24. Madix

                                    

                                          


                          
"There's only one bed." 
                          
Damion stirred me from my trance. He dropped our combined duffle bag onto the dirty floor of our beautiful motel room. He wasn't wrong; there was only one bed, which I had immediately collapsed onto. It was hard, smelled like booze, and amazingly comfortable after a thirteen-hour train ride. 
                          
"I don't see the problem," I said through a face-full of sheets.
                          
Behind me, Damion sighed. I patted the spot to me, but he didn't sit down. 
                          
"I'll take the floor." 
                          
Ouch. "Oh, come on. I'm not that much of a bed hog."
                          
"I would rather-"
                          
"It's a queen-sized bed, Damion. We can both fit without touching." I argued. "It's not like we've never shared a bed before." 
                          
He sighed again, but sat down. The bed dipped slightly, and I took the opportunity to roll over. He had his hair pulled back into a messy bun. While neither us had the title of being exceptionally beautiful, he was a mess. There were circles under his eyes and his skin had a yellow tinge to it from the horrible lighting. The worry lines on his forehead had deepened as the week went on, and now they looked like permanent folds. I had never seen him look this bad before. 
                          
"You can have the bed if you want," I said hastily. "I'm not that tired. I can go find us some food or something." 
                          
"It's fine. We both need sleep, anyway." He said. It didn't sound very sincere. I 
                          
"Okay." 
                          
I didn't know what else to say. I tossed some pillows to the end of the bed, curled up, and tried not to stare as he turned the light off and got in the opposite side. I felt bad for guiling him into staying in the bed, but he needed to get actual sleep for once instead of cat-naps. If neither of us could fall asleep in an hour, I would dibbs the floor. 
                          
Of course, that was easier said than done as I didn't have anything that could tell time. It felt like an eternity passed before Damion's breathing evened out, and eventually, he loosened from the tight ball he had pulled himself into. Just as I was beginning to drift off, a small noise snapped back to alertness. 
                          
I waited, and waited, and then finally, it happened again. A small whine. Damion shifted and his leg nudged me. I sat up carefully and turned the lamp on. 
                          
Damion had pushed the blanket off of him so that they were tangled at his feet. His hair had come undone and strands were sticking to his sweaty face. He rolled over again, arms coming up to block his neck. He made another choked noise. 
                          
"Damion?" I whispered. I touched his shoulder, but that didn't stir him. 
                          
He jerked his shoulder away and curled his legs closer to his chest. I didn't want to grab him, but I sucked it up. I got both of his shoulder in my hands and leaned as far away from his face as possible. 
                          
"Damion." 
                          
His eyes snapped open, and he hit my arms away from him faster than I could blink. I jumped too, and scooted back. Damion sat up and shoved his hair back, eyes watering. Neither of us spoke as he caught his breath. Eventually, he looked at me. Or, really, past me. 
                          
"Damion?" I asked softly. "Are you okay?" 
                          
He didn't answer, just kept staring. His face relaxed from being twisted in fear, but quickly turned blank. 
                          
"Can you hear me?" 
                          
He still didn't respond so I nudged my foot with his. Damion jumped slightly and finally met my gaze.