I need you, I need you, I need you

chapter 59- dark paradise

December 23rd, 2019
Mrs. Holt's p/v
I hand Erica a candle. "You sure this is a good idea?"
"When have I gotten in trouble with anyone?"
"I can come up with one or two instances."
"There we go! All the candles are in order from shortest to tallest."
"Erica, are you positive this isn't going to actually affect us in a negative way?"
"I'm positive. I read online that these cult stories are not true but work with the right person."
"People lie on the internet all the time. But if it helps you fall asleep then I guess there's no harm in giving it a try."
"They say that the cure for no sleep is by repeating these phrases with 3 candles lit. You ready?"
"Let's go for it."
Erica hands me a sheet of paper. "Read this out loud the same time as me."
"Alright."
"Sleep is no use, but bruised arms are the way to go. Treat us with punishment, sleep is for the weak. We don't need to count sheep, only scratches and whispers will do."
Erica blows out all 8 candles.
"What now?"
"Sleep time! Goodnight Mrs. Holt!"
"That's it? I know you said the chant was reverse psychology but I feel like we're missing."
"I'm an expert. My cat taught me all I needed to know."
"Oh yeah, we're totally screwed. It's too late for this though, goodnight."
"Goodnight!"

Rachel's p/v
"Do you see anyone down there?"
"Only a handful of people. I'm sure they'll respect our privacy."
"But we look more like creeps than anyone who passes by. I'm not complaining though, watching the sunrise with you is worth getting stares."
"If anyone gives you a weird look then I'm jumping out the window and hitting them with a scooter."
I lay my head against Tyler's shoulder. "Noo, stay on this bay window with me.
"What? I'm totally better than that fluff ball." Bowie says in a sleepy voice.
Tyler and I smile at each other.
"Do you think we're talking too loud?" I whisper.
"Nah, Bowie is just dreaming. Besides, we have the curtain closed on us. It's basically soundproof."
"Yeah, soundproof."
Tyler smiles at the window. "The view from here is too good to be true. The sky is almost as beautiful as you."
"And the sun is almost as bright as you."
Tyler holds my hand. "Did you ever expect us to be sitting together, watching the sunrise?"
"When I first met you I dreamt of this, but I would have never imagined that it would come to life."
"Me neither. I'm still mad at myself for not picking you."
"It would have saved us so much time."
"Exactly. But I have you now and that's all I need."
"It's all I need too."
Tyler looks at my lips, at my eyes, and then back at my lips. I smirk at him. We lean forward, our soft breathing brushing on each other's skin. He kisses me on the lips as I cup his face.

"AHHHH!"
I quickly pull the curtain open. Bowie jumps out of bed and runs towards the bathroom. He gags.
"Dude, we were kinda in the middle of something."
I make a face. "What did you eat?"
Bowie throws up. Tyler pulls the curtain closed again.
"Nothing, nothing out of the ordinary."
"Do you need some help?"
"Rachel, he's perfectly fine."
"Can you please get me some water? I don't think I'll be stopping anytime soon."
"Yeah, of course." I pull open the curtain and walk out the room. There's water back in mine because these boys don't know how to hydrate.

Tyler's p/v
I lean against the wall. "Couldn't you have gotten water yourself?"
"This isn't the time for your tantrums. I just woke up feeling very nauseous."
"You could've hold it in."
"Incorrect."
"But where did that even come from? There's no-"
I cover my mouth and sprint to the bathroom. Bowie scoots over and I hover over the toilet.
"You too?"
"Afraid," I gag, "so."

Rachel's p/v
Declan enters the room "What's up, Rach? Can't sleep either?"
"I'm just delivering some water to Bowie. He's not feeling good."
"Only losers get sick on vacation. Kind of surprised his puke noises didn't wake me up."
"Then what woke you up?"
"I was like half asleep when I started to feel my stomach getting upset. I think I'm just hungry."
"Do you mind giving the water to Bowie? I really don't want to enter that room."
"Yeah! Hand it-" Declan runs into the bathroom and pukes into the toilet.
"Not in my room! Not in my room!"
Declan grabs the trash can and runs out the door. I grab my perfume and start spraying the room. Nah this shit isn't nothing I need incense.