COLLAPSE(On Hold)

Chapter 5 (part 1)

Happy Birthday To Me...

 I wake up anxious to see dad burst into my room singing happy birthday. As I sat up I watched the door for any signs. Absolutely none. He doesn't show up as early as he normally would, so I decide to wait patiently. An hour passes and still nothing. I wasn't going to give up hope just yet. So being the good little Samaritan I am, I went to freshen up in the bathroom. One reason being I'd rather not look like I just woke up. The other reason being that it'll give me a break from my ever thinking thoughts.

Heading back from the bathroom I pad into my mini kitchen. I'm guessing since dad isn't here I'll be making my own breakfast. I have many cookbooks, but dad taught me to cook in case I ever needed too. I can cook basically anything I put my mind too. However I'm not exactly in a good mood. So I whip up a cup of hot chocolate and and grab an oatmeal bar.

With a frown and my chin propped up the palm of my hand I watch the door. Sitting here I numbly take bites of the bar. Feeling too sad to eat I drop the bar in the trash and head back to my chair. I take a sip of my drink only to realize it's cold. Great. Today is suppose to be a good day, and yet here I sit, alone, and my drink as cold as I'm feeling. I glare at the cup with a hatred I've never quite experienced before. I do not like this feeling. This is not me, I don't get mad. I pat the cup apologetically and place it in the sink.

As I wash the cup an idea pops into my head. Maybe Duke can cheer me up! Quickly I rinse and dry the cup putting it into its respective place and padding over to Duke's bed. My shoulders slump when I see that he's not there. Where is that little devil now? As Searching the room I find him sneaking into the kitchen. Aha! I run towards the kitchen and spot him eyeing me in curiosity. I watch as he backs up from me and runs in the opposite direction. Jumping into action I run straight after the little mastermind himself. He's quite fast. I huff and run a little faster. He's so fast! I can feel my breaths come and leave rapidly as I try to catch up to him. That little mutt! He's giving me a run for my money.

"Duke!" I whine.

All I get is a bark in response. I'll take what I can get though.

"Duke stop!" I exclaim.

He does exactly that. However I wasn't expecting him to listen so as I run top speed I desperately try to slow down, but this only sends me flying over Duke. As I go flying across the room I watch as he sits with his little head tilted to the side. It's as like he is examining fly to my death. I secretly knew he was evil.

Closing my eyes I wait for impact. Ah yes, the sweet impact of face to the floor. Just glorious! Laying on the floor I decide it's best to just stay where I am. I lean into the soft rug and breathe deeply. I've started the day off exceptionally well. As if on cue Duke heads over and plops his butt onto my head. Yes, exceptionally well.

"Duke," I whine into the rug. I feel like crying, so that's what I do. I cry into the rug and mutter everything on my mind. I hear Duke start to whine uncontrollably. Snapping my head up I watch with teary eyes as Duke scratches rapidly at the door. I plop my face back into the rug and sob.

"What's wrong? Why are you crying?" I hear a voice say. It's probably my subconscious again.

"I wake up today to absolute silence, then I make hot chocolate and it gets cold. After that I decide Duke could cheer me up, but that only results in me tripping and flying across the room to where I am lying now. I haven't moved since because I'm too sad to move. Then I watch as my dog tries to dig a hole through the door! He wants to leave me!", I sob and gesture miscellaneous things with my hands.

"I'm sorry?" my subconscious speaks.

"Yeah yeah whatever! I don't need your pity okay?" I mutter.

"Ahia," it speaks again.

"Leave me alone," I answer dejectedly.

"What am I going to do with you?" I hear the voice question itself. Great, my subconscious speaks to itself.

I feel hands grab my waist and hoist me up into strong arms. With my arms wrapped around the beings neck and my legs wrapped around their waist, I completely ignore the fact that this is real. I ignore the fact that my subconscious feels like a living, breathing man who seems to look like a carbon copy of my fiancé.

"Why do you look like my fiancé? You're suppose to be my subconscious! And why are you a man?" I sob louder.

I hear the being chuckle, "Oh signore! Farfalla it is I."

"Stop lying to me! I hate when people lie to me!" I exclaim.

"Bella I am not lying. Look at me," they command.

"I refuse to do so," I shake my head.

"Please?" they ask sweetly.

"Fine!" I sigh deeply. Obviously they know my weakness. Well of course they know my weakness! It's my subconscious for crying out loud! Believing this is a dream I go along with the command. I raise my head to look at the carbon copy.

"See? That wasn't so hard."

With teary eyes I stare at the being with familiar green eyes. I pout when I feel him wipe my tears away with the pad of his thumbs. Without his hand supporting me I cling to his tall frame.

"Are you okay?" he asks. I shake my head no. "Why not?"

"Because you're not real. I'm just dreaming! You are really just my subconscious. I must have hit my head hard," I say that last part to myself.

"Well I can assure you that this is no dream. I am really here," he explains softly as if afraid of setting me off again.

"Prove it," I demand.

A small smirk spread across his face as he slowly leans in. My eyes widen when I realize how he is going to prove it. He's going to kiss me? He's going to kiss me!

At first his lips barely touch mine. He must be testing the waters, to see if I'm going to pull away. Once he realizes I'm not, he goes in full force. His plump lips mold with mine firmly but ever so sweetly. I feel one of his hands trail up my neck until he is holding the side of my face gently. As the tingles spread throughout my body I realize that this is very real, that he is very real. My husband to be is kissing me to prove he's real. I don't know whether to find that sweet or upsetting. I'll just go with the first.

It was a brief kiss, but it definitely made itself known. I can feel my heart pounding away in my chest as his green eyes lock with mine. As I look closely I see that little smirk still plastered on his face.

"You did that on purpose!" I exclaim with a pointed finger in his direction.

He chuckles, "Well, I wouldn't say on purpose. I simply took the offer to kiss my fiancé and calm her down at the same time. Un win win."

With narrowed eyes I stare him down. I hope I am making him feel uneasy. It mustn't be working though because he is smiling at me cheekily.

I huff, "Well as least I know this isn't a dream."