DETENTION OF THE HEART

Close Enough to Burn

Angel’s POV

🌞 NEXT DAY 🌞

Dang Dang Dang

The phone wouldn’t stop ringing. Still half-asleep, I reached out blindly, patting around the floor until my fingers finally found my phone.

“Hello,” I mumbled, my eyes still shut, my voice heavy with sleep.

“Angel,” the voice came through the speaker. Oh God, it’s my mum.

“Mum, it’s too early to be waking your daughter up like this,” I groaned, pulling the covers over my head, hoping she’d hear the hint and let me go back to sleep.

“Don’t be like that. I just wanted to remind you about the family dinner tonight,” she said cheerfully, completely ignoring my morning misery.

“Argh, not again,” I muttered under my breath, careful not to say it too loud.

“Just make sure you come. And wear something nice this time.” She sounded way too excited for something that always ended up being awkward.

I sat up slowly, rubbing my eyes. “Don’t tell me you’re trying to set me up with another one of those nonsense guys again.” My tone was dramatic, but this wasn’t the first time she’d pulled this.

“Just dress nice. I promise this time will be different, okay? Bye!”

“Mum, it’s a family…..” She hung up before I could finish.

Seriously? How does she always pull this off? Who invites complete strangers to a family dinner? God.

I heard a loud mechanical noise from outside, probably Miss Talia fixing her broken door. I stretched and finally got out of bed. The room was quiet…Miss Talia was gone, and Sandra was still sleeping soundly on the floor where we had made a space for her. I didn’t want her sleeping there much longer, so I moved closer to wake her and get her on the bed.

But then, something happened.

Sandra’s body started trembling…no, not just trembling, she was shaking uncontrollably.

Oh no. Not now.

Not another one of her fevers.

I quickly ran to get a bowl and filled it with cold water. Grabbing a clean towel, I rushed back to her side. I dipped the towel into the cold water and pressed it gently to her forehead. Her body was burning up. She was sweating, and I could hear faint whimpers as if she were trapped in some nightmare.

I wiped her forehead a few more times, trying to bring her fever down, before deciding to leave the damp towel resting there. I sat next to her for a while, watching her carefully, my heart racing. I knew she got these fevers sometimes, but it never stopped being terrifying.

When I felt like she was somewhat stable, I got up and went to the bathroom to freshen up. I brushed my teeth and changed into something casual. I needed to get some medicine for her, something light for us to eat, and maybe pick up an outfit for the family dinner.

But leaving her alone in this state didn’t feel right.

I couldn’t risk something going wrong while I was gone.

Then I thought of Miss Talia. Maybe she could help. I stepped outside and saw her door had already been repaired. I knocked a few times, hoping she was in.

“I’m coming!” she called from inside.

When she opened the door, she looked a little surprised to see me standing there.

“Uh… Angel, right?” she asked, as if she wasn’t quite sure.

“Yes,” I answered quickly. I was in a hurry. “Can I ask you for a favor?”

She leaned against the door, curious. “Sure. Anything at all.”

But suddenly, I hesitated. Leaving Sandra alone with Miss Talia? Was that a good idea? What if something weird happened between them? But honestly, what choice did I have? I couldn’t stay, and I couldn’t leave Sandra alone.

“Can you help me look after Sandra? She’s having a fever, and I really need to step out quickly to get her something,” I asked, waiting anxiously for her answer.

“Fever? Is it because of the cut from yesterday?” She immediately looked worried, probably regretting letting Sandra step in during yesterday’s fight.

“No, not that. It’s something that happens to her sometimes. Please, will you help me watch her?”

She let out a soft sigh of relief. “Yeah, of course. You can go. Just don’t be too long.”

“Thank you!” I called out as I turned and ran off down the street.

Miss Talia’s POV

As Angel disappeared around the corner, I made my way into their apartment. I found Sandra lying on the floor, a cold towel on her forehead, her body still burning with fever. Her breathing was uneven, and she seemed to be caught in some kind of restless, painful sleep.

I felt my chest tighten.

I grabbed a pillow from the bed and gently slid it under her head. Then I dipped the towel back into the cold water, wrung it out, and began carefully wiping her face, her arms, her neck. She was burning up, but her skin was so soft…smooth and flawless, except for the angry red cut my i***t ex had left on her arm.

I couldn’t stop myself from touching her. I checked the wound carefully and noticed it had started bleeding again. I quickly ran back to my apartment to grab my first aid kit. When I returned, I cleaned and redressed the wound slowly, carefully, almost not wanting the moment to end.

While I was tending to her, her hand suddenly reached out and gently grabbed mine. I looked at her face, but her eyes were still closed. Her grip was weak but warm, like she found comfort in me, even in her fevered dreams.

A strange feeling rose in me. I didn’t want to pull my hand away. I liked this. Too much.

I glanced at her lips….those soft, pink lips that had been tempting me since the moment we met.

What was I doing?

Why did I want to kiss her?

I hated this feeling, but at the same time, I craved it. I wanted to know what her lips would feel like pressed against mine.

Slowly, I leaned in closer, my face just inches away from hers. Her breath was warm against my skin, and her lips looked so inviting, so perfect.

Just a little closer.

I wanted to taste her, just once.

But right as I was about to close the distance….right when our lips were about to meet…..her eyes suddenly snapped open.

She stared straight at me, confused, disoriented, maybe even a little scared.

I froze.

Shit.

What was I doing?

I quickly pulled back, my heart racing like I’d been caught stealing.