The Eyes at the Foot of the Bed (Sweet Devil!America x Reader)

Chapter 1: A Year Later

   "Okay, that's the last of it" You gently put down the box labeled "SHOES" and twist your torso in attempt to stop the aching in your back.

   "Dibs on the master bedroom!" Arin shouts, skipping up the stairs.

   "Hey, no fair!" You call back, but end up sighing knowing that it's no use.

   "You can have the second biggest" Allen says as he passes you, holding a broom in his hands.

   "Really? Thanks, bes!"

   He shrugs and goes to clean the kitchen.

   You straighten your back and roll up your sleeves, glaring at the boxes and bags that lay around you "Okay, let's do this"

   You bend down to pick up the heaviest box, which contains your textbooks and collection of novels.

   'One, two...' You grunt as you pull with your knees.

   You drop it, though not by much since you barely lifted it up an inch.

   "Damn..." You take a deep breath and try again. This time, you manage to pick it up. However...

   "Why..." You struggle to keep the box from falling and hitting your toes.

   "must... I... be..." You can't breathe, "so..."

   "...weak—!" The box slips from your fingers and you pull back your arms out of reflex. You wait for the ugly sound of your beloved books hitting the wooden floor, but it never comes.

   You open your eyes and they meet a pair of blue ones framed by black-rimmed glasses.

   Standing before you is a young man a head taller than you. His jet-black hair is swept back, and he's wearing a black jacket and black pants paired with black boots. In his arms is the box.

   "Hello" He greets. His voice, you note, is rich and clear.

   You stare at him, unable to look away.

   He smiles, "Is there something on my face?"

   You blush and put your hands on your cheeks "Ah, no, sorry about that. It's just that, um, who are you?"

   He laughs, its deep and it stirs up the blood boiling in your veins.

   "Not very eloquent, are you?"

   You can't tell if he's being a jerk or if he's flirting with you.

   "Hey, is everything okay? Who are you talking to?" You hear Arin as she gets back down.

   "What?" You blink. There's no one in front of you. You feel like you're missing something. You turn your head left and right, unsure of what or who you're looking for, "Just now, was I talking to someone?"

   Arin stops and crosses her arms. She laughs "Man, did you trip and hit your head on something? Come on, you can go ahead and rest in your room. Allen and I will clean the place"

   "But"

   "No buts. You're not an arse"

   "Am I supposed to laugh?"

   Rather than defend her lame pun, she pats my back playfully and leads me upstairs "Come on. You'll be staying in Miss Claire's bedroom from now on"

   "Miss Claire?"

   "Allen told me that she was the eldest daughter of the former owners"

   "I thought this house hasn't been occupied since the 1600s"