His Angel

Chapter 5 - Forever Cold

"Tiana! Tiana, get your lazy ass up," I hear a familiar whisper call in my ear whilst I feel two hands roughly shake my sleeping form awake.

"Ugh, what time is it?" I complain, however, my unappealing morning voice allows these words to be almost illegible, but apparently not to my mother.

"It's six-thirty," she informs me and I huff irritably whilst burying my face into my pillow in a feeble attempt to silence the all too lively parent lurking above.

"If it's that early, why in Gods name are you waking me up! I could've been asleep for another hour or so," my screams are muffled by the fabric below me but my mum appears to not be bothered by my inconsiderate behavior. I am truly the furthest possible thing from a morning person, and I am most definitely not, finding these current events amusing.

"Oh stop whining, you'd have to be up for school shortly anyway. Now, tell me about this gorgeous boy of yours," she prompts as I listen to the childish eagerness lacing her tone.

Confusion grows within me as my mind struggles to comprehend who she is referring to, "what are you talking about?"

"That boy who dropped you home last night, well actually, carried you home," she corrects whilst chuckling to herself as I remain struggling to understand, "I believe he said his name was... Cole?"

This, however, makes my body jolt upwards as my eyes grow as wide as saucers. My mother clutches her chest, surprised by my sudden movements, but I am too astonished to check if she is alright. "What do you mean 'carried me home'?"

"Well, around one in the morning, which was a little later than we had agreed young lady but I will let it slide as I can understand why you would get... distracted," she sends me a sinful wink as my cheeks flush in embarrassment. "So the door bell rings and I curiously go downstairs to see who is bugging me at this Gods forsaken hour, only to find that unholy specimen carrying your lazy ass bridal style."

"What? Oh gosh, I must have dozed off in the uber, I was just so tired... ugh," I huff in despair and throw myself under the duvet before my mother begins her detective work.

"And to think, you've been at the school for what? Two days? And you've already landed that fine piece of eye candy," she states proudly as I shake my head in disbelief.

"Oh my god mum I will literally beg you to never say that again, and you can call off the wedding. Trust me, Cole and I are definitely not together, in fact there is great reason to believe that he despises my entire being," I tiredly groan and can practically feel my mother's eyes roll in response.

"Oh stop being such a drama queen, I highly doubt he hates you. It at least, did not look like that last night; the borrowed clothing you wore indicated something completely different," she presses whilst suggestively wiggling her eyebrows.

"Oh my god. Okay, mum? You know I adore you but please, please stop talking. It is way too early for this right now," I argue in hope of delaying this painful conversation.

"Fine, fine, I'll leave you alone," she hoists her arms up in surrender as she ascends to my bedroom door, "but I expect to hear more about him in the future, missy" she winks before exiting leaving me shaking my head in bewilderment.

****

Taking long, assertive strides and ensuring that I appear poised in character with my head held high. Painting a ray of sunshine over my lips, I smile warmly at the strangers I pass. I notice a scowl form on numerous faces in return and an occasional look of disgust, but the few that politely mirrored my action undoubtedly compensate for them.

After my mother had awoken me far earlier than usual, try as I might, I could not return to peaceful slumber. Subsequently, I decided to put a little more effort in my appearance this morning than I generally might on a typical weekday.