Sunset Burning ~ Eliza(beth)

"I know... I'm sorry. Go to sleep," he whispers to me. I stop crying for a moment, and I curl into him as much as I can. "I only can if you do," I whisper. I feel attached to the boy I met on the beach. "Can you sleep?" I whisper. I feel his heartbeat, which is beating about as fast as it can. He must be worried about me, but I'm worried about him. His hands must be hurting, and I want to lay down on the sand and just sleep, just as long as he is sleeping, too. I can't sleep if he can't. I feel my eyes closing very quickly, and I shake it away, but sleep is coming quickly.

"Of course I can. Let's sleep through the whole night without a problem. How's that sound?" he tries to say happily, but it turns out to be a weary tone. "It sounds really good, Salem. Good night," I whisper to him. He pulls me into his chest, and I breathe a sigh of relief. I feel his chest go up and down slowly, and I can tell he's trying to sleep. So I relax against him and I try to sleep again. Sleeping till morning sounds really good. Maybe I can sleep the entire night, sleeping with his arms around me. My breathing slows down until I am unconscious.

~skip to morning~

I feel some pressure on my arms, and I feel Salem stir. I didn't even realize that I woke up until I felt him stir against me. I look at him sleepily, and I feel my arms beg to be moved out from between me and Salem. I sleepily look up at him, and I see his smile. I smile back drowsily, and the pain of my foot suddenly hits me. Then I hear his stomach growl, and mine growls in response. "You hungry, too?" I whisper, not able to talk at full volume. "Do you want to go into town?" I think about moving, but I feel the need to stay close to him for the next few precious seconds.

When he offers to go without me, a pang of fear hits me. "No, don't leave me alone. I can't stay here alone. Besides, you need someone to protect you," I tell him weakly, going for a joke. And not even that, but I can't stand the thought of him going anywhere without me, and me going anywhere without him. It just didn't seem right. I needed to be by his side. I care about him... "I can resist the pain. Take me with you, please. I don't want to stay here where my dad can find me," I tell him, which is completely true.

He frowns a little when he realizes that he has no choice, but I smirk at his comment about babying. His smile is sweet, and loving. Does he- no, not possible, right? "I'll be fine. Now, come on, help me up," I tell him, with a loving smile right back. I love looking into his eyes. They're so beautiful, especially in the early morning light. I stare into his eyes, and then I realize that he is trying to help me up. When I stand on the ground, the pain in my foot is immenent, and I almost scream, but I literally bite my tongue and I look at his face, trying to hide the pain.

"Ok," I mutter quietly, trying to smile but not able to. I collapse against him, and I smile at him faintly, saying, "I might need a little help."

When he picks me up I let out a little shriek and a giggle. I smile at him, and I realize that my body is pressing against his bare chest. I blush a little, and he says that he'll just have to carry me then. And I understand when he takes me through the allies. I smile and I lean against his chest, grinning brightly. I look up and see that he is grinning a grin so wide it's not hard to see he's happy. I blush, and I plant a kiss on his cheek. "You are so sweet. Thank you so much." I feel like embarrassed doing that but I really meant it. He was so sweet and kind and compassionate and loving and caring and gentle... the list could go on and on!

Does he feel the same way I do? Does he melt when he sees me smile? Did he feel the spark that ignited a strange fired when my lips came in contact with his cheek? Did he want it to happen again?

I am contemplating this when he tells me that he has to go check to make sure no one's home. I nod, comfirming he can set me down, and now it's a perfect excuse to give him another kiss on the cheek. "I know it's only one block away, but please be careful. Don't let anything happen to you, and I'll keep the bad guys away." I tell him smiling a loving smile, that is filled with honest to goodness love. I give him a small embrace as he begins to set me down to the ground, and I look into his eyes again. His sweet eyes...