Chapter 3: Unchartered

I felt for my fan's remote on my mini nightstand beside my really small bed but came up empty-handed. I was so cold but I couldn't find the strength to open my eyes and the desk felt like valleys of paper.

I heard the door to my room open but I couldn't even find the willpower to turn my head in that direction. I was beyond sick. I had never felt this bad in my life. My nose watered, my eyes itched, my stomach erupted like an active volcano every waking minute and my head throbbed like the rhythmic beating of a drum. Apparently, I had picked up some kind of germ, most likely from the bug that tried to eat me from my insides.

I thought I told you to close the door behind me" Ray quarrelled switching off the fan and I groaned in response.

"Miss Ven sent soup, again" He continued.

I sighed and opened my eyes. There was no point in arguing with him because I would never hear the end of it. He took the covers from over my head, before helping me to sit up.

"Why are you here?" I managed once more. It had become my daily routine, since the day I got sick.

He smiled "To feed you soup" he replied innocently, cooling a spoon of the soup, before shoving it into my mouth. I drank it and closed my eyes, pressing my back onto the wall at the head of my bed.

"Mrs. Hoe says you should take all the time you need"

"Go away" I begged but he just kept on feeding until the soup was finished.

Day after day, he'd do the same thing. He'd also carry books and bore me to sleep; he always made sure I was comfortable, throughout the bad days and the extremely bad ones also. One time he sang to me, it gave me a headache but the thought was satisfying. Eventually, I began looking forward to his visits and as my strength returned, I started to realize, I preferred being sick because it would mean being around him always.

***

"O my God" I laughed, looking at the picture of Mrs. Hoe. She was on a tree, completely petrified and a cute little dog was at the bottom looking up at her. Ray had carried an island album and we were looking through it whilst sitting on a small sofa in my bedroom.

"Yea… This, is a picture of when the restaurant was just starting out"

"It looked so…blah"

He laughed "This is the first wedding ever kept here, Kisses and Fen. The island's youngest sweethearts"

"They are so cute"

"Yeah, they are…I always wondered what it'd feel like to love someone so much, you'd …" he paused and looked at me.

"What?" I enquired, there was something on his mind

"It's nothing" he shook his head and I closed the book, giving him my undivided attention

"No seriously, what?"

He studied my face and I tried my best to maintain eye contact. I felt intimidated by his gaze, like, if I looked into his eyes too long I'd fall so hard, I wouldn't be able to pick myself out.

"It's just" he paused again "You seem a whole lot better" he changed the subject flicking me in the head. It took me a moment to recover but when I did, I launched myself at him in an attempt to flick him back, sending us onto the handle of the couch. He laughed using his hands to hold mine so I couldn't hit him. Eventually, between laughs and playful quarrels, I became too tired to struggle with him anymore.

"Release me" I commanded, quite out of breath.

"No. I like this position" he wriggled his eyebrows playfully. It was only then that I realized how I was situated. My eyes widened, Ray was on his back and I was sitting exactly on his lower half. The room became immediately hot and my brain became small dirty water puddles. I tried to get up but he wouldn't allow it.

I stifled a scream as he slipped one hand around my waist and sat up, securing me to him so I couldn't move. My heartbeat speed up at the realization of how close we were and what was actually happening. Our lips occasionally brushed each other's, willing my body to crave his pleasure. My eyes fluttered close and soon he didn't have to hold my hands anymore because they didn't want to be anywhere else but on him. He felt so warm, I could stay wrapped in him forever. I placed a hand on his cheek, bringing his lips up to mine.

"Kiss me" he whispered, his hot breath sending spirited trills down my spine. I let a breath go.

"Hey Mia!" Mal yelled snapping us out of the intimate moment and back to reality. I stood immediately, retreating to my bed some inches away. Mal walked in a second later and the room got really quiet. I could feel the tension between Ray and me and I tried desperately to avoid his gaze but our eyes would meet just the same.

"Are you guys okay?" Mal enquired, looking in between us both with concern

"Yes. Why? Why wouldn't I be?" I looked at her then at my feet. What the hell just happened?

"Okay" she stressed unconvinced but didn't prolong the argument any further "I brought us lunch!" she yelled excitedly, holding up the bag of food.

"Actually, I have something to do, I have to go" Ray butted, standing up. He looked at me briefly before walking out and I fell unto my bed in a lump, having no idea how to feel. I mean, my heart was beating supper fast and I felt so energized and smiley, I couldn't contain it but at the same time, I didn't know if I even wanted to feel this way.

"What just happened?" Mal questioned placing the food on the nightstand and lying down next to me. I turned so I was looking into her eyes.

"I don't know" I answered honestly. I really didn't know.