Rebel Girl

34} Sleepy Confessions

© Amber Kalkes 2015

Song: "Be My Angel" By Mazzy Star

Chapter Thirty-Four: Sleepy Confessions

"Emerson, baby, we're home."

I grunt and bury my face in Lou's shoulder, making him laugh. After being stuffed with so much greasy food that I'm sure you could use me as a lubricant, I started getting exhausted. I hadn't slept well the previous night. I kept waking up and stressing over the talent show. I'd go through the whole thing in my head countless times. Just trying to get it perfect. I don't know think it worked since I didn't win but I'm still proud of myself.

Getting up there was a big thing for me. Dealing with the shyness and anxiety of being me for most of my life has made me fearful of failing. Nobody wants to fail, it sucks and you'll hear no argument from me about that but it also helps us move on.

When you fail you find out something about yourself and that helps you move forward. Instead, I've been stuck in this strange melancholy that I can't escape from. Something that's kept me in a place where I hate myself enough to hurt myself. A place where everything was dictated by fear. I don't know if I'm completely past it but this feels like a step in the right direction.

I'm taken out of my self-reflection when Lou sets me down on the edge of our bed. Yes, our. We've been sharing a bed since I moved in here for two reasons. One being that the couch, though comfortable doesn't have enough room for a spread eagle sleeper like me. Secondly, Lou complains that the couch isn't good for his back, which is ridiculous but who am I to argue?

I fall back on the bed and hear him chuckle again. I don't even bother opening my eyes. Its almost two in the morning and I've reached my limit of public service. Now I want to hibernate until I feel rested and since tomorrow is Saturday, I can do that. I'm about to actually fall to sleep when I feel something pulling at the laces of my sneakers.

"What are you doing?" I whine but keep my eyes closed to scowl.

"I'm taking your shoes off."

"Why?"

"Because I don't want them dirtying my sheets."

I pause before slurring out an answer, "Fine but don't smell my feet."

Now its his turn to pause, "Why would I smell your feet?"

"I don't know." I mumble quietly, "Just don't."

"You're crabby when you're tired."

"I didn't sleep well last night."

"Worrying?"

I nod as I feel him pull off my shoes before moving to my other one. He takes them both off and I hear them hit the floor before he starts stripping off my socks. Just to be an ass, he tickles the bottom of my feet and my legs jerk up, making him laugh. I think he gets to his feet eventually and grabs my hands to pull me up into a sitting position. I pout at him and slump forward until my head hits his chest.

"Why?" I whine.

"Have to get your jacket off."

"Why?"

"Because I don't want it dirtying my sheets."

I peek open an eye to give him a dirty look, "I'm sensing a pattern."

He smirks at me, "Are you?"

"Pervert. Where's Sutton? She'd back me up."

"Excuse you, ma'am, but my name is Louis and she had to go home."