Cool Summers

                                    

                                          
Lavender's feet were trapped between legs and her back was pressed against something hard.
Damien, she inwardly growled. This was becoming all too familiar for her and weirdly comfortable.
Still, in the same position, she decided to elbow the sleep out of Damien. 
"Go back to sleep?" he moaned, the sleepiness still in his voice. She turned to face him, not being able to really move anywhere else because of his stronghold on her. 
Thick, dark, long lashes sat comfortably on Damien's cheek, and it surprised her how long his eyelashes were until now. His hair was sticking out left, right, and center. Although she was angry with him she couldn't help but sniff him. Damien opened both of his eyes, staring at Lavender weirdly.
"You smell like a baby," she said as she continued, sniffing him. "Now can you show me your proof?"
He abruptly shot up. "It's right here." His hands landed on the nightstand, blindly tapping the hard surface and almost knocking the lamp down. 
Damien stumbled on the floor, searching under the bed for his 'proof'. "My phone was right here!"
Rubbing her forehead to release the tension, she frowned; "Surprises. You're so full of 'em." She smacked her mouth bitterly, heading to the bathroom to brush her teeth. 
He ignored her as he continued searching for his phone around the room. In a way, she was slightly relieved that he couldn't find his phone, not ready for the terrifying revelation. In other ways, she was disappointed.
"Found it," Damien shouted as his footsteps neared. 
Boredly or so she hoped that's how she looked, she stared at him. Her mouth slightly opened with the toothbrush hanging out her mouth.
Damien shoved the phone in her face rather nervously. "See for yourself." 
Mortified by the truth, Lavender emptied the toothpaste out of her mouth. To her, she had already moved past her father leaving and her mother's death. It happened years ago and she had learned to accept it.
Or so she assumed. 
The video was a poignant reminder that although she was willing to move on, her mind wasn't. She was still hurt by having to be without parents at a young age.
"This can't continue like this, Lavender. What's triggering these nightmares?"
Cocking her head to the side, Lavender blinked at Damien, trying to understand his words but they weren't registering to her. 
With confusion, she forced her attention back to the screen, her heartbeat too loud in her ears. As if Damien sensed it, he embraced her before she fell and they slid down on the wooden floor together. 
He was being so gentle. So patient. It was all too new to her.
"Let's go to the beach today!"
The sound of Damien's excited change of tone caused Lavender to somewhat lighten up. Damien barely portrayed any excitement, knocking her senses for a while. The relaxation of the water, sun, and sand did sound....needed.
"Can-can you please sleep with me from now on?" Lavender practically begged. She didn't care if she looked small, besides Damien had already seen her at her worst.
"Sure." He was tracing lazy lines on Lavender's hand when he told her, "Talk to Liam. He's worried about you."
And for the first time, she wasn't interested in talking to her best friend. "Maybe later."
Damien nodded, getting up along with her. In the process of removing her shirt, Lavender stopped midway. "Aren't you leaving?"
"Why should I? I know I'm close enough to get the whole view anyways."