I fell into a deep sleep free of visions, for once believing that everything would be okay.
CHAPTER SEVENTEEN
Bright light was streaming into the room as I opened my eyes, disoriented by my strange surroundings. I remembered where I was and looked over at the other side of the bed. Simon was still sleeping, a lock of hair falling across his forehead as he breathed rhythmically. He looked so peaceful in his sleep and I studied his face greedily, luxuriating at being able to stare at him at leisure. Simon's long lashes made shadows underneath his closed eyelids and I marveled at their length. My eyes traveled down his straight nose and settled on his mouth. His lips looked soft and vulnerable and I remembered how they had felt against mine.
I felt a shiver of desire run through me at the thought and I looked away towards the ceiling. It was in the nick of time because I heard Simon yawning. It would have been mortifying to have been caught watching him sleep.
"How long have you been awake?"
I turned at Simon's voice, deep and throaty from having just woken up. He smiled at me and I automatically smiled in return. "I just woke up. I was trying to convince myself to get up and take a shower."
Simon's smile turned mischievous. "As much as I'd love to join you, I don't think you could handle that this morning."
I gasped, remembering we were in his parents' house. "You should leave before anyone realizes you slept here last night!"
Simon gave me an indulgent look. "My parents don't care. Besides, their room is clear across the house. And with this house, that's pretty far away."
"Simon," I pleaded. "Seriously. I'm going to be so embarrassed if your mother sees you slipping out of my room." I had another thought. "Or Maxine!"
Simon chuckled but slid out of bed obligingly. He was wearing a t-shirt and athletic shorts and my eyes quickly skittered away from his display of morning randiness.
Simon grinned even wider and shrugged his shoulders. "That's what happens when I'm in bed with a beautiful girl."
"Simon!"
He laughed loudly. "Okay, okay. I'm leaving now." He leaned down and gave me a quick kiss on the lips and I was amazed I felt a prick of desire at the light brush. Simon must have felt it too because he took a sharp intake of breath.
"I better get out of here before I lose control," he muttered, and I wasn't sure if he was talking to me or to himself. He gave me a quick smile and left the room, but not without giving me a wicked wink.
Now that he was gone, I felt my heartbeat start to even out. Besides the desire I had felt from Simon's kiss, his casual affection was addictive. I felt like I was starving, greedily taking in all his touches and words before they could slip through my fingers.
I remembered my hopes from last night, of being able to pursue a relationship with Simon. I decided to hold onto those hopes for as long as I could. Even if nothing came out of it. I cared enough about Simon to risk being hurt if it came to a dead end. No one had been worth the risk before, but it didn't surprise me that I was willing to take that risk for Simon. Admittedly, he didn't know what he was up against with wanting to be with me, but if he was willing to take a risk, shouldn't I be willing to do the same? Besides, the closer I was to Simon, the more easily I could protect him.
I took a shower with a lighter heart than I had felt in a long time. I selected my outfit with more care than I usually did. I still wore a pair of jeans, but they were darker and more form fitting than usual. Instead of wearing my standard t-shirt, I wore a deep blue top with thin black stripes that had billowing sleeves. It was cut lower than I normally wore, although it was still modest. Instead of sneakers, I wore black flats and I took time to put on mascara and swipe on some lip gloss.
I looked at my efforts in the mirror, and while I wouldn't be winning any beauty pageants, I was satisfied with the outcome. The color on my cheeks helped and I wondered if the slight flush was a result of the events from last night. My sparkling eyes definitely were. I looked different today. Happier. More hopeful. I decided I liked this Caitlin.
I heard a knock on my door and called out permission to enter. Sarah was walking into my room as I stepped out of the bathroom.
"Wow, you look great!" Sarah eyed me critically. "Are you wearing makeup?"
I laughed, a little embarrassed at Sarah's observations. "Just a little."
Sarah grinned. "You sure look in good spirits today. I would have thought after last night you would be dragging from lack of sleep." Her face sobered as she remembered what had happened. "Are you okay? Was it the same one of Claudia?"
I sat down on the bed and Sarah sat down next to me. "It was the one of Claudia. But it was different this time. I saw something...possessing her. And then she wasn't herself anymore. She was trying to kill me."
Sarah looked worried. "That hasn't happened before in any of your visions, has it?"
I shook my head. "No. No one's ever looked at me in a
vision before, acknowledged my presence. Only in the ones I've had of Claudia recently. And this is the first time she's touched me. I could feel her. She was trying to choke me."
"Oh God!" Sarah gasped, looking horrified. "That must have been awful."
I nodded, not wanting to think of it anymore. I didn't know what it meant. I wondered if it meant the vardoger was closer to taking over Claudia's body. I had to wait until I met with my aunt to get some answers, but I knew that I couldn't just stand idly by while someone...something tried to kill an innocent girl. I felt antsy about Sunday, dreading it but wanting it to come faster. To finally have a resolution.
"It pretty much sucked. But it's over now. Let's just enjoy our day and not talk about it anymore. I don't want to risk being overheard. Anyways, we should go downstairs. I'm not sure what time we're supposed to go to lunch."