Checkmate (Sequel to Game On)

Chapter 34: Realization

I feel the sunbeams hitting my face, turning everything bright red behind my closed eyelids. I stir in my bed and groan; refusing to open my eyes to the blinding sun. Instead, I snuggle deeper into the pillows beside me in hopes of falling asleep again. 

The pillow chuckles, causing me to furrow my eyebrows in confusion, and I feel it shift slightly beside me.

"Morning, sunshine", Nick sings and gently caress my arm.

Reluctantly, I pry my eyelids open and instinctively dig my face further into Nick's chest as the sun blinds me as I expected.

I can feel his chest vibrate as he chuckles and I mutter something in response, telling him it's not funny.

"No, it's not funny", he says in a light tone, "it's cute."

I'm just about to make a response when I unintentionally squirm, trying to roll onto the other side, but feel an intense pain shooting out from my shoulder.

Nick notices my pain and in a second, he's sitting upright and is gently helping me up as well, his face showing concern.

"Careful", he says as I rest my back against the bed frame. I sigh, still tired, and close my eyes again, trying to sustain the pain.

It's quiet for a few moments until Nick's low voice break it.

"Wait here and don't move", he whispers softly and before I have time to say anything, I feel him standing up from the bed. I open my eyes again only to see his back disappearing out through the door.

Where is he going?

On a second thought, I realize that I don't really care.

As Nick still hasn't shown up a few minutes later, I decide on killing some time by checking my phone. It's not like I'm able to sneak out through the front door. Someone, probably Nick, would stop me.

I called Martha and Roland yesterday, telling them what "happened" and after a long conversation where I had to tell lie after lie, mostly about why I didn't tell them about what happened until after the doctor helped me get my shoulder joint back in place again. I glance at the door, there's still no trace of Nick, and decide on giving Shane a quick call to check if he's alright.

I scroll through my contacts until I find him and as I press the call button, he answers after barely two signals.

"Hey, Alex", he says and I don't bother correcting him, not this time.

"Shane", I say in a soft voice, "are you alright?"

"Are you?" he asks back without answering my question.

"I'll live", I sigh, "now answer my question."

He chuckles into the phone, probably half smiling as well. "I'll live."

"You think this is funny?" I ask him, sounding slightly irritated.

He doesn't say anything for a few seconds but when he finally does, all trace of amusement in his voice has faded away.

"No, but I'm just happy you are alright. Care to tell me what happened?"

I fiddle with the duvet as I reply to him.

"I got a dislocated shoulder but that's it. A couple of days or weeks and I'll be fine."

He goes quiet again and I start to believe the line went dead but then he suddenly speaks up again.

"Alex, I'm sorry", he mumbles and I furrow my eyebrows.

"For what? It wasn't your fault."

I think I'm starting to hear footsteps in the hallway outside and I start to slightly panic.