Her Broken Rainbow

Sweet Sacrifice

“One day I’m gonna forget your name 

And one sweet day you’re gonna drown in my, 

Lost pain” 

~Sweet Sacrifice 

Evanescence 

The beds are placed in a half circle around the big screen. As much as I love that my best friend has a theater room in her house, I am so glad I grew up less fortunate. It gives me a newfound appreciation for the small luxuries I am able to partake in. We’re all currently curled up together watching Scream 4, of course the Scream collection is my favorite scary movies. Pun intended. I’m sitting with Sky to my right, curled up under his arm with the blanket half covering my face. I’ve seen these movies so many times but it still gets me. The movie gets to a jump scare moment and of course I jump, Sky chuckles and pulls me in closer. “I think this was the best idea any of us has ever had.” He whispers in my ear. 

I look up into his eyes, blue oceans I could get lost in. Let myself be absorbed by his gaze, ravished by his hands. Scorched by the touch of his lips on every inch of my skin. “Yeah? Why’s that?” I manage to choke out. 

He leans in to the point where his lips graze the curve of my ear, “Because it got you closer to me.” I’m pretty sure my face is tomato red at this point and my heart is beating louder than the spooky background music in the movie. He turns my face and touches his lips to mine in a soft gentle kiss. My eyes close and the world goes silent at that moment. His hand comes up and caresses the side of my face, his thumb brushing across my cheek bone as he pulls away slightly. “You're so beautiful, did you know that?” He whispers to me. Opening my eyes I am suddenly taken aback by the emotion swimming in his beautiful blue orbs. A lump forms in my throat and renders me speechless. He places a small kiss on my forehead and nudges me to lay back on his shoulder. 

“The Jackal is by far the scariest I swear.” Zach and I were in agreement there. It’s nearly 1 am and we’ve watched hours of movies, not even touching the bag of board games Nick and Zach picked out. Everyone was getting ready for bed, Alaria and Shay already passed out together on their bed. Zoe and I are the last in the bathroom brushing our teeth. 

“You gonna share a bed with me or with the God bod?” Zoe asks me. That one was cute. 

“I don’t know what you're talking about Zo. We planned on sharing a bed already. Why would I sleep with him? You and I both know, it’s not going there with him and I.” I shake my head and turn the light off.

“Girl I didn’t mean ride him in front of everyone, Snuggling isn’t a crime you know. You can snuggle with friends and it does not lead to anything.” She says back hip bumping me. “But if you wanted to, we can set up a code word, maybe something like “Hoot Hoot.” she says while cupping her hands around her mouth mimicking an owl. 

“No we’re not doing that and it’s not going to happen. You're sharing a bed with me, don’t get greedy.” I laugh, hoping to swerve the subject a little with humor. 

“Oh wait! How about jungle fever! If you want alone time with McSexy just whisper Jungle Fever to me and I’ll get the message. I’ll make sure no one interrupts you guys. I’ll be your vaguard, a bodyguard for your vagina.” We both bend over laughing at her words. 

“What’s so funny?” Sky comes walking out of the theater room just as we’re about to enter. 

“Oh nothing, just discussing business. Attorney client confidentiality and all that.” Zo waves us off before she leaves us alone outside of the room. 

“Confidentiality huh? So it’s about me then?” Sky says with that oh so panty dropping cocky as hell grin. 

“You wish!” I scoff and walk into the theater. Good one Rae, my subconscious sarcastically praises my response. 

******

I can’t sleep. I’ve been laying here for what feels like hours but has only been 30 minutes according to the digital display on the cable box. I am pretty sure everyone’s already asleep and here I am listening to these rhinos snoring. Zach and Nick are the worst. Shay is a close third and thankfully I haven’t heard a peep out of Sky, Zo or Alaria. It’s more than enough with the three stooges, I couldn’t take any more than that. I roll over onto my right side, towards the direction of Sky’s bed. He’s laying on his back with his eyes closed. His right arm under his head as a pillow and his left arm slightly out away from his body. A thought crosses my mind. If I’m careful enough I can puzzle piece my way into his side and snuggle close to him. It might wake him up but if I’m ninja enough, it might not. While the idea is so very tempting, the warmth his arm would create. The way his hand played lazy circles on the back of my neck. My hand across the hard plains of his torso. My leg, thrown over him in a comfortable fashion. Why was this not a good idea again? I realized I had no reasons to stop myself from sneaking onto his bed. Alright, f**k it. I slowly crawl out of my bed onto the floor on my hands and knees. I keep my head low and scramble as sleathly as I can. I duck down further to the side of his bed as if he was even awake to see me sneaking. Before I could even get up off the floor and onto the bed, hands grab my waist and haul me up and onto a very hard chest. 

“You suck at being quiet. I wasn’t asleep and you farted when you hit the floor.” f**k. 

“I plead the fifth.” I’m not one to get embarrassed easily about farting in front of anyone. I mean I don’t advertise it and I try to stay respectful and not let them out willy nilly. But I did fart when I fell off the bed. I’ll admit it. To myself. 

It’s dark and I can’t see his face clearly. We’re laying on our sides facing each other, his back facing the direction of my bed. My face is level with his chest so if I could see I would have to crank my head back to still look up at him. I can feel his quiet laugh through the rumble in his chest. Instinctively I snuggle my nose into his chest and breathe in his scent. I can still smell the cologne he had on when He was in my kitchen this morning. His chest is bare, he’s only wearing shorts and socks. I’m dressed in a thin strapped crop top and booty shorts with socks. His arms are around me, holding me tightly against him. His face is buried in my hair and I can feel him breathe in like he’s inhaling the scent of my shampoo. We’re quiet for a while, enjoying the feeling of being in each other's arms. It’s comfortable, dangerously comfortable. A girl could get addicted to this feeling right here. 

“Couldn’t sleep?” He asks. “No, the boys are murdering my ears and I’ve already stuffed Shay’s bra in the freezer.” 

He has to hold in the laugh I can undoubtedly feel begging to burst out. “That’s evil, baby girl. But I understand, I put Zach’s hand in a cup of water, let’s see if it works.” This time I have to cover my mouth from the giggle that escaped. “You sure it’s just because of their snoring? Nothing stuck in this pretty little head of yours?” He’s getting warmer. 

“I know you said we’d talk about it later. Honestly I want to open up to you. I really do. But not tonight. Tonight you’re keeping me from sleeping. Thinking about you laying here by yourself, I felt the need to comfort you. You know, because of the scary movies and all.” trying to find a way to change the subject while showing him I acknowledge what he’s asking. I’m just not ready to tell him. 

“Oh, well ain’t you a peach.” He says in his best country boy accent. I let out a breath I didn’t even know I was holding and smiled up at him in a silent thank you. “Come on baby girl, we need to sleep. You’ve got a lot of painting to do tomorrow. I wanted to mention this early but it just slipped my mind. I can help you with the tree, reach everything you can’t. I’m good at mimicking art, I can follow your flow and make it all match. If you want me to, I will.” 

I won't turn down an offer to keep me off the ladder. “Thank you! I’d like that very much. But just to let you know, Alaria really isn’t paying me anything, so you can’t have half my cut or anything.” I joke back getting a low chuckle from him. 

“Dang and here I thought I’d be rolling in the dough.” We laugh a little loud and I fear Zo might wake up next to us. He places a little kiss on my forehead, “Good night beautiful. Sweet dreams.” 

“Good night.” With that I slip off into a dream world, silently praying the nightmares stay at bay.