Wake Me Up *final* 2 of 2

SEVEN, PART DEUX: Without your Touch, Without your Love, Darling1

Laurel could admit she didn't have the strongest stomach. But even now, five blocks away from the club, she felt as though she were going to drop to her knees and vomit.2

Shaking her head, she dug her nails into the palms of her hands. It wasn't the right time to break down.3

Laurel rounded the corner and sped up to a jog, tucking her hands into her pockets. To stave off the inevitable nausea, she struggled to focus on Angel, on his forget-me-not blue eyes. On that shock of black hair falling across his face.4

On his smile.5

On his cold/warmth, his ghost skin, smooth as polished wood.6

Jesse's face would inevitably slip into her subconscious, though. His cold eyes as he threw her down, the ring tumbling onto the floor.7

And then her mother's face eased into her vision. Her placid smile, her graceful features; the ones Laurel had never inherited.8

Laurel grinned. Her mother was the one who would get her through this. 9

Right?10

Amidst her scattered thoughts, she hadn't noticed that she was across the street from the club. Her legs felt like two melting candles, as though they'd dissolve into a puddle if she didn't keep moving. She forced herself through the door, and into the darkened room.11

Immediately, her eyes passed over the thick knot of drunken dancers, searching for two azure eyes. Pray for me, Mom, she thought as she slid into the tangle of bodies, tugged and pushed around like a swimmer in high tide.12

And then-there. Him.13

She smiled a smile that didn't quite reach her eyes. It was Angel, all right.14

But something was different.15

His eyes flickered across her face, but they bore no recognition. And his shirt was too...too CLEAN. No bloodstains to be found.16

She wanted to slap herself. Of course he didn't recognize her. Of course he wasn't all bloody. He was still alive.17

But not for long.18

~19

She followed him into the harem girl room. Jesse and co were already seated, tossing down drinks. Jessie's face was slack, his eyes dark and greedy as he admired the exposed flesh. Laurel waited for a stab of jealousy, but none hit.20

Her mother's words trailed through her mind. "Was Angel the reason you didn't want to marry Jesse?"21

Was he?22

This time, the smile touched her eyes. She ducked her head down, blushing.23

Yes.24

He was.25

A growl interrupted her thoughts. She glanced up. The whole gang had ended up in front of the slender balcony. Jesse was shoving Angel down. The rest of the room was hurrying away from the fracas.26

CRUNCH.27

Jesse's foot hit Angel's shoulder hard. The dark-haired man winced, eyes screwing shut. He was bleeding from the nose, and it dribbled down onto his shirt, staining it a bright, strawberry red.28

Laurel shot forward without thinking, wrapping her arms around Jesse's shoulders.29

"Jesse-WAIT!" she cried.30

He whirled around, eyes popping in anger. "You...you fucking whore!"31

"Jesse, no," she pleaded. Now, more than ever, did she wish her mother were there to hug her.32

Angel was getting to his feet. She ducked around Jesse and put a hand to Angel's chest. "Angel," she murmured, on the verge of tears. "Angel, it's me. I did it. I saved you."33

He squinted. "Thank you, but...do I know you?"34

"Angel, it's ME! Laurel!" she cried out.35

Jesse took a step forward. "You KNOW him? Were you seeing this guy, Laurel?"36

"I-Jesse-"37

In one surprisingly fluid step he launched himself forward and wrapped his big hands around her throat. Angel and several of his friends reached out to stop him, but he tossed them aside.38

Laurel clawed at her throat, eyes widening in disbelief. But I stopped it, she thought desperately. I saved him. I-39

The entire room swarmed over, shrieking, as Jesse hurled her over the balcony, as though she were nothing but a rag doll.40

~41

In the movies, people fell slowly. It was less than four seconds before Laurel hit the ground, a loud CRACK resonating amidst an orchestra of screams and gasps. She was aware of hot stickiness oozing out of her head, and a sharp, broken ache ringing through her body.42

Aside from that, she wasn't aware of much.43

Oh, good.44

It was fading away.45

Everything fading.46

Fading to white.47

~48

Five cop cars came. Three ambulances. Two fire trucks.49

Amidst the mobs of people rushing around, nobody noticed a middle-aged redhead woman, knelt on the ground. A much younger redhead girl, maybe eighteen or nineteen, lay beside her, her head in the woman's lap. The woman was carefully running her hands through the girl's mane of fire-colored hair.50

The police were zipping up a blood spattered bodybag, careful not to let the brain fall through the crack in the skull. One policeman pulled on Spandex gloves and tucked a portruding curl of titian hair into the canvas sack.51

~52

Jesse's hands were locked behind his back, and he grimaced as the policewoman shoved him, headfirst, into the patrol car.53

~54

"Your hair tangles so easily, Laurel."55

"Mmf." Laurel folded her arms over her chest. "Sorry, Mom. Haven't brushed it yet."56

Laurel's mother smiled kindly. "I'll help you do it."57

~58

"Laurel."59

Laurel's eyes opened. She sat up and got off her mother's lap, standing slowly. 60

Angel ran his hands through his hair. "What am I supposed to say? Sorry isn't going to cut it, is it?"61

Laurel couldn't help laughing. "You look so cute when you're helpless."62

"Be serious."63

"I am serious." She stepped forward and reached up, touching the side of his face. His head swooped down, and their lips met.64

Laurel's mother clucked as she got to her feet, smoothing her skirt down.65

Her daughter pulled away. "Now go off. Go off and live."66

"Laurel, wait-"67

She shook her head and followed her mom away from him. "You'll forget me, Angel!" she called back.68

"I'll never forget you." There was confidence in his voice.69

"Suit yourself." She tossed a radiant smile over her shoulder and hooked arms with her mother, rounding an ambulance truck.70

~71

Angel sprinted after them, but when he reached the spot they'd been standing, they were gone. Howling in anger, his fist collided with the patrol car as hard as he could. His shoulders shook, and something hot and painful filled the back of his throat.72

He opened his mouth, took in a cool breath of air, and struggled to say something.73

Anything.74

No words came out.75

Eventually, the shaking subsided. He looked up, his face blank. The police were interviewing him about ten feet away.76

He started walking.77

~78

They gave him a lift to the station. One of the officers handed him a cup of coffee. He tossed it back bitter. The plaster cast the paramedic had put on his shoulder itched like a bitch, and he still hadn't stopped trembling.79

He had been in his share of fights, but the face of that girl as she plummeted downward was more twisted, more disturbing than anything he'd ever seen.80

And...she'd spoken to him as if she knew him. 81

Did he recognize her? He was pretty good with faces, but...82

No. This girl was a complete stranger.83

He set the coffee cup down and leaned back, closing his eyes.84

~