Chapter 4
Kissing a Christmas Spirit (Part 4)
Charmaine's POV
When my eyes fluttered open, i found myself back at the hotel. My head was foggy and heavy. I felt like just sleeping forever. I blinked my eyes clear hoping to clear my head. "Jules! Ray! She's awake!" i heard the familiar voice of Michelle call out. I felt a flurry of movement and soon two other water images joined Michelle.
My throat was dry and parched. "Water.." i whispered hoarsely. Michelle whose hearing was superb due to her special given gifts needed to pitch her tones in Music scurried to the kitchen to grab a glass of water. As the images around me started to solidify, i recognised Julian and Raymond gazing concernly at me. I struggled to sit up but gasped as pain surged through my body.
"Don't move don't move" Julian cooed into my ear and he put his strong arms around me and gently lifted me into a sitting position with a pillow supporting my back. Raymond stared at Julian with his jaw opened. "Jules...did u.. just...." he trailed off not sure of what to say. "What?" Julian asked annoyment laced through his voice and his face flushing. I smiled to myself. Michelle returned soon with water and i gulped it down quickly. "Slow down don't choke." Julian cautioned in a soft voice and once again Raymond's mouth dropped open. Julian used a single finger to push it back up. I couldn;t help myself and let out a giggle but immediately regretted it when i winced in sharp pain.
All three of them reached towards me but i shook my head, "I'm fine." i assured them. But their worried gazes never left me. I glanced at Michelle. I needed that pill. The pain was intolerable. The slightest movement sent me flinching in pain. Michelle bit her lip. Something was wrong. Very very wrong. "What time is it?" i asked through the hoarse dry voice. "Close to 7.00 p.m." replied Raymond. "You guys better head home." i advised. "No i'm staying." Julian stated, his voice held much determination. "Me too." Raymond seconded with much conviction.
I raised an eyebrow. "Stay?? Where?" i asked in a teasing tone. The two men blushed. "We could sleep on the floor." Julian volunteered. "What???!!" Raymond protested loudly. But when he caught Julian's death glare he quickly changed his mind. "I mean.. Of course! Of course we could!" I glanced at Michelle. "I don't mind." she said softly. "I don't mind either." i announced. "Ok well both of us will go get our stuff and we'll be back soon." Both guys jumped to their feet and scrambled for the door.
As soon as the door closed i turned to gaze at Michelle with sharp piercing eyes. Michelle squirmed uncomfortably under my gaze. "Ok what's going on? Have you given me a tablet?" i asked tryign to sound as tough as i could. "Umm.. i.." Michelle looked everywhere else except at me. "Look at me Michelle and tell me!" i commanded. Deep within me i was so frightened. There were so many possibilities. In fact although i was a spirit and from the Heavenly Realm i was not immortal. I still could die.
Michelle finally plucked up the courage to meet my gaze and i saw within her eyes held tears. "I've given you a tablet but your reading still isn't good." She flashed me a red meter. The level was below 50. In fact it was close to 32. The meter was a level of my body functions. It was given to us before we left earth to monitor my body. I was close to my death. I felt my head roll back. Tears welled up in my eyes. Was this it? I've never even had a boyfriend. Not even a kiss and i was going to die? "Why?" i whispered as a single tear streamed down my pale cheeks. Michelle herself was a mess of tears.
When i finally regained composure, i asked, "What do Julian and Raymond think it is?" "Leukimia." she whispered. "So do they know i'm going to die?" I asked again. "Yes they know it's fatal." she answered barely above a whisper. I nodded and took a deep breath. "I want to sleep michy." i told her. I felt so tired. My head was so heavy. In fact my whole body felt so heavy. "No Charm.. please don't sleep. I'm afraid that if you sleep you'll never wake up." she knelt beside me and grasped my hand tightly. The tears overflowed from her eyes and flowed continually. I tried so hard to swallow that lump in my throat but i just couldn't.
I felt the tears staining my cheeks. I wanted to live. I wanted so much to live. I wanted to share the joy of living with Michelle, with Raymond and last of all with Julian. I gazed skyward as the tears continued to flow. "I promise you Michelle. I won't leave without saying good-bye." i promised through a shaky voice. "You promise?" Michelle asked as her voice went a bit high-pitched due to the overwhelming emotion. I nodded slowly trying to prevent pain from happening. Michelle then wiped her tears away and helped lie me back down to sleep.
I closed my heavy eyelids. I just wanted to sleep... to sleep forever....
Michelle's POV
I tucked Charmaine in. She looked so frail and tired. So different from how she used to be. She was such a strong girl. Always ready to defend both herself and anyone else in need. Now... now she was just a tired spirit who needed rest. There was a knock at the door.
It must be the boys. I dried my tears quickly and headed for the door. As the door swung open, Julian glanced at her still form lying on the bed and turned back to me. "How is she?" he asked concern laced through his voice. "Sleeping" i stated and slowly closed the door behind them. "ok." he said in a low voice. The guys pulled out their sleeping bags and lay it on the floor. ray had his next to my bed and Jules had his next to Charmaine. the guy really loved Charmaine for all she was worth. Although they'd just met but the two had seemed to form a special bond. I sighed. I felt the lump creeping back into my throat. I blinked trying very hard to clear the tears from my eyes but it didn't help.
"Excuse me." i whispered through a cracked voice and raced for the backroom. Once i was alone, i let the tears flow. The flowed down my cheeks continuously and i could do nothing to stop them. I wanted so much to stop crying. Charmaine never did like to see me so sad. She always said i looked prettier when i smiled and had a good time. But nothing could cheer me up right now. Then i opened my mouth to sing.
"Grew Up in Small Town,
And when the Rain would fall down,
I'd just stare out my window,
Dreaming of what could be
and if i'd end up happy.
I would pray
Trying hard to reach out
But when i tried to speak out,
Felt like no one could hear me
Wanted to belong here, but something felt so wrong here.
So I'd pray
I could Breakaway.
I'll spread my wings and i'll learn how to fly
I'll do what it takes til i touch the sky
I'll Make a wish take a chance,
make a change and break away
Out of the darkness and into the sun
I won't forget all ones that i love
Take a risk, take a chance
make a change and Breakaway
Wanna feel the warm breeze,
Sleep under a palm tree,
Feel the rush of the Ocean
Get on board a fast train
Travel on a jet plane
Faraway and Breakaway
I'll spread my wings and i'll learn how to fly
I'll do what it takes til i touch the sky
I'll make a wish and take a chance,
Make a change and breakaway
Out of the darkness and into the sun
I won't forget all the ones that i love
Take a risk take a chance
make a change and breakaway
Buildings with a 100 floors
Swinging round revolving doors
Maybe i don't know where they'll take me
But i gotta keep moving on moving.
Fly away.. Breakaway."
I ended the song sooner than expected because i felt the sobs coming up again. Breakaway, by Kelly Clarkson. That was Charm's favourite song because it described her true feelings. She always liked to be an individualist and be different.
"That was beautiful." i heard a deep low voice compliment. I spun around. It was Raymond. I didn't realise he was there. I had been singing the song with my eyes closed remember what Charmaine and i used to do. I swept my tears away. "Thank you." i managed to whisper. "You have a beautiful voice Michelle. As beautiful as you are." i continued in that deep low alluring voice. I glanced up, startled. "Michelle i know this isn't the best time. But i want you to know that i relaly really like you. And.. and although i'm quite a playboy but i really do like you. I'm serious about you." he finished off by gazing deeply into my eyes with so much emotion filtering through them.
"I really like you too." i whispered. Delight was obvious in his expression as he pulled me into a swift hug. "You know if u sang christmas carols the christmas spirit would be so high." he grinned happily. The Christmas Spirit would be so high.... sing... would that save Charmaine? It was a risk i had to take. "Let's go carolling." and i dragged the surprised Raymond out of the door into the streets.