Between Then & Now // Hugh Jackman

16 // A Lazy Day In

It didn't happen often for Hugh to get an entire day to himself. No rehearsals. No late night shift. Opening night had just been yesterday. I thought he and the rest of the crew would be practicing lines again, but Sheila said it was also important to rest, so she gave everyone the day off.

He spent the better half of it sleeping in. When he woke, he called Alana, but she wasn't there so I let it ring. He started to leave a message - one for me. I was quick to pick it up then, glad Hugh couldn't see me trip over myself as I rushed to answer him.

I cleared my throat. "Hello?"

"Hi, Ice Hale, you have any plans?"

My heartbeat spiked at the thought of getting to spend more time with him, but I kept my voice calm and steady.

"No, why do you ask?"

"Do you want to come over?"

I froze in my spot by the answering machine. As in go to his apartment? I wouldn't lie. I was kind of curious about he lived. It would probably feel just as homey as he did - neat and put together with a clutter of items here and there.

Despite what Professor Barrington said on how I needed to figure out how Hugh was tied to the watch, I couldn't help but say yes to the question. I wouldn't get much done being alone here anyway, and I was stressed out about it, I wouldn't make much progress.

At least, that was the excuse I was planning on going with. It has nothing to do with how much I wanted to be near Hugh. Nothing to do with that at all.

"Okay," I said.

I swear I could hear the smile in his voice as he spoke. "Great! I'll come and get you in a few."

If I was back home, I'd be putting way too much thought in what I was wearing, my hairstyle, and makeup, but I didn't really have access to any of the tools I'd normally use. I hadn't been doing any of that anyway, and Hugh still wanted to hang out with me. I didn't need to worry about all that, but I couldn't help how nervous I felt.

This wasn't any different to the last couple times we went out together, but for some reason it felt like it did. Maybe it was because I was going to his apartment instead of him staying here. Maybe it was because I was starting to like him as more than just friend.

I needed to get a hold of myself.

Still in my pajamas, I went to the bathroom to see what clothes Alana laid out for me but found none. Weird. She usually always did. It felt wrong to go into her room and snoop through her things, but I couldn't go out in what I was currently wearing.

Inhaling deeply, I headed towards her bedroom. I cautiously opened the door. She wasn't in there, but still, a part of me thought she would pop up out of nowhere just to scare the living daylights out of me.

It was dark inside. The curtains to the windows were closed, keeping the sunlight from trickling in. Unfortunately, I needed it, so I tiptoed in and gently pushed them aside.

Her bed was facing the windows. The dresser with all her clothing was to the right of it, by the door. I slid open the second drawer, thinking the first would have been hee undergarments, and I seemed to be right when T-shirts lay in the compartment below it. I just picked up the top one and moved onto the next drawer, doing the same to limit my snooping.

However, I did need a pair of socks, which meant I would have to go through the first drawer anyway. With a sigh, I tugged it to me, revealing exactly what I thought it would be. I grabbed a random pair of socks and was about to close it until my eyes caught a small piece of paper right under what I took. I used my free hand to pull it out.