The Rogue

XXXI

*Faye*

The only reason I knew it was morning was because the curtains began to glow. I sat up in the bed and looked over. My dad was still asleep. He'd been asleep when I snuck in last night after driving away from Maxen and whatever disaster nearly came about. My mind was still in a heap of confusion after all of that, and I wished I could confide in my dad about it. I really just needed someone to talk to, a friend. My dad would totally freak out, though, and that wouldn't help anyone.

I slipped out of the bed and gathered an outfit from the closet before heading into the bathroom. After making sure I was alone, I cranked up the shower and stepped into its chilly spray. It instantly sobered me. My hair slid like silk through my fingers as I massaged in the shampoo and, later, the conditioner. I was used to smelling like a guy now since Maxen never brought me any female products.

By the time I was finished, I had come to the decision that I needed to leave. Like, today. My dad needed to get home where my mom could watch after him. I just needed to be with my family to get some perspective. Maxen might want to kill me for it, but he clearly needed to get his own head screwed back on straight.

While I tugged the shorts up over my hips and buttoned them, frowning at how short they were, the door to Maxen's bedroom opened. My head flew up. Maxen entered the bathroom slowly as if still partly asleep. His body was bare except for a pair of plaid boxers, which were tighter than really necessary. Every inch of him was muscle. Our eyes locked. A panicky feeling swelled up within me, and he flashed me a smile.

I bolted for my door. To my relief, he didn't move to stop me. My dad was still asleep, so I snuck out into the kitchen to search for food. There wasn't much to find, unfortunately. I remembered Maxen mentioned most of the meals were prepared in the commons area, so I headed towards the front door. The sound of Maxen's door opening made me pause.

Instead of another mostly-naked Maxen, a mostly-naked Michelle came slinking out of the bedroom. She was dressed in one of Maxen's t-shirts, though it was nearly shredded, and a pink thong. Her platinum blonde hair was unkempt and knotted, twisted around her bony arms. A smirk rose to her swollen lips.

Bile burned its way up my throat. Ducking my head, I quickly walked to the front door, pulled it open, and charged outside. My chest was rising and falling in exasperated pants as I let my feet lead the way to the commons. I couldn't believe she would just walk around in her underwear. What if another guy saw her?

Rogues were piled on the furniture everywhere in the commons when I walked in. I avoided their loaded gazes on my way to the kitchen area. A box of donuts was set out on the counter along with two bowls of bananas, oranges, and apples. That chocolate donut looked delicious. I scooped it up and bit off a piece. Yummy, just as I expected.

Although going back into Maxen's apartment literally made me want to vomit, I knew my dad would be hungry when he woke up. He had a sugar tooth, too, so I grabbed a glazed donut and a banana for him. Their eyes burned into me on my way out, but I ignored them.

Just as I stealthily slipped back into the apartment, my donut wedged between my lips and my dad's food in my hands, Maxen and Michelle came stumbling out of the kitchen. Her legs were wrapped around his waist, their mouths connecting with ragged breaths. Maxen slammed into the wall in his fit of passion. I almost dropped the food in my shock.

He wasn't worth losing my breakfast, though, so I bit down on my donut and sped walked for my bedroom door. I was passing by their makeup session when one of Maxen's eyes peeled open to see me. He managed a wicked smirk before Michelle drowned him with her tongue. Gagging, I plowed into the bedroom door, incidentally whacking my head on the wood. I groaned, twisted the knob with two free fingers, and spilled into the bedroom.