Thistle and Stone [Chaennie]

Chapter 22

EASE

Roseanne scrubbed at her eyes, blinking against the bright sunlight filtering into her room. She felt like a train had hit her the night before – groggy, a little disoriented. She heard soft, even breathing beside her and jolted up in bed.

"Son of a bludger," she hissed, staring down at Jennie's sleeping form. Jennie looked dead to the world, sheets clutched between her hands and tucked close to her body, knees curled towards her chest. Her hair fanned across Roseanne's pillows in long and curled waves. Roseanne sighed, allowing herself a quick moment to run her fingers atop the curls. It felt strange, trying out this new form of...what—intimacy? She wasn't sure how to categorize it in her head. Things with Suzy had been markedly easier in some ways. They came from the same background, had the same general notions about relationships. Real affection had been scarce.

She left Jennie to sleep, quietly making her way downstairs while hastily tying a thin bathrobe around her waist. She wasn't sure what time it was, but it seemed impossibly early.

Something in the hallway caught her eye. A neat white envelope had been pushed underneath her door, waiting for her to find it. She recognized the scrawled handwriting right away. Sighing, she turned it over and slid it open with her index finger, pulling out a short note as she tucked the envelope under her arm.

Ms. Park, your absence at work today leads me to believe you are unwell this morning. I do hope you are able to recover soon. S.C.

She had overslept. Swearing under her breath, Roseanne read and re-read the note, running her tongue over her teeth. Despite the undertone of the letter, it seemed vaguely understanding, at least coming from Croaker. Of course he had expected her to come into work that morning, she wasn't sure why she was surprised otherwise. At this rate, she certainly didn't plan on showing up mid-day. She wondered if Baekhyun would stop by later, concerned by her absence.

She dropped the letter, envelope and all, back by the door. Despite years of training herself to become a morning person, Roseanne climbed back up the stairs and into bed. Jennie stretched at the shift of her weight on the mattress, giving Roseanne the opportunity to curl up behind her. She brushed Jennie's hair out of the way and nestled herself closer.

-

"Morning, you in for coffee?"

Roseanne stretched, eased herself up, and gratefully accepted Jennie's offer. Jennie hid her yawn and sat in front of Roseanne on the bed, legs folded beneath her. Roseanne took in her half-lidded eyes, the mess of curls piled high on her head, the old shirt she must have found in Roseanne's closet falling off the edge of her shoulder.

"Well, it's past noon, but morning enough, right?" Jennie said.

"You're awfully cheerful, Kim," Roseanne teased.

"Guess so," Jennie mused, smiling easily. "I slept well, actually. Really well." She sipped at her coffee and eyed Roseanne across from her. Roseanne ran a free hand through her hair roughly, tucking it behind her ears.

"You have plans for the day?" Jennie asked, her tone light. Roseanne took a swig of her coffee, almost sputtering against the heat.

"I know you were up earlier by the way, saw the letter and all," Jennie added, interrupting her thoughts.

"Right," Roseanne sighed. The letter.

"Yeah," Jennie nodded, watching Roseanne's face as she spoke, "kind of presumptuous of him to assume you'd be coming in to work right away after yesterday."

"Guess I'm on sick leave," Roseanne said. Truthfully, she hadn't taken time off work in years. The week after the bond had been the first time she didn't go into work since she started. Whereas before she had felt caged, now not being there felt more like an uncomfortable itch.