Dare Kings

Chapter 16: What in the-

Alyssa's POV

I pulled the comforter off me with a dramatic sigh, swinging my legs over the side of the bed.

I hate mornings.

Especially when they come with that annoying, groggy feeling like the universe was warning me I was about to get sick.

Ugh. I hate being sick.

I shoved my feet into my slippers, dragging myself upright, and shuffled toward my bedroom door with a yawn that could've rivaled a lion's roar.

I need more sleep.

This whole waking-up thing? Definitely unhealthy.

Still grumbling, I made my way down the hall and nudged open Chloe's door.

As expected, there she was completely out cold, snoring softly into her pillow like a deadweight.

I smirked, feeling oddly accomplished. Getting both Ashley and Chloe to bed last night had been no easy feat, but somehow, I'd managed.

How did I pull that off, you ask?

Man's work.

Just kidding.

But anyway, flashback.

"Stay on your feet, okay?" I told Ashley, half-carrying her towards her car. Since I was the only sober one and apparently the responsible adult, I'd be driving tonight.

I was so proud of myself.

"Are we going to see Santa?" Ashley asked, her voice thick with drunken rasp.

"No, sweetheart, that's for Christmas. And even then, it's just a fake Santa because, well, the real one isn't-"

"HE'S NOT REAL??!" She screeched, eyes wide in horror.

Oh lord.

"Wait, no, no, no he was real! He just...uh... died!" I scrambled, hoping that would calm her down.

Her jaw dropped in disbelief. "Santa's dead?! Who...who killed him?!"

Why did I say that?!

Before I could course-correct, Ashley decided she was done with this whole walking business and dropped to the ground, right onto a patch of gravel.

"Scientists go to space, you know," she said dreamily, staring up at the night sky with wide, glassy eyes.

Why did this have to be my night?

"No, honey," I sighed. "Scientists do research. Astronauts go to space."

Ashley turned to me with the solemnity of someone uncovering the mysteries of the universe. "So... they visit the sun?"

I pinched the bridge of my nose. "No, because it's too hot. They'd die."

She blinked, as if this was groundbreaking information. "But... they could go at night, right?"

Oh. My. God.

"Ashley," I groaned, barely holding it together.

She smiled lazily, then suddenly stopped. "Hey... who are you yelling at?"

"What?" I asked, confused.

She leaned in, her expression turning conspiratorial. "Don't you see them?" She whispered.

"See who? And why are we whispering?"

Her hand latched onto my shoulder, yanking me closer. "The birdies," she whispered urgently. "They hate loud voices. We have to shhh..." She pressed her finger against my lips, dragging it awkwardly back and forth. "Shh-shh-sh..."