The Spare • Lalla

Part one ✧.* Shattered Illusion

‧₊˚✧Lucy✧˚₊‧

~It was late at night, and I lay in the bath. The bubbles softly pop beneath my fingertips as I graze them over the foamy water. The steam rising from my body floats into the bathroom air, indicating that the water is way too hot.

I close my eyes, lowering myself deeper into the water, and feel my muscles relax, yet the scratches on my arms from my cat, Kit, sting as they go under the scorching water.

As I drifted into thought, I didn't notice the bathroom door open, but I felt a presence and was suddenly aware of eyes upon me. It sent shivers down my spine, and I opened my eyes to see a figure looming over me.

"Holy f-" I threw the soap block at them since it was close to me. The adrenaline in me goes into self-defense mode, and I jump up out of the bath without giving it a second thought, which is needed because the intensity that I stood up with made me lose balance, and I feel how I'm falling forward. Luckily, he caught me.

"ITS JUST ME!" He yells. I stepped out of the bath, grabbing the towel off the hanger.

"Next time, Carl. Knock for the sake of everyone's safety." I say as I walk past him into my bedroom to go looking for my pajamas. He follows, flopping into our bed.

"I did call your name like three times, but you were so immersed under the water I thought you were dead."

"Besides, why are you home? I thought you were working late tonight." I ask him.

"I missed you too much." He flirtatiously says.

Carl moved in with me right after graduation. We are high school sweethearts and now partners for life in our own little home. Well, apartment.

I got this apartment from my parents. I guess you're just lucky like that when you grow up rich. It was a truly beautiful place. Top floor, huge glass windows looking out over all of New York. At the time Carl needed a place to stay, and his parents kicked him out. So I offered him a place to stay and now it just became how it is.

I flop down next to Carl, and he pulls me into his arms, I look up at him as he smiles down at me. I will never not love this man.

"Every day when I look into your eyes, I just fall in love all over again," he says, making me unable to contain my smile, and I look away.
He lifts my chin, and I have to look at him again.

"Please don't look away." I feel His hot breath lightly on my skin He kisses me softly on my cheek, my forehead, then my lips. But this time it was much more intimate. I slip my hand through his long, dark hair before placing my arms around his neck.

He pulls me closer with one arm. Closer than I already was. His other hand was on my cheek, grazing it gently. I never want his lips to leave mine...

That wish didn't last long because his phone rang, and he broke the moment by leaning over his bedside table and checking his phone.

"Who is it?" I ask.

"Just some work call I have to take." He says as he gets out of bed and heads to the bathroom. I pulled the blanket over me, grasping with the little heat there was left waiting for Carl to come back, but once he did, I knew that he wouldn't be here for the night.

"Do you have to go?" He nods. I sigh as I get out of bed to wish him goodbye at the door.

"Don't wait up for me, Lucy. I think I might be away for the night. You know how terrible my boss can be." He says, and I just nod as I hug him goodbye.

"Drive safe." And with that, the apartment was dead silent. The darkness creeps up behind me, sending shivers down my spine. Every time I'm alone, I'm reminded how much I hate being alone.