Academy Everlasting

The Beast Has Awoken

I jerk awake to the feel of someone shifting next to me. I sit up quickly, not remembering where I am. Looking around the room, it takes a moment to realize I am in Luke's room. The person next to me is Luke. With a relieved sigh, I lay back down on the bed. I can see through Luke's window that the sun is not quite peeking out yet. I should get more sleep, I know that would be the normal thing to do.

After laying there for about five minutes, I gave up on the idea of more sleep. I was too worried Luke might not want me here. Maybe he thought I would go back to my room, not bother him by taking up half his bed. I decide to give up on sleep and do something productive with my morning.

Getting out of bed, I see Luke has his own bathroom just like I do. I sneak in there and take care of my morning routine. Afterward, I sneak over to Luke's pile of clothes and glare at it. This needs to be taken care of before it really does turn into a beast. I peek over at Luke and smile at his messy hair and slight smile. He is adorable when he is sleeping.

I decide to take advantage of our little secret. I quietly open his safe and take out a bag of peanut butter M&M's. I know North will have a fit if he finds out this was my early morning snack, but I will try to destroy the evidence before he sees. Grabbing an empty laundry hamper from the corner of Luke's room, I fill it with "The Beast" and head down to the laundry room. It takes a long time to get down there because the hamper is so full and heavy. I'm pretty sure it weighs more than me right now. I take the stairs slowly so I don't wake the guys.

Once I finally make it down to the laundry room, I remember the 14 loads I didn't get to finish washing yesterday. There was also the clothes I didn't get to finish hanging. I hope the jeans in the washers didn't sour. I should have remembered to switch them.

I set the hamper down in the corner, and go to grab four more baskets for the clothes in the dryer. Sitting over by the half hung and folded baskets is four more full of darks. I open the washers and see someone had switched the jeans over for me. For some reason the small gesture warms my heart. Someone thought of me, in a small way. I open my M&M's and munch on them as I work.

With a smile on my face, I load the four washers with towels and start them. Taking the jeans from the dryers, I start on folding and hanging everything. By the time the washers are done, I have everything hung that needs to be. I have a basket full of socks and a basket full of boxers and boxer briefs. I am not sure who's is who's. I will have to ask Gabriel to help me sort them out.

I change over the towels, then put in two more loads. That finishes off the towel pile. In the two remaining washers I put Luke's jeans which make a full load and his darks which make another full load. Half of the Beast has been destroyed. The thought makes me giggle to myself.

I make my way to the kitchen and start on a breakfast casserole full of hash browns, eggs, sausage, and cheese. Once that is in the oven, I am able to switch the laundry and put in the other two loads of Luke's and the only two loads of gentle wash items there are.

I take my time folding the towels and filling four baskets. By the time I hear the guys trickling down the stairs, I have the dry clean only items in Luke's hamper, neatly tucked into the corner. The last of the colors are in the dryers and I am finishing up hanging the last load that came from the dryer.

"Pookie?" Dr. Green calls from the kitchen.

I poke my head out and see the Dr. Green, Mr. Blackbourne, North, Silas, and Victor sitting at the island in the kitchen.

"What is that amazing smell, Princess?" Victor asks, when they spot me in the laundry room door way.

"Breakfast," I grin. "I made another casserole. This time with eggs, and sausage for North."

North smirks at me as the rest of the guys get up and start setting the table. I pull the casserole out of the oven and set it out to cool. I am able to finish up the laundry and have everything ready to be put away before the rest of the guys come down. Just as I step back into the kitchen I hear someone running down the stairs full speed. I step back into the doorway of the laundry room so that I am out of the way in case this is something serious.

"Guys! GUYS!" Luke's voice floats from the second floor to the kitchen. All of the guys are here except Luke and they turn toward the kitchen door just as he burst through.

"THE BEAST IS ALIVE! He ATE SANG and and and!" He is panting and trying to catch his breath. "He stole my M&M's! We have to find him and destroy him!!!"

The room is completely silent for a full minute before my giggles break the quiet. They turn from small giggles to hysterical laughter at the look on Luke's face when he sees me.

"Sang!" He yells, running to me. "You're alive!" He picks me up and squeezes me tightly.

"I killed the Beast, Luke," I whisper in his ear, still laughing at him. "He is currently washed, folded, and hung in the laundry room. Also the M&M's were a great snack this morning."

He lets out a bark of laughter and whispers in my ear, "Do not tell North about that!"

"What the hell is going on?" Nathan bellows.

"I showed Sang the Beast last night and it was gone this morning and so was she so naturally I thought she was eaten," Luke says, like it is the most logical explanation.

Nathan rolls his eyes and grabs breakfast to set on the table. Everyone files into the dining room. Once seated Mr. Blackbourne turns to Luke.

"Why was Miss Sorenson in your room, Mr. Taylor?" He asks, curiously.

"Oh, I went to give her something and saw she was having a nightmare so I woke her up," He explains. "I offered to show her my room and we talked for a bit. We fell asleep at some point, I guess."

Mr. Blackbourne nods but stays silent for a moment. Finally he speaks and I am surprised at what he has to say, "Miss Sorenson, please be sure to come to any of us if you have anymore bad dreams. We are all here to comfort you and we would all be happy to."

All of the guys nod at his words and I blush a bit. I guess this is normal for friends to comfort each other. I nod my understanding and continue eating. Once breakfast is finished, the guys do the dishes and cleaning while I see if I have anything left in the laundry room to finish. I see that I have it all done aside from dry cleaning and sorting so I go in search of the expert.

"Gabriel?"

"What's up, Trouble?" Gabriel asks, smiling at me.

"I finished the laundry, can you help me figure out where it all goes?" I ask, hoping he isn't too busy.

"Fuck yes! Let's do this!" He grabs my hand and pulls me back to the laundry room.

We spend about half an hour sorting all the guys' items into separate baskets. Once finished Gabriel yells for them all to come to us. They make a line and we hand them each an overloaded basket, or in Luke's case four, and they head up to put their stuff away.

"Make sure you put that shit away right!" Gabriel orders as they walk up the stairs. Turning back to me he gestures to one of his baskets. He has two like Luke did. "Grab that, Trouble. We are going to my room. I have something to show you."

I nod and start toward the basket. I am stopped when he takes my hand and pulls me back to him. He shocks the heck out of me when he leans close to my face. I am about to ask what he is doing when he licks my cheek so fast, I'm not sure if I imagined it or not. He grabs his basket and heads out the door. I think I hear him whisper "Mine," as he leaves the room.

Wiping my cheek, I stare after him in shock.

What in the world?