i sleep so i can see you

Tybur girl

I spun my head around in response to a knock at my door, usually everyone was asleep by 1:06am.
I immediately retreated back into my bed, and quickly, not enough time to take my shoes off.

"Valllll?" Someone whispered from behind the door, cracking it open slowly.

"Porco?" I responded, throwing the covers off me and staring up. Porco was the son of another man who worked closely with my father, he lived in the Tyber mansion as well, and he was one of my closest friends.

"Val I gotta talk to you." He softly shut the door behind him.

"What is it?" I replied.

"Wait why are you- oh. Again Val?" He noticed my clothes and half open window, putting two and two together.

"Better keep your mouth shut. Now tell me, what's up?"

He sighed. "If you get get caught I am not covering for you. I would like to not get in trouble again, and you shouldn't be doing this."

"Porco, c'mon. You're not gonna need to cover for me." I shoved my hands the pockets of my jacket. "I've got it figured out. Now tell me, what is it? I've gotta run."

Porco and I had known each other for practically our whole lives. All the families of the higher ups who worked for my father lived on his land close by or in the mansion. All the children, working for or set to work for the company, to one day inherit it, have grown up together, being exposed to the environment since they were young. We had also grown up with in engrained hatred for the Eldians, we had been told our whole lives they were devils, they were cheats, they were liars. I believed it. Every single one I had come across wanted nothing but trouble.
Our little group of the future heads of Marleyean Syndicate were the most important things in the world to me. We were all extremely close, so Porco coming into my room in the early hours of the morning didn't concern me too much, it wasn't the first time this had happened either.

"Uhhh, okay." He continued. "You know that party? The one your dads having?"

"What about it?"

He pursed his lips and clasped his hands together. "Well, he came up and spoke to me about it." Porco continued to rub his hands together nervously.

"Porcoooo?" I spoke up.

"He wants me to ask for your hand. Like a promise thing."

I felt my heart sink. I had been lied to, and Porco was my friend, I had only ever seen him as a brother. I was so confused, my first year into being a legal adult and I was already being set up for marriage. I remained silent, staring at Porco with my jaw dropped.

"But no offence Val..you're like a sister to me. Besides, I have my eye on someone else." He shrugged.

I knew who he liked. It was Pieck. Of course it was Pieck, it had been obvious for years. It was always Pieck anyway. "None taken, the only person that's offended me is my dad." I rubbed my forehead and began pacing around the room. "So what're you gonna do?"

"Me? Uh? I don't know that's why I came to you. I thought he said that because you liked me or something but guess I was wrong."

"You are wrong." My eyes widened. "I've gotta get out of here, right now. We will talk tomorrow, 'kay? We will figure this stupid thing out." I gave him a hug.

"Sure thing." He hugged me back. "Stay safe. Don't go too crazy."

"No promises." I winked as I let him out my room. After I shut my door, I threw my head back against it, letting out a deep sigh. I had to get out of here, and I had to go now. I shoved some pillows under my quilt covers, knowing it wouldn't much good but would likely hold me off until the morning. I grabbed my bag filled with a few items, and headed to my window. I gazed down at the trailing plant, which reached from the ground to my window. I was surprised we hadn't gotten rid of it yet, considering how often I climbed up and down the wood scaffolding.