The Scarlet Grimoire

Chapter 4

 I wake up to a steady rapping on the front door... the duvet is twisted around my legs and I ceremoniously fall out of bed.

 'Ouch ... dammit.... who the hell?'

I detangle myself from the duvet, trip over the pillow on the floor and hit my shoulder on the doorframe as I walk to the front door. The rapping does not stop and it seems like who-ever is on a mission to wake me, is intent on breaking down the door if I do not open it within the next minute.

'All right, all right .. keep your pants on.. '

  

As I get to the door I realize that I, actually, do not have any pyjama bottoms on, choosing to sleep in my go-to Rasmus t-shirt and underwear - the perks of being single. I open the door, angling my body behind it to hide my legs, making the banging stop instantly. I am greeted with a big smile by my best friend, Al. We met in pre-primary school and have been inseparable since we met. Her big, bright smile and laughing green eyes greet me, and she is holding up a container with something that smells like cuppachino and fresh baked croissants. Her tanned skin is glowing and her brown hair is streaked with sunlight - the epitome of a Morning Person. As an irritatingly happy and chipper early bird, she knows how to console me with an early morning wake-up. Hence the food and caffeine...

  

'Hey you!"

  

'That better be something chocolaty or deep-fried and smothered in chocolate', I say, as I laugh and quickly open the door for her. She strolls past me, totally at ease with my greeting, bright white legs and my messy apartment. I quickly close the door without flashing the college guys that life across the block from me. They tend to be in and out of their apartment early morning too - either from a walk-of-shame after a night of boozy celebrations or an early jog when they are cramming for finals. and need increased blood flow.

  

'Wow, I see you were still sleeping ...' a grin spreading over her face, as she  drops her handbag on the kitchen counter. She hands me a steaming cup of frothy goodness.

  

Our friendship is one of the few constants in my life and I appreciate her no-nonsense attitude to my over-exaggerations of most life-events. We have gone through our school career as best friends and have laughed, cried and shared our successes, lost loves and giggled about our delinquent family issues. She is also the only person that I know that I can be one hundred percent honest with, without the risk of offending or irritating and she is one of the few people that will take me on about my theories or irrational fears.

  

'Can’t believe you are still asleep... it’s already 08h30!' she exclaims as she makes herself comfortable on the couch, moving last nights fleece blanket from where she wants to sit. The cats both run up to her and start purring instantly - they know her so well and I am convinced they actually prefer her to me. If I did not feed them, I am sure they would hide in her car and leave me in a heartbeat.

'Yeah, I had a hot date with two brothers..." I smirk as I take a sip.

'Still enjoying Supernatural, hey?'.. she smirks and hands me a Cinnamon Twist from the bakery around the corner from her house.

  

'Jip. I needed a bit of bubblegum for the brain and a lot of eye candy after the day I had yesterday.' I tell her about the strange wake-up, the cinnamon smell following me through-out the day and the interesting day at work. She casually sips her coffee as she listens to me.