If You Say

[Amorentia]

Peni POV

It surprised me to see Tori doing so well when I visited her the day after the attack. She'd come  to during the night. Her head was healing very well considering. but she was still in a lot of pain. That morning her parents told her about Justin's death. According to them she didn't cry. They wanted me to talk to her about what she was hearing. She was hesitant to set aside her brave face to talk to me. 

"Screaming." She finally told me when I laid by her in bed gently refusing to leave till she opened up. "His screaming. I didn't even get to phase," Her hand moved to her eye even though no tears fell. "Or use the Pack necklace. I was useless."

Moving beside her carefully so as not to aggrivate her pounding headache, I put my arms around her asking her to tell me what she remembered. It took some grunting objections before she finally said, "Screaming. That's all I remember. blackness and his screaming."

My chin rested on her shoulder as she fell into silence again. When I encouraged her that we were all feeling guilt, she rolled her eyes not wanting to hear it. In order to keep her from shutting down, I stopped pushing. We all had out guilt and sadness. We all had to break at some point - even "I can stand on my own to feet" Tori. It would happen when she was ready. To take the pressure off, I changed the subject.

"Reg stayed by your bedside," I told her with a playful grin.

That got her attention. Tori looked at me, holding her hand to her head with the movement. I smiled in response. Tori raised her eyebrow again. My lips pressed together as I was suppressing the smile. 

"Like how was he at my beside?" Tori asked. "Please tell me there were no tears."

"Nope." Then I thought about all the flack the guys had given her the last week when they teased her about her sleep overs at Reg's. For all the times she said it, the guys started mimicking the Chowder cartoon saying to her everytime she turned around. "I'm not you boyfriend." That gave me my answer as I told her, "He sat there like a very very good not boyfriend."

"Ahhh.... " She protested. Then she held her head as it ached when she tried to sit up. "No b word! No b word. I almost died. Can we not make me want to die with the b word?"

"Like a very good guy." I told her. She crinkled her nose again. So I used her words saying, "Like a very cool guy." That made her happy. That's how I left her with a smile on her face, telling her I loved her, and a promise I'd be back to see her soon. She was priority. Her family had my number. I told them to call me if they needed anything. 

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Tori POV

The throbbing in my head was excruciating. Our Pack physician explained to me that the swelling inside me head, with my bodies attempts to heal itself quickly, were what was causing my body to feel cold and shivery even though my temperture was still around it's normal 109 degrees. Wrapped in a blakent I sat outside where the fresh air helped my head feel better. Inside in the stuffy heat of the house was unbearable. On the lawn chair in my yard, I sat sideways in the chair so that I could lean against the side part of my head that wasn't tender trying to block out the sound of Justin's voice screaming in my head.. Just when I was about to close my eyes, I smiled hearing his voice as he asked, "How are you?"

The effort to turn the least bit to see Reg walking up with a Walmart back in hand made a current of pain errupt in my head as I answered, "I'm awake, for now."

Sitting Indian Style at my feet he said, "That's better then unconcious, so I'll take it."  His pale pink lips turned to a smile.

Looking down, I remembered all Peni told me about his bedside attention. It wasn't something I wanted to throughly address. Difficult times bring out unusual things in people. When I looked up at him another current of pain moved through my head, "I don't know, it had it's benifits. Like there was no headache."

Kissing the side of my knee she told me through a small laugh and a wink, "But you couldn't see my handsome face...you know it makes up for the headache."

Pulling out the biggest version of my flirty look, I knew it was a weak imitation as I rubbed his earlobe between my fingers saying, "Maybe it does have it's upsides.

"And your not drooling...," Reg said. "Always a plus."

"I do not drool." I wrapped the blanket back around me insisting, "Ever."

"Ooookkkkkkaaaayyyy," Reg laughed rolling his eyes. That was something I have to ask Peni about, that would have been humiliating and I may never be able to look at him again. Closing my fingers, I directed him to close his mouth not wanting to take about something so awful.

Reg stood up to walk behind me rubbing my head lighting with his fingers in my hair asking, "Help at all?"

The effort was seriously appriciated. Even the movement of my hair hurt, as much as the attention helped. "Maybe," reaching up I took a hold on his hand in mine surprised it felt warm where usually it felt cool. My system was all off.

Then I felt his kiss on my head as he said, "See, the things I'm thinking about I'm pretty sure won't help." We both laughed. "You might have to give me some workable idea's."

From the porch I heard the door of the house open. Reg stepped back away from my making me want to laugh if the effort to turn to be able to see what my Daddy was signing didn't make me feel like I was going to be sick.

"Who is that?" My Daddy use sign language without mouthing the words like we did when we wanted to speak privately.

"A friend." I signed back fluidly. I'd been sighing since I was three and he lost his hearing. It came much easier to me than actually speaking.

"Friend?"

"His names Reg." I told my Daddy.

"Reg, this is my Daddy, Vinton." I introduced outloud so as not to be too rude. My Daddy looked at him as Reg stood hilariously uncomfortable.

"What kind of name is Reg?" Daddy asked.

"He's British." I signed back. Those were not things we talked about. I answered, "I don't know."

"He looks old," Daddy signed.

"Not as old as you," I gave him a flash of my Daddy's girl smile. It always softened him.

"You should come back in to lay down soon to rest." He signed.

Turning to Reg, I figured this was a good time to slip in something I wanted to say, but was too uncomfortable to throw out on my own. "He wanted to thank you for all you did yesterday."

Reg smiles, looking down at me a little, "It was no big deal, just trying to help."

Reading his lips, Daddy smiled signing, "I didn't say that."

Sending him butterfly kisses with my lashes I smiled signing while mouthing, "I love you, Daddy." Chuckling a bit, Daddy turned to go inside. I couldn't help but groan when I turned back around too quickly. Closing my eyes against the pressure inside my head, I tried to hide it behind a smile.

Lightly Reg's fingers brushed the back of my head where the baseball sized knot was making my profile look lumpsided. I was glad I had a full head of hair or else I would look like the humphead of reservation. He asked, "Should you be laying down?"

"It hurts less when I'm outside." My voice dropped in my honesty. Putting my cheek back against the back of the chair I told him, "I'll be okay. I can sleep here."

There there was no sound around me. Suddenly a thick canvas tent raised around me with four walls all having excellent venillation. A bed appeared with trimmings, the room gaining accessories that felt it out into a perfect version of the things I like.

"Now you can," Reg said with a half smile.

"It's plum." My favorite color.

"Would you sleep on something else?" He laughed kissing her head. "I pay attention."

This guy was cool like that. I laughed in my head. Speaking the language I understood - silence - he lifted me out of the chair. My head leaned against his chest, my pointer finger resting in the dimple of his chin. I smiled appriciation that he seemed to hear. He was also good like that.

As he laid me down, my fingers trailed down the hairs on the back of his neck as I kissed his shoulder in front of me. Even the density of the blankets on the bed were like I liked. It was a trait of a true player that he paid that much attention. I liked the way he played. He brought lots of toys I liked to entertain myself with.

Quiely my smile thanked him again, eyes inviting him to stay if he wanted. Then I looked away knowing if he left, that was alright to. It was something we casually discussed one night - the less expectations placed on him - the easier things rolled. That worked out perfect for me because the less I expected from anyone the smoother things flowed for me. It appeared we understood each other. Appearances could be deciving. Moment to moment - that's how I liked to do things. Have fun till it wasn't fun anymore than bounce.

Obviously he was ready to do just that. Sitting up he handed me a bag saying, "There you go."

The bag said, "Walmart." I looked up at him as he walked out of the tent prepairing myself for his game score to drop at whatever the discount giant tempted him into purchasing. If it didn't hurt to laugh I completely would have when I pulled out the plum colored corsette that the stitching showed was not bought at Walmart. There was a note attached to it saying, "I know you're feeling better when I see you wearing this." And he left the label on so I knew without a shadow of an unspoken doubt it wasn't cheap. At the bottom of the bag was a stuffed wolf. Player score skyrocketed. Around it's neck was an adorable collar with a plum tag that said "Little Bit." Well played, gamer. Well played. I just hoped it didn't come with strings because I'd hate to have to cut him loose before I'm ready.

Pulling the wolf close to me to help drive away the sound of Justin's screams, I covered my eyes with some extra fabric to block out the painful light so I could hopefully find some peaceful sleep. 

Peni Clearwater Flint by Amorentia. Reg Black written by shtteredprncess. Tori "Little Bit" Young and family written by Amorentia.

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