insomnia - hemmings au

Chapter 9.

9.

A U R O R A

I twisted and turned on the bed, not being able to fall asleep even though I was really tired. I tried laying one way and the other but it didn't work. I wrapped the blankets tighter around myself becuase his room was freezing and I had no idea where the temperature control was.

His bed felt overly soft, as if it never wanted you to get off but never wanted you to fall asleep. Some bed. I thought.

I buried my face into the pillow, waiting for either suffocation or sleep, whichever came first. Neither did.

My stomach settled a bit but it still felt pretty ill. It felt like someone was numbly punching it in consistent waves. The ache just made the night seem to last longer.

I forced myself off his bed and into a sitting position. I looked at the time, 1:27 a.m.

I pushed my hair back with my hands and rested my elbows on my knees. His curtains weren't drawn so the moonlight was coming through the window, illuminating his room.

There wasn't a single star in sight but if there were, I bet that would've been the perfect view to just look at them.

Sitting there, I wondered how many nights Luke just sat up in his bed and watched the sky outside. I wondered what he'd think about. I wondered if he questioned things or if he just sat there. I wondered if he'd do it in happiness or otherwise.

I wondered about him.

But the biggest wonder was, what the hell am I doing in his bed at 1:30 a.m.?

I didn't even really know this guy. He could have poisoned my drink on purpose with the secret plan of mudering me and I would have fallen into it, hard.

My thoughts were disturbed by a distinct noise coming from my stomach. I groaned and reached for the water bottle, finding it empty. I groaned even louder and decided to get some more water.

I thought about going to get some from the bathroom sink but I opted not to, just so that I wouldn't upset my already sick stomach.

I quietly jogged down the stairs, careful not to wake up anyone.

I reached the bottom of the steps and saw the kitchen lights were turned on but dimmed slightly. I was walking towards the kitchen when I saw Luke was awake.

He was lying there on the couch with ear buds in, watching something on his phone that was directly raised in front of him. His face was contorted in concentration and his fingers swiped lightly across his chin.

He looks so normal. I thought. Could he really have been the guy plotting my demise through poisoned lemonade? Possibly.

But then I knew that would never happen. Luke couldn't possibly have that in him. It just wasn't him. He was the kind of guy who'd have the whole I'm Really Freaking Cool and Chill mirage just to mask his I Secretly Have No Idea What I'm Doing side.

He was too genuine even when he wasn't.

There was something about him that was hidden. Something in the way he tapped his pen nervously on the desk, or in the way his eyes would dart from one place to another when he was talking to you, or in the way he was all too friendly one time just to have him become a complete dweeb the other time.

Who the hell was Luke Hemmings?

My thoughts were interrupted by his voice.

"Lei, please. Don't make me seem like the bad guy here." He paused for a while. "I know that you want me to be rested but I get restless when I don't see you, don't you get that?" He whined.