The 4th Subject

Chapter 15: Finding the Mountaineer

The next morning, I actually didn't wake up at 3, nor did I wake up screaming and sweating. I woke up rested and content. I woke up ready for the day. I woke up to Woods roughly shaking me and whining like a toddler.

"Sarah, wake up!" He whined, pulling the blanket off of me.

"Woods," I groaned, rolling to the other side, "you're almost as annoying as my brothers!"

"I'd like to get to work on time."

I sat up slowly. "What time is it?"

Woods scooped up his phone and very dramatically read his screen. "It's 7:05 am, December 3rd, 2020."

I groaned again, flopping back down. "This is the best sleep I've had in months! 5 more minutes!"

Woods began to drag me from the bed. "If you get up now, I'll get you Starbucks."

I shot up so quick, my momentum sent me from the bed to the floor. "Starbucks sounds great! I'll be ready in 20 minutes!"

Woods pulled me to my feet and I grabbed my bag. I went to the bathroom and changed in a matter of seconds. I did very light makeup and quickly completed two decent braids. I carefully shoved my makeup and pj's into my bag and dashed out of the bathroom. Thankfully, my clothes allowed me to run and move without tripping or ramming into walls.

I was wearing black jeans and a rusty orange tee from a church camp. Over it, I was wearing a light blue hoodie. I dumped my bag onto Woods' bed and slid down to my black tennis shoes. I popped them on as Woods stared at me.

"What?"

"You said 20 minutes, it's been, like, 7."

"You complaining?" I questioned, finishing tying my shoe and jumping to my feet.

"No," he said with a chuckle. He grabbed my bag from last night and my emergency bag as I snatched my smaller backpack from the floor. We went outside and climbed into Woods' car, tossing my bigger bags into the back.

"Let's go!" I cried, wiggling with excitement. I don't know why I was so happy to go to Starbucks. I just woke up in such a good mood. 

We got our Starbucks and arrived at the studio. I had just finished my food and almost finished my drink.

"Oh, Woods," I said, "can you... not tell anyone about what happened last night? Ya know, the whole... pacing and screaming stuff?"

"Why?" Woods asked as he finished his food. "Shouldn't we tell them about it? Ya know, so they know?"

I sighed. "If everyone knows about every time I do something like that, no one will want me doing anything cause they'll worry about me having an anxiety attack or something."

"I don't think that's gonna happen."

"Please?" I begged. I didn't want everyone to know.

Woods sighed. "Ok, I won't... yet."

"Woods!"

"Ok, ok!" He exclaimed as he opened the car door and climbed out. I did the same and grabbed my bags from the backseat.

We stepped into the studio and I tossed my stuff into Megadesk. I'd deal with that later.

Matt came out of the armory and motioned us in so we could start recording.

"How did you guys sleep?" He asked.

I shot Woods a look, screaming at him to not tell.

"Decent," Woods replied, looking back at me.