CHAPTER FOUR

 ❣️STAY WITH ME❣️

Just like the saying, you can only make your dreams but you can't control them.

In his dreams, he saw her as usual but this time, as he stretched his arms to take her in, his arms just went right through her body. And it looked like she just vanished into thin air. He couldn't see her.

And then he heard a voice like hers, a cackling sound. A hand then shot out of nowhere and pulled his outstretched arms. He was pulled into a place that looked like a dark tunnel.

He pulled back his arm forcefully and the action shook him awake. He broke into a cold sweat.

He'd slept in a really awkward position and his right arm ached.

A rooster was also crowing somewhere on the outside and that explained the cackling laughter in his dream.

He sighed in relief and looked at his alarm clock. It was 6AM and the alarm went off immediately.

"Right on time" he mumbled

His head was pounding as he stepped down the bed and stretched his long limbs.

"Coffee" he whispered and headed to the kitchen bare-footed. The floors felt cold under his feet and made him shiver. Slightly.

He brewed a pot of coffee and made himself comfortable on the kitchen counter, breaking one of Crystal's favorite ceramic plates in the process.

"shit!" He whispered fiercely and got down to work immediately. He had to cleanup the mess before Crystal comes in and sees.

==================================

Crystal awoke to the sound of crashing plates from the kitchen. She threw the covers off immediately and jumped off the bed.

That was one hell of a mistake.

"Ouch!" She screamed silently and held her head in both hands as she gently lay back on the bed and shut her eyes.

Her head was pounding and the whole room spun whenever she opened her eyes.

"Oh God, no..." She groaned.

She was thirsty, weak and nauseous. Her stomach ached and growled as well. The tiny ray of sunlight coming from the slightly parted curtain wasn't helping at all.

"Jason" she called.

When no response came, she tried to be loud.

"Jason!" Another mistake. But it was worth it. She could hear his footsteps approaching the bedroom.

Her head fought back as she lay still for a few seconds before the urge hit her. She flew off the bed, ignoring the headache, as she ran to the toilet.

And as she bent over the toilet bowl, she threw up in groans. The odor made her vomit more, violently.

She shivered and whimpered as she tried to call for Jason again. But she couldn't because another wave hit her so hard she lost her balance and almost fell to the ground.

Just then, she felt a hand on her back and another one her head, soothing her.

"Jason..." she whispered, almost in tears.

"I'm here, pretty. Just pour it all out" he said, rubbing her back and pulling her hair away from the mess.

When she was done, he handed her a cup of water and then used a towel to wipe her face. Flushed the toilet too. Then he picked her up, bridal style, and went back to the bedroom.

"Feeling better?" He asked as he set her down on the bed.

"I guess so" she replied, rubbing her face.

"I brewed some coffee" he handed her a cup of coffee which she gulped.

"Thanks"

"Its hot, be careful" he said, chuckling.

"What was that sound in the kitchen?" She asked.

"Uhm... Well... I... I might have broken a few plates..."

"A few plates? Oh this should be good" she replied, setting down the cup on the bedside table and placing her hands akimbo.

"Oh my God! There is a murderous glint in your eyes!"

"Really? Well I'm ready to beat you to death if I find out you've broken my favorite China plates" She walked out of the room so gallantly that he began to wonder if she actually faked her vomit and pale looks.

"She's a damn good actor!" He whispered fiercely and ran after her to the kitchen.

He stopped at the door, too scared to go in and then he heard her let a shrill cry which also included his name.

"Oh God, I'm dead" he said and walked into the kitchen.

He saw her kneeling on the floor and gathering the pieces of broken china he had missed while hastily picking the harmful pieces.

"What did you do! These were really expensive plates! How careless can you be?!"

"I'm sorry, Crystal. I promise to buy them. No matter how much they cost, I'll replace them"

She shot him an angry look and he visibly recoiled from her stare.

"I'm so sorry. Please don't be mad at me" he said again. He felt bad.

"it's fine" she mumbled and got up to her feet. She threw the pieces she'd picked up in the trash can and dusted her palms carefully. Then she turned to Jason,

"I'm only forgiving you because you gave me a piggyback ride last night"

"Oh" he smiled, "then I'll give you more rides to make up for my future mistakes"

"You're an ass" she laughed.

"Yes, I know. That's why Ashely broke up with me"

"You're joking, right?" She asked, walking up to him and looking very concerned.

"No, I'm not. We broke up last night. I hurt her, Crystal" He walked to the nearest stool and sat hard on it.

Crystal went up to him and cradled his head. She pulled him gently till he rested his head on her belly and began to sob. She let him. It was necessary.

He faced the torture alone last night, but this morning, she had to assure him that she would be there for him. And so, there she stood, comforting her crying best friend, who happened to be a guy.

He held her waist and ended up staining her shirt with tears.