• 73: Blanket Fort •

                                    

                                          
Melody
                          
Carson and I ended up creating a blanket fort in the den. Well, mostly Carson did, while I helped by holding clips and cushions to make it into perfection. There were six chairs that were set up in a large rectangle, with blankets draping across them giving us enough room to stretch out under them. We used the ottoman to rest my laptop on and spread blankets and pillows on the ground to sit. I even added a few little lamps and twinkly lights that let us see in the blanket cave. 
                          
We were watching Project Runway on my laptop, leaning on the couch, cuddled under the blankets. Carson's arm was wrapped around my body and my head was on his shoulder. I was relaxed; a stark comparison to my earlier encounter with Mia.
                          
"Oh! This is cute!" I heard Leslie exclaim from outside the blanket fort.
                          
I moved from Carson's arms and paused the show. I crawled out from the blankets, with Carson right behind me. "Leslie!" I called. "This is Carson!"
                          
"Hello dear," Leslie said as Carson appeared. He stood up quickly, but I took a much longer time to do so, hoping not to repeat my earlier spell.
                          
"Hi. Nice to meet you," Carson said shaking her hand.
                          
"You too," Leslie replied smiling. "You kids want a snack?"
                          
"Sure," Carson said with a grin. "Thank you."
                          
Leslie left the room and Carson looked at me, as I leaned slightly on the arm of the couch. He'd had a similar expression on his face when I opened the door, and when I stopped moving every so often, when we were making the fort.
                          
"Are you okay?" He asked.
                          
"Yeah," I replied, looking away. I crawled back inside the fort and sat down, the childish part of me hoping that I had evaded the conversation by leaving abruptly. He couldn't question me if he couldn't see me, right?
                          
Wrong.
                          
"Did you just run away?" Carson asked, his voice coloured with amusement.
                          
"Maybe," I sang. Carson's head poked through the opening of the fort. "Oh man, you found me." I said. He smirked and sat down next to me.
                          
"Mellie," Carson said softly.
                          
"I've just been dizzy today, that's all," I replied. I couldn't bring myself to look at him and see the concern that I didn't deserve written across his face.
                          
"Did you faint or anything?" Carson asked and I nodded.
                          
"Mia helped me though." I played with my fingers, hoping it would distract me from the shaky feeling I was getting in my chest.
                          
 "Here are some snacks!" Leslie called from next to the fort. She set a tray down by the opening, and Carson pulled it inside. On it was a bowl of popcorn, some cubed fruit, some vegetable sticks, and some candy.
                          
"Thank you," Carson and I said in unison.
                          
"You're welcome. Enjoy!" she said, her footsteps indicating that she left the room.
                          
"When was the last time you ate?" Carson asked. I stared at my fidgeting hands rather than answering him. Carson put his hand on top of mine, making me freeze.
                          
"It doesn't matter," I mumbled after what felt like an eternity. It was the only thing I could say. I didn't think he would like to know that the last time was yesterday at his house. He'd probably think I was ridiculous or stupid. I moved to start the show up once again, but Carson grabbed my wrist, softly, so that I'd look at him.
                          
"It does matter. To me it matters," Carson said. The intensity of his gaze threatened to set the blankets on fire. I swallowed hard and broke eye contact. "Just have some fruit please."