WHERE ARE YOU CHARLIE?

NOW - CHAPTER 5

As usual, I was wide awake at four thirty the next morning. I got up and stretched up a bit before putting on my running clothes. I grabbed my mp3 player and put the headphones on my ears before pressing the PLAY button, I took my sneakers in my hands and went downstairs as noiselessly as I could. I went to the laundry room and filled the two washing machines before heading outside.

I decided to go back to the park I'd discovered the day before a couple of miles away from the Fields' house. Nobody was up at that time, and I just loved the peace and quiet dawn offered.

Exactly an hour later I crossed the Fields' tall iron gates again. I was stretching on the stone steps when a pair of headlights blinded me.

My initial panic was soon replaced by a knowing smile when I saw Sam and Cole stumble out of Sam's car.

"I can't believe your friends let you drive in that state." I pointed out.

"I told him we should just sleep there but he wanted to see you..." Sam was pointing a shaking hand Cole's way.

"I see... It's my fault, then." I humored him. I then took my sneakers off and got inside, with the boys behind me.

"I'm starving..." Sam said.

"Give me ten minutes and I'll have your breakfast ready." I answered before heading to the huge laundry room to carry on with my chores.

I checked the two washing machines and saw that the color cycle was finished so I washed my hands and quickly hung everything up.

Once I was done, I turned around to go back to the kitchen but came face to face with a gaping Sam and a bewildered Cole.

"What are you doing?" Sam managed to ask as I walked past them.

"My chores." I answered blankly.

"Your... chores?!" He repeated in disbelief. "But those were our clothes..." He argued.

Not knowing what he meant, I ignored him.

"How do you like your eggs and how many bacon bits do you want?" I asked them. "Do you want pancakes as well?"

"It was you!?" Sam exclaimed, his eyes wide.

"Hmm... Zoe, you don't need to do all that..." Cole pointed out softly, his deep albeit slightly slurred voice making me feel all warm inside.

"Yes, I do..." I shot back. "So what do you want?"

"It's not even six o'clock in the morning, Zoe..." Cole insisted.

I sighed.

"I'll just improvise like yesterday, then..."

"I love omelets..." Sam blurted out.

"Cheese?" I asked and he nodded. "With little bits of bacon inside?"

"Oh yes, please..." He had a dreamy look on.

"Pancakes?"

He nodded again.

"How do you like them?"

"Chocolate chips?" He looked just like a child with his big blue eyes and his light brown hair.

"What about you?" I turned to Cole.

I could tell he was still not ok with my cooking breakfast but he finally complied.

"Cheese omelet, two bits of bacon on the side and normal pancakes."

"Got you..."

I quickly mixed the batter, and started cooking some pancakes while beginning to work on their omelets.