Enchantress

Chapter 8

I’ve spent the last week taking exams. I have the entire week off next week for Thanksgiving break. Matti is going home for break and he’s taking me with him. We’ve been doing well for the last month. My brother and I started to get closer again and Dom have outright avoided me. Viv and I are closer than ever. We’ve already pre-planned our spring break together. I started to pack my bags for my upcoming trip. Matti was from Virginia. I grew up in Massachusetts. The similarities in the weather patterns allowed me to pack just like I would if I were going back home. Matti would be here shortly to get me. I hope his family likes me. We are visiting my family over Christmas break. I know they are going to love Matti. My phone started humming. Matti texting to tell me we’re going to be delayed. Great. Eva is back in the hospital again. He’s going to be tied up with her tonight. So, it looks like I’m on my own again. I quickly dialed Viv’s number. She was down for a girl’s night and wanted to check out the new club in town. I quickly got ready while I waited for her. I threw on a black V cut romper and a pair of black stiletto heels that buckled just above my ankles. I let my long hair down and curled it and quickly threw on make-up. Just as I was finishing up Viv walked through the door. She started to get ready and I sat on the bed to wait for her.

We chatted about Matti while she got ready and she understood my frustration when it came to Eva. We grabbed jackets and I took an extra outfit. There wasn’t any snow on the ground, and even though it would be hot in the club, it would be cold outside. We jumped in her car and headed out.

The club was packed. We stepped into the line to wait for entry. We were there early so the line moved quickly. Once inside, we slipped to the bar, got our drinks and grabbed a seat at a table nearby. It was dark and extremely loud. The dance floor in front of us was packed and so was the bar behind us. I desperately wanted to have fun but all I could think about was Matti and Eva in a hospital room alone all night. I know they obviously can’t have s*x, but they could grow close. I was terrified I was going to lose him to her. For the first time in my life I was in love. I love Matti. It truly hit me. By now the hot tears were streaming down my face uncontrollably. I fought to hold it in, to hide it, epically failing. Viv took one look at me and told me we were going home, and I wasn’t going to argue with her.

As we stepped into our dorm room, she stopped me.

“Spill it!”

“I’m in love with Matti.”

“So why are you so upset? He doesn’t seem that terrible.”

“I’m afraid I’m going to lose him.”

Just then my legs began to feel weak. I needed to sit down. I crawled onto my bed. I felt so sick to my stomach. I curled up in a ball on the bed. I just wanted to go to sleep.

“You don’t look so good,” Viv said sitting down beside me. “You’re all sweaty and you feel like you have a fever.”

“I’m tired. I’m sure I’ll feel fine in the morning.”

“Well sleep it off then. I’m going to pop next door and see Naomi before she leaves for break. I’ll check on you when I get back.”

I pulled the blanket over my head and drifted off to sleep.

I woke up to icy hands on the back of my neck. I tried to jump up, to scream, but my body wouldn’t cooperate.

“Ssshhhh, it’s OK,” Matti’s voice was soft and quiet, “Your burning up love.”

“I’ve felt like this since Viv and I came home. I’m sure I’m fine. Why aren’t you at the hospital?”

“I came to check in on you.”

“You shouldn’t be here Matti. You’re needed there.”

“No. The doctors are needed there. I’m needed right here.”

“Matti, that is your child. You should be there not here taking care of me.”

“I’m right where I’m supposed to be.”

I rolled over and put my head on his bare chest. We laid there, quietly, letting silence fill the air. I listened to his heartbeat. I could feel him staring at me. I looked up and he smiled.

“Matti, I’m completely in love with you.” The words just came out before I could stop them.

He started to laugh, “Are you now?”

“That’s funny to you?”

“I’m just wondering if it’s the fever talking and you're going to change your mind in the morning.”

“I knew this before the fever started. I’ve never felt like this about anyone before.”

He was quiet and motionless. I wish he’d say something. I could feel my face grow red with embarrassment. I had just made a complete fool out of myself and worse because he wasn’t in love with me, but he was probably in love with someone else. I rolled over and drifted off to sleep.

I woke up and Matti was gone. Probably back at the hospital with the girl he was in love with. I felt like an i***t. I just wanted to go home. I booked a flight and packed a bag. I couldn’t deal with Matti right now. I needed to gather my thoughts and take a long bubble bath in my clawfoot tub. I couldn’t wait to get home.

I stepped off the plane around eight pm. I hadn’t told anyone I was coming. The taxi dropped me off in front of the brick house where I spent my childhood. I snuck in the front door.

“Anybody home?”

Mom came running from the kitchen, “What are you doing here? I thought you were visiting with Matti’s family.”

“Plans changed,” I said with a smile.

“There’s my little girl. I’m sure happy to see you, he said engulfing me in a huge hug. “You beat your brother home.”

“He’s not here yet?”

“Won’t be here until later.”

“You hungry?” mom asked with a smirk.

“Sure, am mom.”

We ate dinner and caught up. I retired to my room. I put my bag at the end of my bed. I wanted to just crawl into my bed and get cozy, but that bath was calling my name. I soaked for about an hour and crawled into my bed. I looked at my phone. I had ten missed calls and over a dozen text messages. Mom popped her head in my door.

“Malachi is on the phone for you.”

I waved her in and sat up in bed. She handed me the phone and walked out shutting the door behind her.

“Hey Kyky.”

“Why aren’t you answering your phone? I’ve been looking all over for you. Matti called and said you disappeared without saying a word and I thought something happened to you. Why didn’t you call me and how the hell did you get an earlier flight than me?”

“I used my racked-up miles and there’s no blackout dates. You should really consider a credit card.”

“You're not funny. Why didn’t you tell me you were going home and not with Matti?”

” Maybe because you are not my boss or my keeper. I don’t answer to you and I don’t have to tell you where I’m going or who I’m with. As for Matti, I didn’t think he’d want me to go home with him. I didn’t even know if he was still planning on going home.”

“Well he did. I’m on my way home now. I’ll be there in about half an hour. I just got off the plane.”

“OK, well I’m in my room when you get here.”

With that we hung up and a short time later he was popping his head through my door.

“Can we talk?”

“Sure, come in.”

He sat on the edge of my bed, “Just like old times, huh?”

“I wish we could go back to that.”

“What’s going on with Matti?”

“Eva is pregnant, and he may or may not be the father. I told him I was in love with him and he didn’t say anything, when I woke up, he was gone. I figured he was having second thoughts.”

“Well that explains why he gave Eva your plane ticket and took her home to meet his parents.”

“HE DID WHAT?!?” My face was red, and the tears were streaming down my face. How could he? I felt like I was dying. I felt like my heart had been ripped out of my chest. I couldn’t breathe. Malachi grabbed me up in a hug.

“Don’t cry. You know I hate it when you do that.”

“How could he? So were officially over and I’m left looking like some dumb naive freshman. I’m so stupid.”

“No, you're not. Matti is an i***t and he’ll regret this. Ummm… Also, I didn’t know you were coming home for break and me kind of invited Dom to come home with me since he can’t go home. He’s staying in the guest room.”

“With Lila?” I said with a chuckle.

“No, they erm broke up. That’s kind of why he can’t go home.”

“Oh.”

“Well, OK, so it’s only eleven. Popcorn and reruns in the living room?”

“Um no.”

“Why?”

“Because it’s my bedtime.”

“What are you? Nine? Has my baby sister turned into a baby again?” He said laughing.

“No.”

“Then I’ll see your downstairs in fifteen minutes.” He said as he walked out the door.