Stolen Kisses, Pretty Lies

~Chapter 9~

I woke up on floor of my bedroom, half covered by a blanket. Something beside me shifted and I sat up, rubbing my eyes and yawning softly. To my left, Folklore was still asleep, lips parted and hair messy. And in my bed was Midnights. Tear stained, passed out, beautifully dishevelled Midnights. She was on my bed, tucked into a small ball, face covered in her bedraggled hair. Somehow, despite everything, she looked so perfectly ethereal. Her lips were pink and plump, presumably from her previous rounds of tears. But they looked oh-so kissable, and I was incredibly grateful for self control.

As quietly as possible, I slipped off my half deflated air mattress and rearranged my loose t-shirt.

I stretched and picked up my brush, dragging it through my unkempt hair.

Someone shuffled around and I turned, smiling when I saw Folklore sitting up. 

Her hair was wild and her eyes were wide and sleepy. She smiled back at me with a quiet "morning."

"Hey, sleep well?" I replied.

"Yeah, it was comfy."

"I'm glad!" I set my brush down and sat on my desk chair.

Folklore looked at Midnights' still fast asleep body, then back to me, her expression sympathetic. I matched her expression, a deep sadness painting my face.

"Should we get some food and let her rest? She looks exhausted," Folklore wondered aloud.

I chewed my lip, "I promised I wouldn't leave her, I don't want to break that."

Folklore nodded, understanding.

"There's cereal and stuff in the kitchen, you can help yourself," I shrugged.

"Okay, but only because I didn't have much dinner and I'm starving. I'll be back in a second," Folklore left the room.

I turned my attention back to Midnights. I always knew beauty was pain, but for Midnights, they weren't connected and yet she was both. I could only hope that what she had said wasn't true, that her sister wasn't gone.

I pulled my knees up to my chest and lost myself in the soft rise and fall of her torso, watching her rest. I wasn't sure how she could be so peaceful and still give off so much. The addictiveness of being around her was so unexplainable and yet so present. I wasn't sure how anyone could not love her. What I couldn't help but wonder about was her family. There was so little I knew about her, so much I wanted to know.

When her eyelids fluttered, I smiled softly. Midnights stared straight ahead for a moment and then rolled over, curling into a tighter ball and facing the wall.

My heart sunk for her and I sighed quietly. "Mid?" I murmured gently.

A small pause, and then, "Nine?" a quiet raspy whisper.

"Yeah, just me."

The girl's form relaxed slightly, and she sniffled.

"How are you doing?" I stayed on my seat.

"I don't know."

"Is there anything you need that I can get you? A water?"

She shook her head.

"Would you like me to leave so you can relax?" I asked softly.

She hesitated, and then shook her head. "Stay."

I couldn't hold back my small smile. "Just stay sitting here?"

She rolled over, facing me. She looked exhausted despite the long night and devastated as ever.