21 ~ Calum
Black and red blur as my eyes roll back, the cold feels like it sunk deep enough to freeze my heart.
"Thomas?" Valerie's soft voice asks, I can feel the heat from her body spread across my skin as she wraps and arm around my shoulders.
My teeth where still hitting each other roughly, causing my headache to worsen by the second.
Valerie grunts as she helps me into siting position, the weight of my cloths making it hard for my weak body to move.
My back collapses on the wall of the shower and I strain to pull my legs up to my chest.
I rest my head against the blue tiles of the wall before opening my eyes.
My eyes focus on her face, except she wasn't looking back at me. Her eyes where fixed on my collarbone.
I glance down to see the end of my tattoo popping against my now pale skin, My shirt drooping low with the weight of the freezing water.
I lift a shaky hand and lift the shirt up, intending to cover it up quickly, however my actions were slow.
Her eyes fall to the floor, where my glasses had been knocked off. She picked them up, looking through them only to see they were fake.
Valerie looks back up to me, her face unreadable.
I don't want her here. Not with me like this. I have to be strong, not frail and shaking in the corner of a shower.
"Im s-sorry. We jus-st wanted t-to-"
I cough, my lungs shuttering. I place my quivering hands on the dirt stained shower floor, using every ounce of energy left in me to push myself up.
I wobble and reach out for the walls as my vision became dark and splotchy.
A arm wrapped around my waist and Valerie helped me out of the shower.
I glance at the mirror as we pass, instantly wishing I hadn't. I looked extremely pale, my whole body shaking, and lips a blue-purple color as if all the blood in them was frozen.
"It's alright." She says softly, her features set in deep concern as I continue to shake uncontrollably, now not only from the cold but being vulnerable.
I hate breaking in front of people, especially ones I don't know well. Being helpless is not a good thing, I know that for a fact, it terrifies me to feel myself crumble in front of her.
I turn my back to her, not wanting to to see my face. Stumbling to my locker, I grab the black cover up and slid my arms into it.
I felt no warmer, the cold was now set in my skin, I was numb.
"Come on, I'll help you home." Valerie's voice cuts through the silent locker room and I nod, following her out the door.
I whimper at the harsh wind that pushed the cold deeper into my skin. My feet felt as heavy as cinder blocks, yet I couldn't feel my toes.
I glance around me as we sloshed through the field and to the parking lot. It was really a beautiful day, golden leaves covered the ground, and the sun was shining brightly, but providing no warmth.
I groan realizing that I walked to school today, meaning I had to walk back.
Valerie sends me a sympathetic glance. "Don't worry, we'll be there in no time."
I squeeze my eyes shut. I don't want to go home, not when I can barely move.
"Wait." I say, pulling out my phone. "I might have a r-ride."
It rang twice before being answered.
"Calum?" The sweet voice of Mali-Koa asked.
"Are you b-busy?" I croak, coughing into my elbow.
"No, what's wrong with you?" She asks, her voice slightly strained with worry.
"Are m-mom and dad home?" I ask, trying sound casual in front of Valerie, however my heart anxious for the answer.
"No there's a campaign meeting, should take a while... Calum what's wrong?"
I sigh in relieve, asking Mali to come get me before hanging up the phone.
I lean against the side of the school,
My body get as if it were the weight of an elephant.
Soon the small silver car that belongs to Mali rolled in front of me.
Valerie helps me to the back door, where I collapse across the back seats, pulling my legs up to my chest trying to suppress my rapid shivers.
Valerie stands beside the door, unsure if she was invited in or not.
"Are you c-coming or w-what?" I ask, gesturing to the front seat before my head falls against the soft fabric of the seat.
My eyes close as the car gently lurches forward after Valerie silently sat in the front, weary under Mali's worried stare.
Mali-Koa's voice rang through the air as she asked what was wrong with me, it was a few octaves higher making my headache dance against my skull, the beat steady and strong.
Valerie explained how she found me, and how I was dangerously cold. I don't say anything, my whole body heavy, including my lips, making it seemingly impossible to speak.
My eyes are still closed as arms grip under my arms, pulling me from the car and into the familiar sent of my house.
The contrast between cold and warm begin to tingle in my fingers, traveling my my arm and throughout my body all the way to my toes.
The burning causes my eyes to open as it intensified, a throaty groan escaping my throat.
My eyes watered, every inch of my body was on fire. "I-it burns." I whimper, wanting nothing more than to fall asleep.
"Calum." Valerie's voice was soft and calm. "I know it burns, but you can do it, I know you can."
I blink at her, my body still convulsing in violent shivers, my teeth vibrating against each other, lips blue, yet I suddenly felt warm in my core as she grasped my hand.
l bit my lip, slowly making my way upstairs, my body burning, yet cold at the same time.
"So this is your room." Valerie smiles, her eyes traveling the walls.
I nod, my shaking hands opening my draws and pulling out a sweater and sweat pants.
I excuse my self to the bathroom and slip on my cloths, my body stinging continuously.
I shuffle back into my room and fall next to Valerie who was sitting on my bed.
"So what happened to you?" She asks, crossing her legs.
"S-Seth and Reagan." I mumble, "man I have such a headache." My fingers press against my temple in an attempt to east the throbbing that was now worsening as the stinging died down.
"C'mere." She motioned for me to come closer. I hesitate, before laying my head in her lap.
Bursts of warmth ran through my head and down my spine as she ran her fingers through my hair.
"My little brother used to get migraines all the time." She paused for a second, her hair fluttered against my cheek. "He would ask me to do this every time."
Her fingers massaged my scalp, the warmth coming from her hands washed over me, my shivers finally coming to a stop.
I close my eyes. I figured that being this close to someone you just met last week would be awkward, but I felt completely at ease.
"How old is he."
"He just turned 7" She says, her voice still soft and soothing.
"What's his name?" I just wanted to hear more about her, to listen to her voice.
I could practically hear the smile on her face. "His name is Oliver. But I call him Ollie."
I smile. "That's a cute name. I bet he's cute." I imagine a little boy with black hair that matched hers, and the same twinkling eyes.
"Oh yes, he's adorable." She says, a small giggle leaving her lips.
"When can I meet him?" I ask, her fingers stop moving, causing my eyes to open.
Valerie was frowning, staring at the wall. "You can't." She whispers. "I don't know where he is."
Her fingers intertwine in my hair again, giving soft tugs every now and then.
"What happened to him?" I ask quietly, afraid I asked too much. "You don't have to answer that."
She sighs. "He was adopted." She states, her voice so low I could barely hear it.
"I'm a foster kid." Her eyes fall down to mine. "That's why I moved here. My old house, they wanted to keep Ollie, but not me. So I got moved and he had to stay." Her eyes were sad and remorseful. "I went back for his birthday, but he must have moved houses...they weren't there."
"I'm sorry." I whisper, slightly uncomfortable all of a sudden.
She gives me a small smile, shaking her head. "You don't have to apologize, you didn't adopt him."
We fall silent, her fingers lacing through my hair, lulling me to sleep.
"Calum?" She asks softly, her leg shifting under my cheek slightly.
"Hm?" I hum, half asleep.
"Don't take Thomas for granted. You never know if he'll get ripped away from you."
And with that, I fell asleep.
A|N
Hello!
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