•Kiss It Better By He Is We•

"Please wake up." I begged, holding her little hand in mine. I bent forward and rested my forehead against our interlocked fingers. "Please. I can't lose you."

My eyes brimmed with tears and a few escaped, running down my face. I didn't move to wipe them away. I didn't care. Charlotte still hasn't woken and it's been four days since her last surgery. The doctor said its normal for this to happen, as the brain often shuts down the body for a while as it re-asses what the damage is.

I sighed and kissed her small hand before I sat back in the chair. Her normally vibrant skin was a sickly pale color, her lips a washed-out pink. A piece of golden hair fell over her forehead and I reached over and pushed it away. I stared intently at her chest, heart clenching whenever it seemed it took too long to rise.

She spins and she sways to whatever song plays

Without a care in the world

And I'm sitting here wearing the weight of the world on my shoulders

It's been a long day and there's still work to do

She's pulling at me saying "Momma I need you!

There's a ball at the castle and I've been invited

and I need to practice my dancin'

Oh please, Momma, please!"

So I will dance with Cinderella

While she is here in my arms

'Cause I know something the prince never knew

Oh I will dance with Cinderella

I don't want to miss even one song

'Cause all too soon the clock will strike midnight

And she'll be gone

She says he's a nice guy and I'd be impressed

She wants to know if I approve of the dress

She says, "Mom, the prom is just one week away

And I need to practice my dancin'

Oh please, Momma, please!"

So I will dance with Cinderella

While she is here in my arms

'Cause I know something the prince never knew

Oh I will dance with Cinderella

I don't want to miss even one song

'Cause all too soon the clock will strike midnight

And she'll be gone

She will be gone

The last of the lyrics rolled off my tongue and I release a strangled sob. My tears dripped on her face as I pressed a lingering kiss on her forehead before I stood up and headed towards the door.

Evelyn stood off to the side, arms crossed and eyes closed as she rested her back and head against the wall. I sniffed and her eyes shot open, the grey storm clouds clashed with my drained brown eyes.

"I'm ok." I whispered.

Her hand ran along my cheek and I blinked back tears at the gentle gesture. "I know." Was all she said in reply before she drew me into her arms. My hands wrapped securely around her waist and her sandalwood scent wrapped around me as I buried my face in her hair.

She sighed and mumbled phrases in her own language as her chin rested on top of my head and her hands ran up my arms. Time wasn't something I was safe of as I stood there, warm and safe in her arms. "Come on, let's get something to eat." I looked worriedly at the window but she grabbed my hand. "She's not going anywhere love." She assured me.

I glanced back at the room for a moment before I gave in and let her lead me away. She led me to the small Starbucks located just outside the cafeteria and I ordered a bagel and a Caramel Macchiato.

I ate in silence, my mind spinning around and around. Charlotte was of course at the top of my worries, but underneath all that was the underlying terror of the chemistry I shared with my principle and the fact that I think I am falling in love with her.

"Are you full?" She asked, furrowing her brows as she studied my half-eaten bagel. I glanced down at it and guilt gnawed at my insides. I should eat more, I mean she paid for it. But I couldn't seem to stomach anymore food.

I nodded and she got up without a word and picked up my trash and threw it away. I expected her to say she had to leave but she surprised me by taking my hand and guiding me out of the seat.

"Where are we going?" I asked as she wound me through the various hallways, that I now noticed she seemed to know by heart.

"To get some sleep." She said, looking over her shoulder at me. My mouth parted slightly. "But what about Koba?" I asked incredulously. Surely she isn't going to stay with me all night! I don't want to be a bother.

She sighed and shook her head. "I have a friend that knows I'm.....unavailable at the moment. He's taking care of her."

"Okay, but it's really not necessary that you-" My sentence died as we came to a stop in front of a burgundy door that had "On-Call Room" scrawled across the top in silver lettering. She pushed it open and I was greeted to the sight of perfectly-made bunk beds.

I eyed her. "How did you know this was here?" She met my eyes and a brief flash of pain shot through the grey. I almost wanted to wince at the sheer intensity of it.

"I've had to stay here before." Was her short reply. I was curious, but I knew better than to push her for answers. I, of all people knew better than most the pain that a broken past causes.

She pulled me in and shut the door, a minute later she began rifling through drawers. "Here." She held out a bundle of grey clothing to me. Hospital scrubs, I guessed.

"Won't someone-" She shook her head, cutting off my sentence as she pulled out her own bundle of clothing. "No, I locked the door."

"Oh, okay." She nodded as we just kind of stood there awkwardly for a moment. My hands started to sweat at knowing I'd have to change when she was right there.

As if knowing exactly what I was thinking, she smirked and turned around. I sighed and quickly stripped out of my clothing and pulled on the new clothes. Surprisingly they were really comfortable and soft. The pants were a little too big so I rolled the waistline up. The top hung off one of my bony shoulders.

"You can look now." I whispered, pulling my hair out of the back of the shirt. She turned and raked her gaze over me, making the temperature rise at least 30 more degrees.

"Grey is a good color on you." She murmured, meeting my eyes with her hooded ones. I gulped. "Th-thanks." I stuttered out. She smiled sweetly and raised a brow at me when I continued to stare at her.

All of a sudden she flashed me a wicked smiled and her hands went to the hem of her shirt and pulled it up. I spun around so fast I was sure I burned holes in my socks, but not before catching a glimpse of a lacy black bra and a toned stomach.

She laughed softly and it took all my willpower to not turn around at the husky tone of it.

Stop it! You're in the hospital where your daughter might be dying and all you can do is ogle your principle?! I scolded myself.

"I'm decent." I caught my breath at her low accented voice and turned around slowly. My eyes widened as I took her in. The scrubs, where they'd been too big on me, fit her perfectly. The grey color matched her eyes. Her long hair tumbled around her in waves.

"You're so beautiful." The words tumbled out of my mouth without shame. Her eyes sparkled at me and her cheeks pinked slightly.

Unconsciously I took a step towards her, and then another, and another, until our chests brushed together. I licked my lips and her eyes followed the movement. Her soft hands came up frame my face and I nearly moaned as she leaned down and connected our lips together.

She sighed into my mouth and I reached up to wrap my arms around her neck, pulling her flush against my body. Our lips molded together like clay to a pottery wheel. They moved in perfect sync. Tempting her, I ran my tongue along her bottom lip before I gently grabbed it with my teeth and sucked on it lightly.

A guttural moan vibrated through my mouth and she immediately walked me backwards and I squealed in surprise when I landed on the bed. She never broke the kiss as she settled herself over me, a knee parted my legs, and my thigh burned where she rested her hand against it. My hands curved down her neck and shoulders before resting against her sides. I slipped a hand underneath her shirt and sighed at the skin-to-skin contact.

She pulled back for a moment and rested her forehead against mine as we desperately tried to catch our breaths. "Did I.....did I do something wrong?" I asked once I could manage it. I slowly moved my hand out from underneath her shirt. Maybe she didn't like it? I worried. Her thumbs stroked gentle circles over my cheekbones.

She pulled back to look at me, and my heart jumped at the look of complete adoration in her eyes. "No, that was.....amazing. But we are already on a bed, and it is not good to play with fire."

My cheeks burned at her teasing tone of voice. I was pleased when she stopped, and slightly ashamed to admit that I wouldn't have. Now realizing this, I knew I wasn't ready. She smiled back at me before her expression turned serious. "I've done some thinking and I think you and Charlotte should stay with me for a while after she is well enough to be released."

I opened my mouth to protest but she stopped me with a finger to my lips. "Please." She added. I melted immediately. I knew how hard it probably was for her to say that. She ran a high school and wasn't used to asking for things.

"Ok." I said.

She sighed in relief and I bit my lip as she rolled over and pulled me into her, covering us with the sheets. My head laid directly against her chest and I could feel the steady thump thump, of her heartbeat. Her arms encircled my waist and she buried her face into my neck and sighed.

M eyelids grew heavy and she must've sensed it somehow because she said, "Sleep, inima mea. I will be here when you wake." And I felt her press a kiss to my hair before I let the darkness pull me under.

😔💔😘