i hired a hitman on myself // joshler [✓]

XVI

i couldn't sleep a wink after that, though i mentally and physically exhausted, there was no way i could even begin convince myself to sleep. and the fact that i was awoken at 3 a.m. wasn't making the current situation any better.

ashley suggested i try and keep myself awake, so i decided to take a shower. i was hoping it'd calm my nerves and ease the stress that everything had been piling up on me. none of this was easy on me.

but it was my own fault, i shouldn't have snuck into petes room to begin with for the stupid post-it.

after taking a hot shower, the whole bathroom was practically steamed up from all the trapped moisture, though it didn't fully wake me up, it did help somehow.

my mind was just so heavy with thought, i'm not so sure why this situation is the one that did it for me. there was no real way i could keep myself occupied and not have that heavy feeling of what seemed like almost nothing, as i was so numb from the emotion of it all.

i got dressed in a fresh pair of clothes, my shirt along with jeans were black. the only thing that really stood out was my grey beanie. it was still early, and i knew no coffee shops would be open for a few more hours, so i decided to call room service and get a few cans of red bull.

i called, and the receptionist who gave me the room answered as the voice was familiar,
"front desk! it's jenna, speaking how may i help you?"

"hey uhh..." my voice was heavily tried, "do you guys have red bull here?" it was clear just how sleep deprived i was.

she chuckled from the other end of the line, "yeah we do, i'll bring a few cans up to you room." she offered.
"thanks... jenna." i yawned.

"no problem, josh." she hung up the phone, my heart dropping a little hearing my name come from her. did i tell her my name?

maybe i was just overthinking it, i probably told her my name when i first checked into the motel. that must be how she knew my name.

right?

after a few minutes of me waiting and desperately trying to keep myself awake, there was a knock at the door. i slowly got up and without thinking opened the door to find jenna holding 3 cold cans of red bull.

she had a smiled curved onto her lips as she handed me the bottles,
"thanks... how much do i pay?" i tried keeping myself in order despite how tired i clearly was.

"oh it's on the house," she assured me, "just have a nice day, josh." she smiled her rather comforting, yet a little to exaggerated smile.

"oh...okay? thanks so much, jenna." it was clear i was still on edge from her knowing my name, but she didn't acknowledge it, she just grinned from ear to ear and went about her day.

i closed the door and sat on the bed, opening a van and taking a huge swig of the drink, feeling as the heavily carbonated tickled down my throat as well as the almost sour flavor of the beverage kicking in.

after chugging half of the can, i stopped and took a deep breath, somehow feeling a bit better. i could feel the energy starting to kick in.

ashley randomly spoke up as she was still on the phone,
"you sounded off," her voice came from the nightstand that was at the head of my bed, "and how does she know your name?"

"that's why i was off, then," i reiterated, "i don't know how she knows my name, i really don't remember telling her."

"pretty sure you didn't," ashley confirmed, "she's gotta know something." she sounded positive in her assumption.

"so she knows i have a hitman after me?" i tried dumbfounding her conclusion, "how would she know?" i questioned ashley before taking another sip of red bull.

"maybe she's in on it too," she suggested, "why would she give you free drinks anyway?" ashley wondered, trying to piece together everything.

i thought about it, i mean she wouldn't have any reason not to, but it does seem strange,
"maybe she's just... really nice?" i knew my own inference didn't make any sense when saying it out loud.

"really josh?" ashley sounded annoyed, "you really think she's being nice? the hell are you to her for her to be nice?" i took my last few chugs of the can before finishing it entirely.

i sighed, "can you really blame me for trying to give her the benefit of the doubt?" i asked her, "some psycho running a killer carnival made me hire a hitman who's out to kill me, i'm trying not to make myself think the motel receptionist is in on it too."

ashley empathized, "look, you're not wrong for trying to think positive," she sighed,  "but you're really not safe anymore to think highly of people, josh, this motel is just a death wish waiting to happen."

"so what do you suggest i do?" i asked her, cracking open another can of red bull as i felt the spark of energy hitting me.

"pack up your stuff," she instructed, "you gotta get a move on before tyler makes his next move."