I'm Just Curious Too: Reconciliation

Chapter 12.3

~Shaun~

I woke to the abrupt thud on the floor that echoed in the room. I had left one of the files I took from work on the bed and had moved around enough to kick it off the bed. My stomach growled and I groaned, covering my head with the pillow before I stretched. It was a damn good dream after a while of nightmares and to be woken up at the peak of it made me kind of sour. I turned in my bed to look at my curtains, the dull light of the morning peeking through the lace that boarded the navy blue material. It was five thirty in the morning – as reflected by the digital clock on my bed stand. I had planned on sleeping half the day in and spending the rest catching up on some books, but the devil fools with the best laid plans. A deep breath - turned yawn - got me to wake up fully.

A soft touch on my shoulder made me shudder and I closed my eyes at the feel of fur rubbing against my neck after a few sniffs. My baby, Felias, had come home.

"You've never settled quite well huh? Come here."

I sat up and pulled the white furball in to my arms, stroking her as she purred loudly with eyes closing at the attention. A part of me envied her ways of living. Nothing seemed to phase her and she definitely went her own way no matter where we moved. I heard the doors open and close and could hear the grumbles of my father. My body stiffened at the sound and an audible tut left me.

"How can he be awake so early. He should just keep quiet."

Felias stretched out of my hold and scurried off my bed. My now vacant arms itched for comfort. Well, it wasn't my arms. I pulled the blankets off me and opened the bedside drawer to take out my cigarette box. Ensuring that my steps were light, I opened my window and sat on the sill, opening the box to pull out the lighter that lived in it with a new cigarette. Once lit I took a deep inhale, and slowly exhaled the smoke. It was oddly chilly for the morning so I assumed the season was set to change. I leaned against the window frame and looked outside to the garden that was gloomily  lit by the dull sunlight. 

It reminded me of Fabien. 

His glossy eyes and his hold on me. Thankfully, I didn't make him uncomfortable by trying to get closer to him at work, but I really ended up consumed with worry when I saw how worn he really was. I blew out the smoke quickly and moved in to get my phone from the night stand before returning to my place. A morning text should get his spirits lifted. I opened the messenger app and saw the unread text from him. It came at 4a.m. The hell was he doing awake then?

Fabien: Let me make it up to you then. Why don't we hang out today? Maybe watch a movie at mine? I don't have energy to dress up so I hope it isn't too weird to ask you over...

I paused and looked out the window before looking back at the phone. I thought I was still out of it but I reread the text and confirmed that Fabien was inviting me over. I put the cigarette to my lips and texted my response frantically, my quick proof reading having me delete words numerous times and retype.

Shaun: Not weird at all. Sure! I'll be over with some snacks and questions. I thought we agreed that you would rest? Hopefully you're still sleeping. Will pitch at twelve in the afternoon if you agree. If not, just shoot me a text. 

Ok. That was decent enough. I'm sure I wasn't too keen or pushy.  I took the cigarette out and sighed, blowing the smoke out the window before I extinguished the stub against the outside sill. I leaned out and chucked the stub in to a nearby flower pot, making it a point to clean it out of there by day end so that I wouldn't get caught. My mother would have me skinned me if she knew I was using the flower pot like that. Thankfully she never questioned why I was so helpful with the garden that was by my window. I opened the other windows wide and slinked to my wardrobe in search of the room spray to mask any cigarette odour. From there, I pulled out a pair of grey sweats with a thin brown long sleeved t-shirt to cover my *chicken skin. A quick check for my phone, ear phones and a swift making of the bed was done before I headed to the bathroom to brush my teeth. I tiptoed past the parents' room and grabbed the leash that hung by the door in the kitchen before heading out and locking the sleeping couple in. Since I was up this early, I decided Lupin and I could get some good air in.