Stars' Song: Clef

Chapter 17 : Fire

17-1

Warm.

My consciousness returned, yet I was unaware of anything. From the bottom-up, my body was warm—it was likely due to the blanket on top of me. The once snug warmth turned into a slightly irritating humidity.

I shifted around, resulting in my arm falling off the bed. I hauled my physique to the opposite side of the edge to avoid plummeting down, but something was in the way. Considering the limited space, I discovered what I was lying on was a mere couch.

Whenever I moved, the moistness of my back became apparent. Finding this undesirable, I pushed my body to a sitting position, causing a cloth to fall on my lap. My eyelids blinked on their own as I stared at the fabric, which fell from my forehead. A dull ache persisted in my temples, but even so, I was able to tell I wasn't in my own abode.

The only light source in the room caught my attention: the opened refrigerator. It was angled to conveniently hide whoever was looking inside. The clinking of bottles and the rustling of plastic wrappers noised as the items inside the fridge were tampered with.

Out came the perpetrator as the door closed with a thump. They were holding a package of cookies and a jug of water. The soothing and silvery yawn was no doubt from Chloe. Amid her tiptoeing away from the kitchen, our eyes clashed.

"Wah!" She shrieked.

For a whole three seconds, we stared at one another. She let out a deep exhale, losing the staring contest. "What the hell?! Don't scare me! Why are ya just sittin' like that?!" The eerie silence multiplied the loudness of her voice.

She had her hair sticking out all over the place. Despite how dark it was, her white pajama top was seeable. I expected its partner to be white, but her top was paired with Christmas-themed pajama pants, patterned in red and sky-blue. Before I could gawp at her any further, I closed my eyes and thought: How long was I asleep? Is it December already?

"Sorry... I was still wondering where I am..."

"Well, you slept like a log at the bench. I asked pa to help me plop ya in here, since there's no way we're carryin' ya all the way back to yours."

"W-what...? Seriously...?"

Reassured, the scent of lavender hit my nose—a common signifier of the Villaester household. It also became clear to me how today is not Christmas. Finding myself inside Chloe's home, I mused on the last time I came over. 

Every time I glanced at Chloe, my vision went down to her legs, which was troubling. "Do I have a fever or something?" I nudged the cloth resting on my thighs.

"Depends. How are ya feelin'?"

"Bad."

"Then yeah."

"Ah."

"Here. Let me dampen that up." Chloe set the provisions she held onto the kitchen counter and approached me. She reached her open hand out to me, and appropriately, I put the dry cloth onto her palm.

"Thanks..."

A third of the room was brightened up after Chloe hit a switch on the wall. She stood in the kitchen underneath a lit lightbulb.

"Hmph." She pouted as a response to my gratitude. Water ran for a split second as she lingered in front of the sink. "You really should be thankful I just woke up. If not, ya wouldn't've heard the end of it."

"Y-yeah. What time is it...?"

"Twelve midnight. I was studyin', but I fell asleep."

"Right..." Feeling my skull get heavier, I laid it on the couch's backrest.