While you were Sleeping

7. This is Heaven

'BEEP BEEP, BEEP BEEP, BEEP BEEP.'

The alarm on Valentina's nightstand began to blare. She reached out blindly trying to find the snooze button without opening her eyes. After successfully finding it, she rolled on to her back yawning loudly while running her hands through her hair as she slowly opened her eyes, blinking heavily as she looked at the ceiling.

Her first thought was of work and what fresh hell would await her today. She remembered Guille banging on her door yesterday morning and smiled, until the memories of yesterday came back to her. "Guille!" She sat up in bed her mind racing through the events of the day before. She turned to look at the clock, it was eight thirty-three. She sighed and lay back on the bed, her fingers coming up to rub her eyes as another yawn assailed her.

Her mind drifted to her time at the hospital, with Juliana, she thought about her warm brown eyes which had seemed so familiar, her beautiful smile and infectious laugh. Juliana was a fascinating woman, and so far, Valentina liked everything about her. Was it strange to think of her like that? She had only just met her and she was Guille's girlfriend after all. Nope, she was not going to start delving into her strange thoughts, she needed to get up. She looked again at the clock, eight thirty-five. She threw off the bedsheet and sat on the edge of her bed rubbing her eyes.

She had set her alarm for eight thirty hoping this would give her enough time to shower, dress, eat and make it to Juliana's for ten o'clock. Realising she should have paid better attention when they dropped her home last night, she quickly typed a quick message to Juliana, asking for her address. The GPS would get her there.

* * * * *

Juliana woke when her phone beeped with an incoming text. She rolled over to lift her phone from the floor, pulling out the wire before rolling onto her back. She yawned as she looked at the message. Val? It took a few seconds to remember the events of the previous day, her eyes widened and heart rate accelerated as she read the text.

Val: Morning Juls. I'm just awake and realised I don't have your address. Can you please send me your location for the GPS?

It wasn't a dream! Yesterday actually happened. Juliana closed her eyes again as she thought about the robbery, the awful noise as Guille's head hit the floor, the hospital, those piercing blue eyes, the announcement! "UGH!" She brought the back of her hand up to rest over her eyes. "The madness continues," she muttered. She had already agreed to go out with Valentina today, there was no backing out now.

Juls: Hola Val. Yes, no problem. I'll send you a drop pin, which should be easier. You can call me if you have any issues finding your way here.

She stared at her phone waiting for the tick to go blue, which didn't happen. She glanced at the time, she had over an hour to get ready. What should she wear? Were jeans and trainers okay for their day out? They were going sightseeing, surely it was safer to be comfortable. Should she text and ask? God! Why was this so difficult?!

* * * * *

Valentina returned from her shower to two messages from Juliana, she smiled as she opened the first then quickly saved the second to the GPS on her phone, which told her it would take around twenty minutes to get there, depending on traffic.

Val: Thanks. Make sure you wear comfortable shoes, there will be a lot of walking on your tour today!

Juls: Okay, so why do I need a chauffeur?

Val: 🤔 Well... other than having a point to prove... we need to get there! And it'll be easier to get to the hospital afterwards. See you at ten. Hopefully! x