WHY ME (2)
1064 Words
AURELIA'S POV
The moment Zane carried me out of the bathroom, I felt like I was trapped somewhere between consciousness and a dream.
My ears were still ringing, and the voices around me sounded distant. I could feel people moving around us, but everything was blurred. The only thing I could clearly recognize was the warmth of Zane’s arms around me and the steady sound of his heartbeat.
Slowly, the ringing began to fade and the muffled voices became clearer. The sound of footsteps echoed through the hallway.
Then I heard his breathing.
I blinked several times, trying to clear my vision. My fingers lightly gripped his shirt as I realized he was still carrying me.
"Zane..."
His head immediately lowered.
"I'm here." His response came so quickly that it caught me off guard.
"You’re okay," he said, but there was something strange about the way he said it. Almost like he was trying to convince himself. "I'm taking you to the clinic."
My eyes widened. "No."
His brows furrowed. "Aurelia, your injuries need to be treated."
"No." I shook my head weakly. "Please don't take me there."
His expression turned serious.
"You’re bleeding."
"I know."
"Then why are you arguing with me?"
I hesitated.
The embarrassment I had been trying to ignore suddenly came rushing back.
"I smell."
The words escaped before I could stop them.
Zane’s steps slowed.
I immediately lowered my gaze, wishing I could disappear.
"I'm covered in filthy water," I whispered. "Everyone will see me like this."
For a few seconds, he remained silent then he let out a quiet sigh.
"Fine."
I looked up at him.
"I won't take you to the clinic."
Relief filled me for a moment.
"But your injuries still need to be cleaned."
"Zane—"
"I already agreed not to take you there," he interrupted. "Don't push your luck."
I wanted to argue, but I was too exhausted. So I rested my head against his shoulder and closed my eyes.
A few minutes later, he pushed open the door to the hockey locker room.
The room was completely empty. The usual noise from the team was gone, no one arguing over practice. Everyone had already left.
Zane carried me inside and carefully placed me on one of the wooden benches. His hands stayed on me for a moment longer, making sure I was balanced before he finally stepped away.
"I’ll be right back."
He disappeared into the medical room attached to the locker room. When he returned, he had a first-aid kit in one hand and a clean towel in the other.
Without saying anything, he knelt down in front of me.
I stared at him.
Zane Miller, who always acted like he had everything under control, was kneeling on the floor in front of me.
"Your legs," he said quietly. "Lift them."
I hesitated. "It’s going to hurt."
"I know." His eyes met mine. "But we need to clean the wounds."
Something about his voice made me stop arguing. Slowly, he lifted one of my legs and placed it carefully across his thigh before doing the same with the other.
His movements were gentle and careful. Almost as if he was afraid that one wrong move would hurt me more.
I watched as he soaked the towel and began cleaning the cuts on my knees.
The room became strangely quiet as neither of us spoke.
I only watched him.
The confident expression he usually wore was gone. He was completely focused on what he was doing. His dark hair fell forward as he leaned closer, covering part of his face. A few strands brushed against his forehead, and I found myself staring longer than I should have.
My eyes moved to his lips. They were slightly parted as he concentrated.
A moment later, his tongue moved across his bottom lip, wetting it unconsciously before he continued cleaning my injury.
I quickly looked away, my face heating up.
Why was I even noticing something like that?
He was helping me!
That was all!
"You can tell me if it hurts," he said softly.
I forced a small smile.
"I don't think I have the energy to complain."
A faint smile appeared on his face before disappearing almost immediately.
Then his expression became serious. "You scared me."
I looked back at him. The words surprised me.
"I've never seen you look like that before."
I lowered my eyes.
"I was scared too."
His hand paused.
"What happened?"
I swallowed.
"I don't know."
His eyes lifted. "You don't know?"
"I was thinking about something Coach Damian said." My fingers tightened around the edge of the bench. "I went to the bathroom because I needed some time alone."
I looked down at my knees.
"Then someone threw a bucket of filthy water at me."
“Kenzie.” His hand clenched tightly in anger. “I'll deal with her.”
“Hell no.” I grabbed him before he could do anything stupid. "And if you lose control because of me, Coach Damian will have another reason to worry."
He didn't answer but I knew that look.
He wasn't agreeing.
He carefully wrapped the bandage around my knee before moving to the other one.
When he finished, he leaned back slightly and looked over his work.
"There."
I looked down at the neat bandages covering my knees.
"They’ll need to be checked again later," he said. "Try not to put too much weight on them."
"You sound like a doctor. You're surprisingly good at first aid." I smiled faintly.
He paused for a moment before putting the supplies back into the kit.
"I've had practice."
The answer was so casual that it made me curious, but before I could ask, he stood up and then I noticed it.
The smell!
My entire body froze.
The embarrassment I had been trying so hard to ignore. It was all suddenly impossible to ignore.
I could smell myself!
My heart sank. My eyes slowly moved toward Zane. He had been sitting there this entire time, so close to me.
Had he noticed?
Had he been pretending not to?
A horrible thought entered my mind.
Maybe he was only being kind because he felt sorry. Maybe he was forcing himself to stay because he didn't want to hurt me.
I looked away, suddenly aware of everything..
Did Zane think I stunk?
- Writer
