𝐒𝐭𝐚𝐭𝐞 𝐨𝐟 𝐃𝐞𝐚𝐭𝐡

1

ANTHEA

╚══ஓ๑♡๑ஓ══╝

I was having the best dream ever. I don't even remember all of it, but I know I was happy-somewhere warm, maybe on a beach, with music playing and no worries at all.

Then a loud beeping cut through everything.

At first, I tried to ignore it, hoping it would stop. But it just kept going-louder and more annoying by the second. I groaned and rolled over, slamming my hand onto the alarm clock.

Nothing happened.

I hit it again, harder this time. Still nothing.

Letting out a yell, I smacked it one more time-only to knock the whole thing off my nightstand. It crashed onto the floor with a loud thud followed by a sharp crack. The beeping finally stopped.

I sat up, completely done with this day already, even though it had barely started.

Then came a knock at my door.

I froze.

Who the heck was knocking this early? I got up, picked the broken clock off the floor, set it on my desk, and slowly walked to the door.

"Morning. What was that crash?" Tyson asked, peeking into my room with a mix of curiosity and concern.

"Oh... just my alarm," I mumbled, still half-asleep and not in the mood to talk.

Tyson stepped in and looked down at the broken pieces on the floor. "That's your fourth one, Anthea. I'm not buying another."

"Okay," I said softly, not sure if he even heard me.

While he crouched to check the mess and slowly picking it up, I heard footsteps coming down the hall.

"What's going on in here?" Aiden's voice made me jump.

"Some of us are trying to sleep," he said with a smirk.

"You? Please. You're always up before the sun," I muttered.

"Yeah, but I still like peace and quiet in the morning," he shot back. "Now get moving. You're gonna be late."

"Late for what?" I asked, still trying to wake up.

He laughed. "School, genius. Did you already forget?"

He walked off while I sat there, grumbling.

Tyson let out a quiet sigh.

"Thanks," I muttered, surprised.

He nodded, brushing the last bits into his palm. "Just... try not to smash the next one, okay?"

I gave a half-hearted shrug.

Once the pieces were cleaned up, he left the room, leaving me alone to sit in the silence I'd just destroyed. I stared at the empty spot on my nightstand, then realized I needed to stop spacing out and get ready-unless I wanted to add "tardy slip" to my morning breakdown.

I pulled myself out of bed and headed to the bathroom, blinking at my reflection. My hair was doing its own thing, as usual. I grabbed a brush and did the best I could to tame it, then splashed cold water on my face to shake off the leftover grogginess.

Outfit? Whatever was clean enough and didn't scream "I gave up." I threw on jeans and a hoodie, slid on my sneakers, and stuffed my phone and notebook into my backpack.

By the time I made it downstairs, Tyson was already in the kitchen, calmly chewing his breakfast like he hadn't just watched me go full rage mode minutes ago.