Continuing Story Part 16

As Dahlia realized her time was gone, she stopped her practicing, and as she turned to

leave the kitchen, she heard clapping of hands. She asked who was there, and the deep voice of Drake answered to , it is I, and I think you are doing wonderful with your dance.

Her face turned several shades of red, and she muttered a thank you so low, he had to lean in to hear the words. Drake asked her if she had a moment to speak to him about something that he needed help with. Dahlia said that it was getting late, and she needed to get to bed, but he insisted that it would only take a moment.

She agreed and they both sat down. He explained how this year, he had a bigger class room than last year, and he could really use an assistant to help him grade papers. Dahlia looked towards the voice that was speaking, and she reached out her hand, until she felt his warm arm, and began to rest it upon it, to explain that she didn’t feel like she was qualified in this area, as history was not a major for her.

When Drake felt her soft fingers resting on his arm,  he placed his other hand over hers, and said it was not hard at all. That there was a sheet that the answers were on, and if she followed that, she would be able to help. He didn’t take his hand off of hers immediately, and Dahlia could not force herself to take hers away either. For what seemed minutes, but was only seconds, their hands remain connected, making the kitchen feel quite warm.

It was like someone was calling their names, and they both realized that they were still holding each other, and both jerked their hands away, and they stood up to leave the room. As Dahlia was getting ready to go back to her room, she told Drake she would be glad to help him as his assistant, if he truly felt she could be of help.

Her insides felt like fire and she turned to go,  leaving Drake to stand there alone. She was getting ready to go through the door way, and wasn’t concentrating on her placement of where she was, and she ran straight in to the door frame, knocking her backwards. She fell to the floor, but on the way down she hit the back of a metal chair that was sitting near by, and she cracked her forehead.

Her body slammed to the floor and blood started seeping from her head. Drake rushed over to her and asked her if she was alright, but he did not get any answer. He went to the bathroom and yanked a wash cloth from the shelf and wet it with cold water. He went back to Dahlia who was still lying motionless, and he began to dab at the warm blood, that was beginning to find its way into her hair and onto the floor.

Drake kept talking to her and he shook her head body  trying to get a response from her. Dahlia could feel herself being shaken, and she was beginning to come around, but before her eyes fluttered open, Drake drank in her plump lips with a soft quick kiss, and said to her motionless body, please be alright my dear Dahlia. Please let there be nothing wrong.

Dahlia lied there ever so quietly, leaving her eyes to be closed for a few moments longer. Not wanting him to know that she had been a silent witness to the kiss. Soon, she started to open her eyes, and Drake stood back, and looked at her. She started to get up, and Drake put his strong arms around her shoulders and helped her to sit up straight. He asked her if she was dizzy, and she sat for a second, and stated that she didn’t think so. He asked her if she thought she could stand, and she shook her head yes, so he tucked his arms around her waist and helped her stand, using his fingers to balance her.

Drake walked her to  his parents bedroom and knocked on the door. When the come in was announced, Drake turned the door handle and walked the two into the room and explained what had happened in the kitchen.

Rachel got up and went over and looked at Dahlia’s eyes and head. She didn’t see any swelling and her eyes looked normal. She did make a comment to Ralph to go get the first aid kit. There should be a salve and a band-aid placed on the cut. Ralph went and got the kit and came back. Rachel washed the cut off with soap and water, and put the salve and the band-aid on, and then asked Drake if he could take Dahlia out to the porch swing and sit with her for a half an hour. She explained that a cut to the head could cause swelling and she didn’t want Dahlia to lie down yet and sleep.

Drake didn’t hesitate and he guided Dahlia to the front porch, where they both sat on the swing. It was late, and all that could be heard was the nocturnal animals in the background, and sometimes a cricket could be heard. The loudest noise of all though, that both of them were very alert to was the silence that rang through out the land. They could both hear each others breathing, it was so quiet.

Drake started to move the swing with his feet and soon they were both moving with rhythm  to and fro and he asked her how she was feeling. She touched her hand to the place where the injury was, and she said that she thought she was going to be alright.

Soon conversation was moving along, like a slow train, coming in to town. He asked her about her past, she answered, and then she would question him. Conversation came very easily, once the shyness left the swing. Before both knew it, time had gone from a half hour into two hours. They each heard the others softness in voice, and she asked if it was alright if she went into bed now. She had a big day of school tomorrow and she was already going to be tired when she got up. He stood up and helped her up, and they both went into the house.