Swift Encounters

Casey-Unexpected Nights

Lina fell asleep on my shoulder, I stroked her hair gently, careful not to wake her. She's so fragile right now, it hurts me to see her like this, she doesn't deserve to be in a hospital bed, if I could I would take all the pain away from her.

I looked up at the door when I heard the click of the door handle turning and saw Stoffel and Dan walk in with slight smiles on their faces.

"Hey" I whispered and put my finger to my lips to indicate that Lina was asleep.

Stoffel sat on the chair next to the bed and Dan sat on the one next to the door.

"Is she okay?" Stoffel asked as he held onto her free hand loosely.

"She was a little emotional but she's strong, she won't tell me what happened or anything so I'm letting her have her space, you should do the same, she pushes away when people push for answers" I might as well give the guy some advice, my sister can be very complicated. He just looked at the floor and nodded.

I slipped my way out from under Lina's head without waking her before kissing her forehead.

"Dan? You okay to go?" I asked him. I need to get home, there's no point me being here for the night, she's just going to be sleeping.

"Yeah I'm good" he replied and I made a gesture towards the door.

"See you later Stoffel" I smiled softly at him.

"See ya man" Dan patted his back and then we were on our way.

"Keys" I held out my hand to Daniel and he passed me the keys quickly.

"Don't kill me!" He laughed as soon as I started the engine.

"Oh shut up, if I wanted you dead, you would be"

"You'd miss me too much" he winked that usual but butterfly creating wink.

"Ha. In your dreams sweet pea" I laughed before pressing the pedal to the floor and speeding off.

I made it back to my house pretty quickly and when I looked over at Dan he had a look of shock and fear while one hand was gripping the seat of the sports car and the other was tightly clutching the door handle.

"You drive like an absolute maniac!" He shouted amused when he saw me looking.

"You drive at speeds up to 300 miles per hour and you're complaining at my driving?!" I defended myself.

"At least I drive safely!" He shot back making me laugh before getting out the car and heading to my front door, Dan following closely behind.

"Thank you for letting me stay here by the way, I didn't mention it earlier" Dan thanked me once we were inside.

"It's fine honestly. I'm just gonna run upstairs and get changed, I'll meet you in the living room?" I asked and he nodded, heading to the room I gave him earlier.

I got to my room and quickly got changed into shorts and a baggy shirt. I tied my hair into my messy bun as I sighed and sat on my bed.

Why do bad things happen to good people? Lina doesn't deserve anything that's happening or has happened to her so why her?! She's never done anything wrong to anyone, she's never hurt anyone, it's not fair that she is the one who gets hurt, she doesn't deserve pain. I want to take her pain.

I could feel my eyes starting to fill with tears, I can't cry, I need to be strong for Lina. My attempt to try stop crying only made my heart ache and my eyes sting even more. I couldn't hold it anymore as the tears spilled over and I let out a sob, quickly put my hand over my mouth to muffle any sounds I let out, Daniel can't know I'm crying.

"Case?" The concerned voice made me look up at my door to see Dan stood there with a look of sympathy...I don't need sympathy right now.

I didn't say anything, just shook my head, I don't want him to sympathise, I don't want him to come close. I want to be alone. But I couldn't expect him to stay away as he came and sat next to me, wrapping his strong arms around my petite body, pulling me into his chest and stroking my hair gently.

I clutched his shirt in my fist as I cried into his chest, I must look so weak and pathetic right now, the last thing I want.

"Shh, it's okay. Do you want to talk about it?" Daniel whispered in my ear as I had calmed down a lot by now.

"Not really" I said back with a shaky voice, my face still buried into his shirt.

"Well I'm not going to leave until you do so..." I felt his chest rumble as he laughed.

"You're too stubborn" I grunted.

"Yeah, now cheer up!" Dan said happily as he got a pillow from my bed and hit me round the head with it, gently, but he attacked me!

"Oh you didn't just do that" I warned with a smirk on my face as I grabbed one and Dan stood up.

"But I did, what you gonna do about it?!"

Oh he wants a pillow fight?! Okay, I can do that!

I made a quick move and managed to hit him with the pillow but my side of the pillow fight was over as Daniel grabbed me by my waist and pulled me on the bed. I was sent into a fit of laughter straight away, however, it quickly subsided when I noticed I was under Daniel and he was giving over me, looking down at me.

It was silent, a silence that seemed to last forever. Dan's hand went up to move a piece of hair away from my face, I could feel my face heating up and my heartbeat quicken, I'm certain Daniel could feel it too as his smile widened.

"You're so beautiful"

I couldn't speak, I couldn't move, I was in his trance, hypnotised by his eyes. I felt Daniel lean in, I felt his hot breath fan over my face as he got closer. I wanted this, I wanted to feel something, I needed human interaction in this sense and I feel something with Dan that feels right, I've only known him a few day but I'm comfortable with him.

Our lips were just about to touch when Daniel's phone rang, making us both groan in annoyance. He stood up and answered it.

"Hey Stoff" I heard him say but after that I heard nothing.

I feel slightly awkward.

Dan hung up the phone and looked at me, scratching the back of his neck, the thing people do when they feel awkward...great.

"Um...Stoff said he's going home because visiting hours are finished and that he'll be there first thing in the morning" I just nodded. Why are we awkward with each other now?!

"Okay, thanks. I...um, I'm gonna get a quick drink and go to bed I think, I'll see you in the morning?" It came out more as a question rather than a statement.

"Yeah okay, see you in the morning" and with that he disappeared out my room and down the hall.

Great, now we are awkward with each other, all because of a near kiss. I hope it blows over soon. All I can say is that I was not expecting my night to go like this.