Insomniacs (#1)

16. know

"Hi, gorgeous." He crouches down in front of me. His hair's brown and looks quite fluffy, like Flynn Rider's.

"Hello." I respond with a smile, moving around him because mum said not to talk to strangers. Its quite crowded but I expected it to be; April has a lot of friends at school.

Her present's in my hand. I got her a bracelet with a strawberry charm because everyone knows April loves her strawberries.

I put it in a strawberry gift bag too. I'm excited to show her it but knowing her, she'll love the gift bag and wrapping more than the present itself. She's weird like that.

"Excuse me." I smile again politely but the big man doesn't move. He grabs my arm, a little tightly but its okay because I'm sure he doesn't mean for it to hurt.

"You're absolutely beautiful. Anyone ever told you that?" He smiles, showing off his silver tooth. It looks cool and I wonder if it hurt getting it. I don't know this man but anyhow, I don't like thinking of him being hurt. Of anyone being hurt.

"Thank you. That's nice of you. I need to find April." I move again but he squeezes my arm. What he does scares me but he has such a kind face. He smiles at me so nicely.

"Ah, April. My little girl, Emmaline and her have math together. I can show you where April is. I think the birthday girl's getting ready, want me to take you to her?" He rubs my arm gently and I smile with a nod, excited to see April.

She's gonna look beautiful in her purple dress. Her mum said she was gonna braid her blonde hair and put flowers in it, like Rapunzel's, to fit the theme of the party.

He holds my hand, which I find weird. But its okay because he seems like a nice man and it'd be rude of me to tell him I find it weird.

We squeeze our way past people when walking up the stairs. I get excited butterflies in my stomach April and her mum did such a great job at decorating.

We reach upstairs and I lead the way to April's room. Her door has a big sign with her name on it, its pretty obvious but the big man doesn't seem to notice. He pulls me back and almost makes me trip.

He leads me into another room. I try to stop him but he's pretty tall. I don't blame him for not hearing me when I'm all the way down here, I think, laughing to myself at our height difference. I look like a little elf compared to how he looks like a big giant.

"Excuse me, sir. I'm sure you didn't mean to but April's room is at the other end of the hall." I smile but his face is serious.

He ignores me though, which makes me a teeny bit angry. I don't think I did anything wrong.

He walks over to the bed and sits down on the edge. I stay where I am, shifting on my feet because its quiet and silence is awkward.

"I think I'm going to go-"

"Come over here, gorgeous." He pats the bed next to him, his tone so kind and soft.

"But April'll be waiting." I whine, throwing my hands up.

"Come over here."

I flinch at how angry and loud he sounds. Now, I'm scared. Now, I really want to leave and find mum but I'm scared if I don't do what he says, he'll shout again.