Faint Glow by Kristen Stark

Author:Kristen Stark [Stark, Kristen]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Kristen Stark
Published: 0101-01-01T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter 15

The first thing Niki noticed when she woke up was a dull pain in her back.

She didn’t know how long she had been lying on the ground, but the hard surface was making her body ache. She struggled to sit up and leaned against her car.

A severe pain flooded her temples causing her to moan out loud. Blood had hardened on her forehead. Her left eye was swollen and her stomach was sore where she had been kicked. She rubbed her aching jaw but it didn’t help, so she leaned her head back and closed her eyes. Voices in the distance got louder as they came closer. Niki wanted to get in her car but didn’t have the strength to move. She recognized the people talking as Chase and Blaise and sat still hoping they wouldn’t look over.

They stopped in the next row and Niki could see Blaise through the space between two cars. She was facing Chase as he apologized for not driving her home.

“I still have some work to do. Sloan insists that I stay,” Chase told her.

“It’s not your job to escort me home. I’m fine. You stay. I’m not in the mood to socialize anyway,” said Blaise. “Thanks for the invite, though.”

“Anytime,” Chase offered in a casual tone, but Niki could tell by the expression on his face he wasn’t pleased she was leaving.

As he continued talking, Niki couldn’t help staring at Blaise. The moon was bright, and a long sliver of light had reached down to touch her hair. Niki closed her eyes against a wave of pain that was building in her temple, and when she opened them again Blaise was looking at her. She was squinting to see in the dark, but Niki knew she had been spotted. She took a deep breath and tried to smile but felt her jaw tighten.

After some more apologies and a quick hug, Blaise and Chase finally said goodbye and Chase walked back toward the building to rejoin the party. Niki sighed as Blaise quickly walked over and kneeled down beside her. She didn’t want anyone to see her, especially Blaise.

“Niki, are you okay? What happened?”

Niki shook her head. “Could you help me up?” she asked with effort.

Blaise wrapped one arm under her shoulders and steadied her around the waist with the other. Niki stood slowly. Her body felt heavy. Blaise looked at her with concern and Niki tried to smile.

“Hey, I can’t look that bad,” she offered, but Blaise didn’t smile back.

“You do. What the hell happened?” she shot out.

“It doesn’t matter,” Niki mumbled.

Blaise took a deep breath and shook her head. “You look like hell.”

Niki laughed out loud. “Thanks.”

She moved toward her car door but Blaise easily stopped her.

“You’re in no condition to drive.”

Niki wanted to argue but a wave of dizziness convinced her otherwise. Instead they both moved to Blaise’s car, and Niki slowly lowered herself into the passenger’s side seat with some help. She let out a deep breath as Blaise slid into the driver’s seat beside her.

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