Bedtime

Today is one of those days.
Slow.
Not bad.
Not great.
Not anything.

I stare down at my math book in front of me. I'm on my last problem. My eyes flicker up to the clock on the kitchen wall, 4:06.

Blake will be coming home soon.

Scribbling the the figures down and rereading the whole thing, I decide it looks right.
Sticking my pencil inside the book to save my spot, I shut it softly.
I gather my things and hop down from my perch on a stool at the island.

The front door swings open as I'm about to walk upstairs.
I turn, smiling already.
I stop dead in my tracks as I see who stands before me.

Blake.
With Mace.

Blake walks up to me and hugs me, kissing the top of my head.
"Hello Baby girl"
He gently ruffles my hair, smiling.
I can feel Mace's eyes on us, on me. I don't look at him, just wrap an arm around Blake's waist.

"Mace is going to hang out tonight"

"Okay"
I whisper pulling away, keep my gaze on the floor.
"I'll be in my room"

"Your welcome to join us"

I shake my head, pushing a piece of hair behind my ear.
"I have homework"
Going up on my tiptoes, I give him a kiss on the cheek before scurrying upstairs.
I lock my bedroom door and stare down at my books.
I really don't have anymore homework.
I lied to Blake.

I just had to get out of there.
Something about Mace frightens me.

I try to shake off my guilt as I sit down on my bed, folding my hands in my lap.
I watch the seconds tick by on the my clock that hangs next to the door.

My eyes begin to droop as they focus on the ticking hand.
Then everything stops.
I welcome the blackness and the comfort it provides.

CRASH

My eyes snap open, the sight of my dark room blurring, then clearing as I wake up completely.
Pulling myself into the sitting position, I bring the watch wrapped around my wrist to my face.

8:13.

Rubbing my eyes I stand up.
Stumbling out off my room and down the stairs, I search for the source of the crash.
My brother and Mace are crouching in kitchen, picking up shards of glass.

"What happened?" I croak.

"Oh Mace tripped with a glass in his hand, he's okay though"
Blake states handing his friend the larger pieces.
Mace rises up and walks towards me, glass in hand.

He stops, leaving barely an inch between us.
"Sometimes you just need to watch your step" He murmurs close to my ear.
I freeze, not breathing.
He throws the shards into the trash behind me and backs away.

There is more to those words.

*X*

I lay next to Blake curling into his warm side.
This is the 5th night we're back to normal.
I'm grateful for it.
It has gotten so cold durning nights now that it's late fall.

"Farrah?"
Comes his deep voices in the dark.

"Yes?"

"What would you think about having Mace stay with us a few nights?"
I don't say anything for a long while.
Turning around, so I'm facing him I look into his eyes.

"Why?"

"Because his parents are leaving for a trip and they don't trust him on his own. I'm asking mom and dad tomorrow"

"Well..I guess it's up to them then" I whisper tensely. It would not be good if he stayed with us, not good at all.

"But what do you think of him?"

"Why does it matter?"

"Because I like to know what you think"

I swallow hard before answer.
"He's nice, I-I really don't know him.."I trail off turning around.
I can't look him in the face when I lie.

His parents don't trust him? I have a feeling there is a reason for that...