Hard Rock and Heartache

A Visitor

     Things had fallen almost too quiet, aside from the soft breathing at my side, and when I opened my eyes, I experienced that sensation when you wake up in the wrong place and for a moment, you forget where you are. I sat up startled, Eddie's arm sliding off of me while he rolled over onto his back, sleeping peacefully still. And as I took in the room, the hell fire shirt I was wearing, all of the memories slowly came back to me, and I was flustered with a mixture of emotions.

     "Shit..." I whispered when I realized I had fallen asleep and now I had no idea what time it was. My mom was going to be so worried.

     Looking toward the side table, I picked up his clock to see it was just past nine o'clock and when I recalled the event of the day, I realized I had shown up here without any way of getting home on my own. Setting the clock back down, I turned toward the male at my side, admiring how cute he looked in his sleep before trying to wake him. "Eddie..." I whispered, giving him a soft shake but he merely grumbled and rolled away from me.

     "Really?" Instantly, my face fell into a frown, wondering how I was going to get home when another option clicked in my mind, pushing me off the bed so I could venture into the kitchen, searching the wall for the phone. "Ah..." I said quietly once my eyes landed on it, my bare feet patting on the tile floor as I walked up and grabbed the phone off the receiver, putting it against my ear and dialing the Wheeler's number.

     "Hello?" Came a confused Mrs. Wheeler on the other line.

     "Hey, Mrs. Wheeler. Is Nancy there?" I asked, bouncing on my toes impatiently, hoping Mrs. Wheeler wouldn't ask too many questions.

     "Is everything alright, Charlotte? It's quite late..."

     "Yes, yeah. Everything's good. I just have some questions about a test next week," I lied.

     "Alright... Just a moment," The line went silent, and I sat there waiting, looking back down the hallway where Eddie slept in the other room, hoping to hear Nancy's voice.

     "Hello?" Her tone suggested I had interrupted something.

     "Nancy! I need a favor..." I whispered the second half, pulling the phone a bit closer to my mouth while Nancy and I discussed the minor details of today's events and how I was now stuck at Eddie's house and needed a ride.

     "Please Nance, do me a solid," I begged, and I heard her sigh on the other side. "I'll do your homework for a week!"

     Nancy scoffed, and my face contorted, offended by her reaction. "I'd rather you didn't do my homework, but... fine. I'm on my way." The phone clicked and fell silent and despite her attitude, I had secured a ride home.

     Hanging up the phone, I explored the trailer a bit to find the dryer that held my clothes in one of the hall closets. Quietly, I retrieved my underwear and jeans, putting them on and slipping my red button-up over top of the Hellfire shirt. I couldn't help the little mischievous smile I wore at the thought of slipping away with his shirt, but it made me giddy, and the idea of irritating Eddie sent a flutter into my heart.

     Once I was situated, I went and waited in Eddie's room, sitting on the floor while mindlessly flipping through one of the books I had found under the side table. It was titled The Hobbit and while I'd personally never read it, I found the illustration on the front to be interesting and the first chapter immediately had me drawn in, curious about the hobbit from the shire and the cursed ring just when headlights filled the bedroom window.

     Closing the book, reluctantly returning it where I found it, I stood up and turned to Eddie to see him still oblivious that I had even stirred from my sleep. And with a soft smile, I leaned down and placed a soft kiss against his cheek, turning to leave without a word just when I was yanked back by the hem of my shirt. "Oh shit!" I yelped, tumbling back onto the bed as Eddie's arms trapped me against his chest. "Eddie..." I grumbled, fighting his tight hold.