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Winter stirred awake, her body aching from an uncomfortable position.
Her arm was pinned awkwardly beneath her, her legs dangling half off the edge of her own bed. Groaning, she tried to shift, only to realize what-or rather, who-was responsible for her discomfort.
Karina.
The girl was sprawled across the mattress like she'd been launched there, taking up more than her fair share of the bed. One of her legs draped over Winter's waist, her arm slung possessively across Winter's stomach, while her face was pressed against Winter's shoulder. To top it all off, Karina was snoring softly-cutely, even.
Winter's annoyance flared, but as she stared at the sleeping girl, her irritation wavered. Karina's expression was peaceful, her lips slightly parted as she exhaled in gentle puffs.
For a moment, Winter studied her, noticing the small details she hadn't before-the curve of her lashes, the way her nose scrunched faintly with each breath.
And then Winter caught herself. She almost smiled.
With a sharp shake of her head, Winter reminded herself that this wasn't a sleepover with a friend. This was a hostage situation. A ridiculous, backwards, completely out-of-control hostage situation.
Carefully, she maneuvered out from under Karina's grip, cringing every time the mattress creaked. When she finally slipped free, she stood and stretched, wincing at the stiffness in her back. Throwing one last glance at the girl sprawled out in her bed like she owned it, Winter quietly exited the room.
She padded to the bathroom, splashing water on her face to shake off the grogginess. But her brief moment of peace shattered the second she stepped into the kitchen.
It was a disaster zone.
Cabinet doors hung open at odd angles, as if they'd been yanked with no regard for their hinges. Flour coated the counters, forming a fine layer of dust that trailed onto the floor.
A pot sat abandoned on the stove, its contents unidentifiable but somehow burned and sticky at the same time. Banana sat proudly on the counter, licking what appeared to be jam from his paw, while an empty jar lay tipped over next to him.
Winter's jaw dropped. Her eye twitched.
"What the-?!" She clutched the counter, glaring at the mess like it had personally offended her. "KARINA!"
Her scream was loud enough to echo through the entire house.
Back in the bedroom, Karina jerked awake, blinking groggily. "Huh? Wha-?" She rubbed her eyes, frowning. "Did someone die?"
Not waiting for an answer, she shuffled out of bed, following the sound of Winter's outrage to the kitchen. As soon as she entered, Winter turned to her with a glare that could have melted steel.
