Her Freezing Heart

Aaron's behavior has become a little distant since I came back. It's killing me from the inside that my best friend is getting aloof from me but I just want him to be happy. Today Aaron is going to a frat party with some of his friends as it is Saturday today. I felt bad that he didn't want me to come with him but I can understand where he is coming from. I started all this.

So far I haven't had any problems with the rejection thing and I am glad for that. I feel occasional pains but not that intense like before. They feel like a pinch. Cassidy said that it means that I am healing perfectly. I will be free from this sooner than she expected and I might be able to shift early. The thought of seeing papa free always brings a smile to my face. I don't know if he will have his memories or not but he won't be trapped in my body anymore.

Aaron and I just finished our shift at the café and we are walking back to our apartment in complete silence. I can see Aaron fidgeting but I didn't comment on it. I know what he is going to ask. We reached our apartment and he went to wash up. He came back and sat before me to dry his hair after handing me the towel. I am glad that never changed. I started drying his hair.

"Are you going to tell me?" he asked making my hands stop mid wiping his hair.

"No." I answered simply and resumed what I was doing.

"Are you alright Amy?"

"I am now." he seemed satisfied with my answer.

He got up and fidgeted with his fingers again looking at his feet. He nodded his head like coming to a decision.

"Are you dying?" he asked biting his lip.

"Not anymore." I told him smiling.

He gasped. He deserves to know that much.

"You should get ready. Your friends will be here any moment." I told him.

He nodded and went to our bedroom to get changed. I made my way to the bathroom to take a quick shower. I walked out in a bath robe to find him sitting on the sofa, tapping his foot nervously. "Why are you so riled up Aaron?" I asked sitting in front of him.

"I... I am happy that you are alright. I don't hate you or anything. It's just I feel betrayed that you don't tell me anything anymore. Why?" He asked conflicted.

"Aaron I love you. You are my best friend. I am not telling you this because I don't want to drag you in my misery. Besides I am getting better now so there's no point thinking about old things. I want you to be happy. It's not that I don't trust you or anything. It's just that I don't want to drag you in my mess. You deserve to be happy and I am happy for you. Whatever that was going on is pretty much taken care of. So forget about it and go enjoy yourself." I told him smiling at him encouragingly.

"Okay." He said smiling widely.

"If you get too drunk, call me. I will come pick you up."

"I am staying at a friends dorm for the night. I will be back in the morning."

"Okay but eat something before you go or you will get an upset stomach." "Yes mom." He teased.

I laughed with him after a very long time. The door bell rang downstairs and he dashed outside after giving me a bone crushing hug. I locked the door after him and made myself some dinner after putting on my pjs. After eating I went to bed.

I was woken up with a burning sensation all over my body. It felt like someone has set my whole body on fire. I glanced at the clock on the wall to find it's two in the morning. I climbed down my bunk bed, almost falling flat on my face. The burning was getting worse. What is happening to me? I should find Cassidy. I walked in the living room with shaky legs and wincing from the burning. It was getting harder to stop myself from screaming. I opened the door and stepped outside breathing heavily. I can't make it downstairs. Should I ask Steven for help? I didn't get the time to think as the pain intensified making me release a silent scream. My mark was burning intensely. I banged on his door with as much strength as I can muster. After some time he opened the door. He took one look at me and pulled me inside. "I will go get Cassidy." Steven said after settling me on the couch and ran out the door.

The pain was intensifying to near in comparison. It felt like someone has tossed me in a furnace. The mate mark started to hurt like hell. I made my way to the bathroom and started the cold water tap in the bathtub. I slipped shakily in the shower till the bath tub filled. My skin looked red already from the heat. As soon as the bath tub was full, I dunk myself in it. It felt a little better but that did not help any longer. Steven came running inside the bathroom with Cassidy on his tail. He pulled me out of the water and wrapped me in a towel. My clothes were dripping with water but I still felt the burning. My legs gave out under me but Steven held me up. I bit my lip from trying to stop myself from screaming. It hurts. My body hurts. I thought I wouldn't have to go through this again but here I am glowing red like a blow torch. "Her mate marked someone else." Cassidy said as Steven laid me down on his bed. "The mark on her neck must be the cause of this."

"But you said it was over." Steven shouted angrily. "You said she won't have to go through this again."

"I didn't think about her being marked before. Austin nor you marked your mate. It totally slipped my mind. The venom will probably burn out of her."

I am scared. What does she mean by burn out of me? Even the bed spread felt like it was burning under me.

"What does that even mean?" Steven asked terrified.

"The venom that seeped into her when he marked her will burn out of her. Look at her. Her skin is all red." Cassidy said irritated.

For the first time Cassidy looked defeated.

"How...." Steven started but cut of by a very blood curling scream.

The scream left my mouth before I could even think what I was doing. My mark felt like someone out a smoldering iron on it. Everything was getting blurred. I was passing out and coming back in because of the pain.

"MAKE IT STOP." I shouted again and again clawing at the bed spread.

My neck felt like it was set blaze.☐☐☐☐☐☐☐☐☐☐☐☐☐☐