Free Alive by Holli Spaulding Page B

whispers softly.
    He looks so lost right now, and I put my arms around him and hug him more fiercely than I have ever hugged anyone in my life. I pour every ounce of me into this hug. I want more than anything to take away his pain. I know what it feels like, and I don’t wish this on anyone. I cling to his body so tightly that I think I might hurt him, but I notice he’s holding on to me with just as much conviction.
    He slowly starts to pull away from me and I immediately miss the tightness of his hug. He puts his index finger under my chin and gently tilts my head up.
    “Abigail, thank you. Thank you for being this amazing girl, who knows all the right things to say to make me smile. It’s been so long since I have felt happiness. Ever since you tripped and stumbled your way into my life, I have felt…alive.” I am hanging on to every word he says like it’s my lifeline and the butterflies I’m growing used to are fluttering in my stomach. I treasure his words, and the way he says them.
    He tentatively puts his fingers into my hair and pulls my mouth up to meet his. The moment his lips touch mine, the world around me ceases to exist.  He parts my lips with his tongue, and I invite him into my mouth. I finally get to taste him, and his taste is wonderful, it’s everything I have hoped for. I let out a soft moan and when I do his hands tighten in my hair. One hand stays tangled in my hair and the other in trailing down my back and rests on my hip.
    He pulls my bottom lip into his mouth and bites down softly, causing me to gasp. When I do that I hear a low growl come from his throat. It’s the sexiest sound I have ever heard. I will remember that sound for the rest of my life. My breathing has become heavy and I feel like I should be embarrassed, but right now I just can’t bring myself to care. I want to take away his pain of remembering his father’s death. I want to kiss away the pain and heartache I am feeling about my mother. I want him to know just how much he means to me, and how thankful I am that he was there for me tonight. Our kissing becomes aggressive and I can tell he’s trying to do the same thing for me. I don’t ever want it to stop. Adam said it perfectly, he makes me feel alive. I have been in the dark for so long and finally I can see light peeking through the clouds, and it’s Adam who is bringing me into it.
    He abruptly stops kissing me and rest his forehead to mine. He still has a firm grip on my hip and a handful of my hair. Our breathing is heavy. It’s the way I breathe after one of my runs. Our foreheads stay touching for a few more moments before one of us finally speaks.
    “Abigail, we need to stop. I’m five seconds away from ripping your clothes off and taking you on this hospital floor, and I won’t care who is watching. I need a minute.” His voice is deep and husky and it just makes me want him more. That one sentence alone is the hottest thing anyone has ever said to me. But it also reminds me of where we are, and I quickly separate myself from him. Thank god we are alone in the waiting room. Honestly, this boy makes me forget everything around me.
    “So if I keep kissing you, I might get to see you go all Hulk-like and rip my clothes off?”
    “Don’t tempt me, Peaches. My Hulk-like tendencies should never be taken lightly.” He winks at me and starts to stand up. He has to readjust his pants and I give him a small knowing smile. I like knowing that I have that effect on him. “I need to use the bathroom, I’ll be right back. I need a cold shower,” he mumbles to himself.
    Once Adam takes off in search of the bathroom, my thoughts immediately drift back to my mother and my anxiety comes back full force. God, it’s pathetic how much I need Adam and his presence. I start to pace the waiting room floor and wondering why we have not heard back from the doctors yet. Oh shit, I forgot to call Jessie and let her know what happened. She’s going to be so pissed I