Truth Or Dare (Ch. 13: Awoken)

I felt around me for something to use to shield my eyes.  Finally, I decided that I wasn’t going to find anything very easily, and I moved slowly to cover my eyes with my arm.  My body felt weak, though, and as I slowly attempted to move my arm off the ground, I came in contact with someone.
The skin was warm and muscular, but it was still soft at the same time.  Whoever the hand belonged to wrapped me into their arms and lifted me effortlessly back onto the bed I had fallen out of.
“Brie?” asked a worried, distant voice.  The voice was familiar, but I couldn’t recognize who it was.  It was a female voice, I knew, it was soft and higher pitched.  “Are you okay?”
I again opened my eyes, this time more slowly.  My eyes slowly grew used to the white light, and I saw that the voice belonged to Natalya, who was sitting nervously at the opposite side of the nurse’s office.  In the old wooden chair next to where I was laying, sat Jayden.  His dark eyes were flooding with fear and confusion.
“Can you hear me, Brie?” pressed Natalya.  The fear was obvious in her soft trembling voice.  I still wasn’t quite sure what had happened.  My eyes wandered to the pale white wall behind Natalya that was empty with exception of a single picture of a couple healthy teenagers.
Jayden grabbed my hand and a look of relief fell over his stressed face when I returned his gesture.
“I think so,” I answered Natalya.  “What happened?”
“Do you remember anything?” Jayden asked, rubbing his thumb over the back of my hand.  His eyes never left my face.
“I remember hearing the two of you say my name, and then I heard Lauren laugh,” I explained.  “I don’t know what came over me.”
“Do you remember anything that happened this morning?” asked Jayden as Natalya gave him a curious glance.  She didn’t know anything yet.
“I-I don’t…” then before I could finish my sentence, memories of Craig kissing me in the parking lot flashed ruthlessly before my eyes.  I released my hold on Jayden’s hand in shock.  It was horrible; the memories caused me to shake.
“Brie?” he asked, the look in his eyes a background of worry to my nightmare.
I came around and looked at Jayden.  “I remember!”
“What do you remember?  What happened, Brie?” questioned Natalya.  She wanted details and to know what she missed.
I took a deep breath and told her everything while Jayden held my hand reassuringly.  Her face went from worried to angry in an instant.
“So that’s why you sent me the text asking for help?” clarified Natalya.
My memory became even more clear, and I could remember mostly everything.  “Yes.  Why didn’t you come?” I asked.
“Because I didn’t receive it until after English.  I’m so sorry!” she exclaimed.  She was most likely blaming herself.
“It’s fine.  Jayden came,” I reassured.  I could never be mad at my best friend, she was practically my sister.  It wasn’t her fault at all, nothing that morning was.
The old nurse stumbled into the room.  “How are you feeling, Brienna?” she croaked.
“I’m fine.  I was just overwhelmed, that’s all,” I answered, trying to sound as convincing as possible.
“Would you like me to call your mother?”
“No!” I shouted, not wanting the nurse to call my mom because it would ruin her trip and most likely stress her out.  The look on the nurse’s face was confused at my outburst.  “I mean… my mom is out of town and I feel 100% better,” I backtracked.
“Okay.  Are you sure?” she pushed in a very grandmotherly way.
“I’m positive,” I stated.  “Can I go back to class?” I asked as through I knew what class I was actually supposed to be in.  I didn’t even know what time it was.
“Yes you may, if you’re positive that you feel better,” the nurse said as she turned to exit the still too-bright room.
As soon as she was gone, I turned to Jayden.  “Um… what time is it?”
He laughed lightheartedly.  “It’s about one.  Chem will start in a few minutes, lunch is already over.”
“Okay, then we should probably go.”
“Are you sure that you feel okay?” Natalya questioned.  The worry was still evident in her voice.
“I’m positive.  I’m not sick and I don’t want to miss anymore class,” I began, sitting up and flinging my legs over the side of the bed.  I didn’t want to be there any longer.
Jayden and Natalya laughed together, and I got out of the bed.  My hand was enveloped into Jayden’s, and he pulled me into a tight hug.  It was a hug that let me know he’d never let anything hurt me again, not if he could help it.  I felt comfortable in his arms.
When he let go, I grabbed my book bag and started towards Chemistry.  On the way there, Jayden kept his tight hold on my hand.  It was like he was scared to let go.
We stepped inside the classroom, and just as I had suspected, the eyes of each curious student turned in my direction.  That was a negative point about being in high school’ rumors and gossip spread like the plague.  Everyone knew everything about everyone else just moments after it happened.  It was the beauty of teenage gossip.
I sighed and took my seat, pulling out my spiral and pen so that I could take notes on the lecture.  During the entire class period, Jayden watched me closely.  He still wasn’t convinced that I was fine, and it was obvious he blamed himself as much as, if not more than, Natalya blamed herself.  My hand ventured briefly to his, proving that I was perfectly okay.  I smiled at him.
Once we got a chance to work on the homework, Jayden wasted no time before turning towards me.  The look in his eyes was unreadable for once.  I got nervous butterflies in my stomach.
“What?” I asked as he only stared at me, not saying a word.
“You amaze me, that’s all,” he said while a slight smile tugged at his perfect lips.
“How?” I asked, scooting a little closer.
“After everything that you’ve gone through, you’re still happy.”  Jayden’s eyes didn’t leave mine.  He was trying to analyze me like I often did him, through my eyes.
“How can I not be happy?  I have the most amazing boyfriend in the world, and a best friend that is more like a sister.  Together we’re strong, and we wont let anyone come between us,” I said seriously.  I honestly was happy, and I couldn’t remember the last time that I had honestly felt that way.
“Rock on, babe,” Jayden cheered quietly.  “Do you still want to come over tonight?  Or do you want to go out somewhere else, away from Craig?”
“I want to meet your mom, and I told you that I’m not letting your brother get to me,” I said, again taking his hand in mine.
“Are you sure?” Jayden asked with a nervous look.  He didn’t want to risk anything.
“I’m positive.  What time?”
“Well, what do you have to do today?” Jayden chuckled.
“I just have to go to my place and get my bag, then take it to my dad’s and tell him that I’m going to be with you.”
Jayden’s eyes went instantly dark.  “Brie, what if he doesn’t let you go?”
I chuckled, he wasn’t the only one who had thought of that.  “My mom said to tell him that she gave me permission already,” I explained.
“But that was before everything that happened earlier.  What if Lauren told him something?”  Jayden was obviously worried.
My eyes popped open, and what he had said made sense to me.  “That would totally be something she’d do.  I could always call my dad after school, and I could always tell him I need to go to your house to study if it comes to that.”
Jayden nodded wordlessly as the bell rang.  Then he said, “I’ll see you after school.  I have to finish my homework for my next class.”  He leaned down and kissed me, then he was gone and Natalya was by my side.
“Hey girl, you cool?” she asked, bumping me with her hip as we walked.
“You know it,” I giggled, bumping her back.
“Okay.  You and Jayden are so adorable together!”  The look on her face was excited.  I had never had a boyfriend before, and she knew that.
“I know right?” I joked.  “What’s up?”
“What are you doing on Friday?  And do you and Jayden want to double on Saturday?” she asked, walking towards her locker as I followed.
“I’m staying at my dad’s while my mom is in New York.  Friday and Saturday should work though, I have to plans as far as I know.  What do you have in mind?”
“I was thinking a girls night out,” she said, opening her locker.
“Oh, I like the idea.  Are we thinking movie and ice cream?” I asked, leaning against the locker next to her.
“Of course.”
“Let’s do it!  And what are plans for Saturday?”
“I was thinking bowling?”  Natalya closed her locker just as the warning bell rang.
“I’ll ask Jayden, but it should work.”  It would give Daniel his chance to interrogate Jayden.  I rolled my eyes.
Natalya and I hurried to class, arriving just as the bell rang.  Class started and passed quick.  Before I knew it, school was over.  I hurried to my car.
Once inside my car, I sent Jayden a text saying, “I’m taking my bag to Dad’s, be at your house by 5.”  With that sent, I started my car and began to pull out of the parking lot to go to my house and get my stuff.
I was barely out of my spot when my phone began ringing.