Before Time Runs Out

Chapter 8

Ethel awoke to a warm blanket carefully draped over her, a small headache in her temples and forehead as she stirred slightly. She was warmer than usual as she snuggled up against Carmelita, the heating system of the home having already kicked in along with the still-going fireplace. It took her a few seconds to process that she was sleeping on top of Carmelita, her slender arms wrapped around her loosely. She shot up instantly assessing the situation. She was sleeping on top of Carmelita. Today was Christmas. She could barely remember last night after they had danced. She noticed Carmelita's lipstick was smeared across one side of her chin, and Ethel reached up to her face, wiping her chin with the back of her hand and it came off with the same color.

"You know that is a nice color on you," Ethel looking down to see Carmelita staring up at her, her amber eyes studying Ethel's face. "I'll take note to not give you anything with alcohol in it from now on. Of course, I did enjoy talking to you with you lightened up without your usual worries." Carmelita sat up, propping herself up on her elbows as a smile played across her lips as she moved some of Ethel's hair from her face. Ethel's cheeks burned with embarrassment, as she looked away from Carmelita and folded her hands in her lap neatly, upset with herself. Carmelita noticed this quickly, pulling Ethel quickly into a tight embrace.

"People do stupid things when they drink dear, trust me, you've seen me try and do worse," Carmelita chuckled, and Ethel could not help but smile. "I did quite enjoy that kiss from you though."

"Of course, you did your such a big flirt to start with. You did ask me for a kiss before you left last time, which was just to make up for it." Carmelita reached over and grabbed some tissues and a glass of water that had been left on one of the side tables, dipping a tissue into the water and wiping the lipstick off Ethel's face carefully. Carmelita ran her thumb along Ethel's bottom lip, and she could not help but think about the kiss they had shared. Why was she missing the feeling of something so meaningless? She wiped her mouth off and cleaned up the smeared lipstick from her face, dropping the tissues into a nearby wastebasket. Carmelita looked over at the clock, her eyes going wide.

"How on earth is it only four in the morning?" She swung her legs over the sofa and stood up, taking Ethel's hands, and helping her up. "How about we go to an actual bed hm? Get some actual rest?" Ethel nodded, the fatigue from waking up at such an early time already beginning to set in. Carmelita took this as a chance and scooped Ethel up into her arms bridal style, surprising her to the point where she let out a yell. Ethel was going to fight her on this originally but soon became much too sleepy to bother, missing the warmth of an actual bed. The halls seemed to blur as Ethel buried her face in Carmelita's shoulder, still surprised at how such a thin woman was able to pick her up. Before she realized it, they were in Carmelita's bedroom, having traveled up the spiral staircase into her private wing of the house. Carmelita had set her down on the soft canopy bed, pulling a silk winter nightgown from one of the drawers of her armoire. She handed it gently to Ethel, before going and lighting a fire in the fireplace, warming the darkened room with its heat and light. Carmelita sighed, giving Ethel a gentle pat on the head.

"I have to go dear I have some work I need to do. I'll see you in a few hours I promise." She took one of Ethel's hands in hers, planting a kiss on the back of her hand before leaving, giving her a small smile before quietly closing the door. Ethel sat for a few moments, already missing Carmelita's presence as she sighed. She took off the layers of her dress until she was down to nothing, slipping the nightgown on. Carmelita had wiped most of her makeup off already, but Ethel took some tissues off the nightstand and made sure to not ruin the pillowcase by accident. She slipped into the warm layers of the bed; the sheets being made of what she had to guess was pure silk by the feel of them. She stared up at the ceiling of the canopy for an hour, occasionally turning. She was exhausted, and she was comfortable, but could not sleep still. She heard a gentle knock at the door, sitting up quickly and stepping out of the bed, the cold floor connecting with her feet unpleasantly. She slowly opened the door into the darkened hallway and looked over at the side table next to the door. There was a glass of water, along with a small bushel of tall tickseed flowers, their yellow color being fresh as though they had just been picked. She took the glass and the flowers, closing the door and making her way back to bed. She set the flowers on the nightstand, drinking the glass of water. It had a sweet aftertaste which was odd to her, but she set down the glass, snuggling up into the warm covers of the bed. She felt unnaturally heavy, quickly falling into a deep sleep, the sound of the crackling fire dying out in her mind.