LOSING IT ALL //HAYLEY PARKER

04

~LOSING IT ALL ~

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04| IS THIS A COINCIDENCE?
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THE LITTLE YELLOW, ROUND-faced clock beneath my curved bedside lamp, chimes cheerfully away at exactly 5 o'clock the following morning.

I lift a hand from under my blanket and despairingly bash at it's snooze button. Jesus Christ! can't you just spare me a little more time to sleep? I gripe inwardly, forcing my eyes to crack open.

Outside my window, the first brush of violet paints the horizon against the dark blue sky. The chirping of songbirds resonates from nearby plane trees that sways and bends in the benign, early-autumn morning breeze.

Before I can lazily burrow back into the warmth of my bed, I preemptively pull away my naked frame from Jayden's tight smooch, swing my feet to the floor with the autumn chill nipping at my bare toes, and heave myself out of the bed.

Jayden mumbles inconspicuously in his sleep, and rolls over divulging the naked musculatures of his body. Feeling a little groggy from drinking too much wine yesterday, I can still vividly remember us stumbling into my room, frantically clinging onto each other with an unwonted desire.

Self-consciously sauntering away from the bed, I reach into my dark wooden closet for a pair of tiger print leggings and a hoodie, and slip into my bathroom. After listening to Jim Rohn's podcast on 'Personal Development' the other day, I had decide to start working harder on myself, getting into shape and all, not as if I wasn't already in shape, I just have to remain in shape. And jogging is one prerequisite for that to happen.

In the bathroom, I hastily leap into the pair of leggings, and throw the hoodie effortlessly on. Before scampering downstairs, I first glance at my reflection in the small, love-shaped mirror hanging above the washbasin. A woman with puffy hazel eyes, tousled hair, and with a trail of slobber at the corner of her mouth stares back at me. You're such a complete mess, Hayley. I seethe internally.

Right after washing my face, and smoothing back my hair into a presentable ponytail, I pluck my wireless headphone off the lumbering surface of my desk, and yawn my way downstairs.

Since it is way too early for anyone else to be awake, I trudge through the empty apartment towards the threshold where I stoop briefly to slip into my adidas Stan Smith.

Cold air greets me when I pull open the entrance door. However, my feet skids to a faltering halt on the wooden patio when I serendipitously catch sight of Dale Randall on the sidewalk, hopelessly hovering his iPhone at midair.

He whips round, startled and stares back up at me, and my heart traitorously jumps in my chest. "Great," I almost groan out loud. Is this a coincidence, what is Dale-fucking-Randall doing out here....wait a second. I suspiciously allow my gaze to slowly rake him from head to foot, then back again.

Standing on the sidewalk and looking very irresistible in a black hoodie, black tracks and a pair of Air max 95, it is evident that I'm not the only one planning on jogging this morning.

"Uhm, hi." He says, jauntily waving in my direction, making my pulse to sputter.

Pull yourself together, Hayley. My inner voice deprecates at me, and I instantly throw my shoulders back with a huff.

"Hey." I return, breathlessly, dragging my heavy limps to move towards his direction. "Is everything okay?" I probe immediately I reach him. The faint, waft of sandalwood and musk of his cologne hits my nostrils, and I suck in a breath.

He sighs softly, tunneling his large hand through his dark curls."Currently, I don't think so." He says, low and hoarsely. "I've been trying to use my GPS to navigate the routes in this area, but, for some unknown reason, I can't seem to decipher where is where."

I smile internally at his naivety. He could simply just run, and then try to find his way back.

"I think I can be of help." I say, almost ruefully. "I'm actually going for a run, I wouldn't mind if you tag along. I might actually be able to show you a few routes on the way."

Dark mahogany eyes widens, and a disarming smile pulls at his lips, unraveling two barely discernible dimples beside his mouth. "That would be so nice." He says, gallantly.

With a sheepish smile, I fatuously wheel on the ball of my feet, and start taking a few quick steps on the sidewalk. He tags closely behind, and I internally grief, wondering if my ass is bouncing with every slap of my feet against the cobblestone. Ugh! This is so embarrassing.

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The next chapter will be published on Wednesday, next week. Stay tuned. XOXO.