DASHIELL
Tuesday Morning
I woke up slowly, stretching under the heavy weighted blanket. My body felt a little sore from sleeping in a new bed, but the cool air from the AC was nice against my skin. My brain was still quiet from last night's sleep, no loud static yet, just the gentle hum of morning thoughts.
I turned my head and looked at the alarm clock on the nightstand. 5:47 AM. Good. We usually left for the hospital around 6:40–6:50. Plenty of time for routine.
Alexander wasn't in bed.
I heard the shower running in the bathroom. The sound was steady and familiar.
I sat up, rubbed my eyes, and picked up my toothbrush and toothpaste (I had brought them last night). I walked into the bathroom, the steam already filling the space.
Alexander was in the large glass shower stall. I brushed my teeth quickly, watching his figure through the glass and a small, shy smile formed on my face.
I finished brushing, rinsed, and made a decision. I wanted to be close to him.
I pulled off my pyjamas, folded them neatly on the counter, and opened the shower door. Hot steam rushed out as I stepped inside.
The water was almost too hot, but it felt good. Alexander's back was to me, wide shoulders tapering to a narrow waist and toned ass. I stepped forward and wrapped my arms around him from behind, pressing my cheek to his back, hands rubbing slowly over his wet chest.
"Good morning," I said, voice still hoarse from sleep.
Alexander stiffened slightly. He turned his head just enough for me to see part of his profile, but he didn't turn fully.
"Morning," he replied, voice flat, almost distant.
I waited. Usually he would turn around immediately, grab me, and kiss me like he was starving. Today he just kept washing himself.
I rocked up onto my toes, trying to reach his mouth for a kiss.
He looked away.
Confusion hit me first, then a sharp, uncomfortable twist in my chest. My fingers started tapping rapidly against his skin. My foot rubbed against the wet tile.
"Alexander?" I asked, voice direct but quieter. "Why did you look away? You always kiss me in the morning."
He didn't answer right away. After a few seconds, he gently but firmly pulled my arms off him and stepped out of the shower, grabbing a towel.
I stood under the hot water, suddenly feeling very cold despite the steam. My brain went loud, fast, overlapping thoughts. Did I do something wrong? Was he upset about my family being here? Did I talk too much yesterday?
I finished showering quickly, almost mechanically, washing in record time. I stepped out, dried myself fast, and wrapped the towel around my waist.
Alexander was already in the bedroom, pulling on his clothes. His expression was blank, the usual cold mask but it felt different today, more closed off.
I walked over to him, still damp, and touched his arm.
"What's the problem?" I asked, looking up at his face. "You didn't kiss me. You pulled away. That's not normal for you. Did I do something wrong? Is it because my family is here?"
I waited, fingers tapping rapidly against his sleeve, foot rubbing against the floor.
Alexander stared down at me for a long, heavy second. His expression was completely empty.
"You want me to kiss you?" he asked, voice flat.
Before I could answer, he suddenly grabbed the back of my head with one large hand and crashed his mouth against mine.
It wasn't a kiss.
It was violent, all teeth and force. He bit my lip hard, tongue shoving into my mouth like he wanted to devour me. I tasted blood instantly, metallic and sharp.
I pushed at his chest, panic spiking.
"Alexander stop.." I tried to say against his mouth, but he only kissed me harder, deeper, slamming me back against the wall. My head hit the hard surface with a dull thud and pain bloomed through my skull.
I couldn't breathe. His body pinned me completely, his hand gripping my hair so tightly it hurt. My fingers tapped frantically against his chest, then pushed harder, but he was too strong. Dizziness rushed in and my lungs burned.
Tears stung my eyes. Real fear flooded me, cold and sharp.
I bit his lip as hard as I could, drawing blood. The metallic taste mixed with mine. He groaned into my mouth and kept kissing me, pushing the blood between us like he didn't care.
Panic took over completely. I used every bit of strength I had and shoved him with both hands and all my body weight.
Alexander staggered back a step.
I wiped my mouth with the back of my hand. Blood smeared across my skin. My lip was split, throbbing. My head hurt where it had hit the wall and I was shaking.
Alexander stood there, breathing steady, face completely emotionless. His black eyes were empty, no guilt, no regret, no warmth. Just cold, dark voids.
He wiped the blood from his own lip with his thumb and looked at it almost curiously.
"Are you scared of me now?" he asked, voice flat and detached.
I stared at him, chest heaving, tears slipping down my cheeks. My fingers wouldn't stop tapping against my thighs. My foot rubbed frantically against the floor.
"Yes," I whispered, voice hoarse and honest. "I'm scared."
I turned and rushed out of the room, heart pounding so hard it hurt, blood still dripping from my lip.
I walked into my old room, closing the door as quietly as I could. Selene was still asleep on the bed, curled up under the covers. I leaned against the door, breathing fast, fingers tapping rapidly against my thighs.
I didn't understand what just happened.
Alexander had never kissed me like that before not with that much violence. My head still hurt where it hit the wall. I felt dizzy and scared and confused all at once. My brain was screaming.
I forced myself to move. I couldn't stay frozen. Routine. I needed routine.
I changed quickly into hospital-appropriate clothes: a soft blue button-up, dark trousers, and comfortable shoes and my hands were shaking the whole time.
It was already 7:00 AM when I stepped out of the room. Way later than usual. We should have left for the hospital by now.
I went downstairs on the balls of my toes.
My parents were in the living room talking with Alexander. He was sitting calmly, sipping coffee, looking completely normal. My mom and dad were laughing at something he said.
Mom noticed me first.
"Good morning, honey," she said warmly, then her eyes widened. "What happened to your lip?"
Dad chuckled, glancing between me and Alexander. "Charlotte, they both have split lips. Let the kids be. They clearly got a little… frisky last night."
Mom blushed and lightly swatted Dad's arm, both of them chuckling.
I stood there, face burning, fingers tapping rapidly against my thigh. I didn't know what to say. I just sat down quietly at the edge of the couch.
Alexander said nothing. He just sipped his coffee, expression blank.
Selene came down the stairs a few minutes later, yawning.
"Good morning everyone!" she said brightly.
I felt overwhelmed. The routine was completely broken and then it was almost 8 AM and we were still home. Alexander hadn't said anything about leaving.
Mom looked at us. "Aren't you both supposed to be at the hospital?"
Alexander set his cup down calmly.
"We'll go soon," he said. "I'm waiting for a package for Dashiell."
I looked at him in shock.
"What package?" I asked directly.
He didn't answer. Just looked at me with those dark eyes.
A few minutes later, the doorbell rang. Alexander stood up with a small, satisfied smile and answered it. He came back carrying a large, neatly wrapped box and placed it on the coffee table in front of me.
Selene leaned forward excitedly. "Ooh, what could it be?"
Alexander looked straight at me.
"It's for you," he said. "I noticed you wanted it. Open it."
All eyes were on me.
I sat rooted to the spot for a second, heart pounding. Then I leaned forward, tore the tape with shaky fingers, and opened the box.
I stared at the contents in complete shock, then slowly looked up at Alexander.
He was watching me intently, black eyes unreadable, waiting for my reaction.