily wiped away.

I panted, out of breath, unable to answer her.

When I could unscramble my brain, I nodded.

“You were screaming,” she said. “Just like the last time.”

I nodded again.

“Does this happen a lot?” she asked, her brown eyes wide with horror.

I nodded, still speechless.

“Katy,” she said softly, sitting on the edge of the bed. “No one should have to live like this.”

“I’m used to it,” I mumbled.

“Can’t you take some kind of medicine or something?”

I shrugged. “I can handle them.”

Karlie sighed. “If you could handle it, you wouldn’t have them.” She got up and went to the door. “If you need me, I’ll be in my room.”

I nodded and rolled onto my back, looking up at the smooth white ceiling.

She was right. I needed to do something about the nightmares. It had been two years and they weren’t going away. When I saw Sharon on Tuesday, I’d talk to her about it.

29

I WON. Jared’s text read. I have a couple of interviews to do & then I’ll be on my way home. It’ll be late. So just go 2 bed.

“Jared’s going to be late,” I told Karlie. She was sitting at the kitchen table doing homework.

“I figured,” she sighed, closing her notebook. “Rodney called and he wants to practice, today.”

“Don’t you already practice four times a week?” I crossed my arms over my chest.

“Yeah, but we’re both perfectionists. We’ve already started practicing for our Christmas recital and he wants to make sure it goes off without a hitch.”

“I can drop you off at your ballet studio, if that’s what you really want to do,” I said.

“It is,” she got up from the table and started towards the living room. “I’ll be down in five minutes.

I text Jared back and waited for Karlie.

She came down with her hair pulled back in a tight bun with her leotard, and tights on. She had a bag slung over her shoulder. She put that down and pulled on a pale pink sweater and a pair of leggings. She checked her bag, making sure she had everything and said, “Let’s go.”

Karlie gave me directions to her ballet studio and I dropped her off at the front. I was surprised by the amount of people milling around. I guessed Karlie and Rodney weren’t the only dedicated ones.

“I’ll text you when I’m done,” she called over her shoulder.

I hopped out of the car and yelled across. “Karlie!”

“Yeah?” she turned around.

“You don’t have my number,” I laughed.

“Oh, right,” she said, walking back towards me and pulling out her phone. I rattled off my number to her. “We’ll probably be done in about two hours,” she smiled at me. “Rodney might be able to drop me off, he has a car, but sometimes he has to work.”

“Karlie, I’ll get you,” I insisted. I felt very protective of Karlie; like she was my own sister and I didn’t want Rodney to try to take advantage of her.

“You sure?”

“I’m sure,” I answered.

I watched to make sure she got in the building okay before I drove