Eadlin woke up slowly, stretching like a cat. After a few lazy push-ups, he stood up and walked over to the mirror, admiring himself like royalty seeing her reflection for the first time.
"Yeah… I look good." he said as he winked at the mirror flexing his muscles.
He grabbed his phone, scrolling through it, expecting a message from his girlfriend but nothing. His facial expression showed he did not care and by no means disappointed.
He sat on the bed… then suddenly froze. Something felt off, like he sat on a plank….he couldn't really define it.
Slowly… he lifted the bed covers with his shaky hands and there she was.
A girl; brown skin, black hair, peacefully asleep like she belonged there. In a pink pyjamas plagued with cats face all over.
He blinked to confirm if he was seeing things or he was still asleep but she was still there, it was so real.
"What the hell…?" he muttered.
He reached out and tapped her instead she turned.
He tapped her again.
She shifted, clearly enjoying her sleep. That was when his confusion turned into anger. He grabbed her arm and dragged her up. For a split second, he remembered what people say….that girls look pretty when they wake up.
"Yeah… they lied." He whispered, then shakes his head disappointedly.
"Heyyyy!" she shouted, her voice rough with sleep.
Her hair was everywhere, completely out of control like it was angry. Her face looked like she had fought her pillow. And apparently, she had no chill.
"Why are you disturbing me?" she snapped at him, pulling her hand away and trying to lie back down.
He stared at her for a while. He was so confused. At that moment, he swung into action, dragged her off the bed with her ankle, then he grabbed her hand, placed her on his shoulders and he walked toward the door.
She struggled… hard but he had the upper hand….
….or at least he thought he did.
"Ow!" he yelled, letting go immediately. "Did you just bite me?!"
She didn't answer instead she ran straight back to the bed like nothing happened while he just stood there, staring in disbelief. He was so shocked. A mystery girl who wouldn't leave his room?
Then suddenly, she got up and walked toward him angrily.
"What did you do to me, you pervert?!" she shouted, slapping him across the face. "You are such a bastard!"
She raised her hand again, but this time, he caught it mid-air.
"What are you doing in my room?" he asked, his voice low.
"I should be asking you that." she shot back. "Why did you bring me here?"
"I didn't bring you here!" he snapped, releasing her hand and then pushing her back a little bit. "I don't even know you. I've never seen you in my life." He said then sat on the edge of the bed.
"Did Fade send you?" he added.
She paused. "Your girlfriend?"
He looked at her sharply. "So she did send you. Listen, go back and tell her nothing happened. Or you won't like what happens next."
Before she could respond, there was a knock at the door.
"Great." Eadlin said.
Without wasting time, he grabbed her and shoved her into the closet.
"Hey! Let me out!" she yelled, banging on the door aggressively.
Quickly, he restrained her, handcuffed her to the edge and then placed a gag in her mouth to keep her quiet and then he shut the door.
"Problem… temporarily handled now she won't escape and he would not have to explain if she got caught." Eadlin thought and smiled happily.
He opened the door to his room.
Ashley; his Aunt walked in like she owned the place.
"I heard you and Fade fought," she said, glancing around.
"Fade is a pain, and it's not my fault and also, stay out of my life." he replied.
"What do you know about women, they need care and also, that doesn't mean you should cheat on her. What was all that noise? And what is that on your neck? Is that hickey?" she pointed.
He touched it instinctively.
"The crazy girl's bite." Richard whispered. "It's not a hickey, I was attacked."
Ashley rolled her eyes "Wow," she said dryly. "I totally believe you."
"Also," she continued, "whether you like it or not, I set you up on a date with Fade. You two are perfect for each other. Give it another shot."
"Ashley"
"And please," she added, heading for the door, "do something about that mark before Fade sees it."
The door shut behind her.
He exhaled slowly….well once he was born into a family like his, he didn't have a say in his life...everyone was in his business.
What a mess. He quickly got ready, minutes later, he was in his car to pick Fade up from her house. She looked… amazing but honestly, he wasn't in the mood to care or give her a compliment.
"So," she said as she got in, crossing her arms. "Where are we going?"
He ignored her question, tightened his grip on the steering wheel. This day was already a disaster and it had only just begun.
However, Gabrielle stuck in a closet with no food, now water, just cloth brushing her face. She sings a nursery rhythm to pass time, After a while, it was like she got tired of it. She tried to recollect how she got there....the previous day, she had a silly teenage daydream… of going to sleep and waking up in her crush's room.
Yeah… well she might want to rethink that but now I guess it is too late because she didn't know how, but she thought hers just came true and trust her, it was not as romantic as it sounded.
"This is insane…" she muttered under her breath. "How did I even get there."
Yesterday was normal. Completely normal.
She was at the university cafeteria, behind the counter like always, trying to survive another long shift. Plates, orders, noise...nothing out of the ordinary.
Then he walked in.
Eadlin.
Phones flew in the air trying to get a picture...no one could get closer to him because he was surrounded by bouncers.
She noticed him immediately… not because she was trying to, but because people like him don't just walk into a room unnoticed. He carried himself like he owned the place, calm, confident, attractive.
And of course…
He was't alone.
His girlfriend, Fade, walked in beside him, looking like she had something to prove to the entire world swinging her hair every minute like it was her destiny.
Gabrielle didn't pay much attention to her at first… until Fade opened her mouth.
"Why will you serve me that? Are you trying to say I am fat" Fade shouted. Eadlin held her hand trying to calm her down. "So you are taking her side now. You too think I am fat "
Rose the girl she shouted at, bowed her head apologizing but little miss Fade was not having it.
"She literally snapped at one of the staff over nothing," she whispered, frowning at the memory. "Like… who does that?"
Fade storms out angrily. At first she thought Eadlin would follow her but instead he paid for his food and went his way with his friends.
Gabrielle kept her head down, pretending not to care but she saw him even if he didn't see her.
"You're staring," Joan's voice rang in her head, pulling her back to that moment.
"This is the first time Eadlin would come in here." Gabrielle replied her rolling her eyes.
Instead, Joana sighed, remembering how she leaned against the counter beside her, arms folded, giving her that look.
"Can you stop dreaming for once?" she said. "Why on earth would a guy like him go for a girl like you?"
"That hurts'"
"I don't mean it in a wrong way, but how are you even going to meet him.?"
"Who knows, I might just sleep and wake up in his room." Gabrielle replied bragging while Joan scoffs.
"You wish."
"Yeah I wish" she replied happily.
So, yeah...she was here now….like she wished…. in his room.
In his closet.
But not in the cute way…...
Handcuffed…..helpless, weak.
"Great. Fantastic. Amazing life choices, Gabrielle." She yelled out and then let out a dry laugh.
She tried to retrace her steps,
" Did I sleepwalk?" She thought.
No… that didn't even make sense, her house was like 7 miles to that place.
She remembered going to bed. Clearly, though she was exhausted, so she didn't even stay up long. She just dropped on her bed and slept, that's it.
Nothing strange.
Nothing—
Although, she could feel something about that felt… wrong.
Her fingers twitched slightly.
"…but what is going on?" she whispered.