Evil Hearts - A Listen To Your Heart Book

Return

Audrey winced at the bright light in her face and rubbed her eyes. She was exhausted. She opened her eyes to a very bright room. She was in a bed which was surprisingly comfortable and Jay was sprawled on a chair next to her. Her ankle felt better than it did the day before. Now it was down to a slow throbbing.

"Jay!" She whispered. "Jay!"

Nothing.

"Jay!" She whispered louder. That finally got his attention. Jay stirred.

"What?" He asked half asleep.

"Where are we?" Audrey asked, completely disoriented.

Jay frowned at being woken up and stood up to stretch. "We are at a little motel in probably the smallest town I have ever seen. The owner is a really nice lady."

Audrey was still confused. "How did we get here? I honestly don't remember."

Jay smiled smugly. "Oh you don't remember when you were tired and asked to take a break so you took a nap?"

"No. I remember that perfectly. It's everything else afterwards where I'm drawing a blank."

"Your 'nap' turned into you literally knocking out. It was getting late so I just carried you into town," Jay explained. "You are a surprisingly deep sleeper."

"That would explain everything," Audrey said, noticing her surrounding. The room was small but spacious with a window facing the town. The town was as small as Jay said. Only a couple stores and hotels dotted the landscape.

"You wanna know something else?" Jay asked mischievously.

"What?"

"After sleeping around you for two days I have come to terms with the fact that if an earthquake were to happen or a bulldozer passed by I wouldn't be able to notice due to your obnoxiously loud snoring."

"Hey!" Audrey threw a pillow at jay, hitting him square in the face. "I do not snore!"

"Yeah you do," Jay laughed. "You might need to go see a doctor about that. It's like a garbage disposal, or two moose fighting."

"Princesses do not snore!"

"Well then you better take a DNA test because this princess does," Jay snickered. Audrey threw more pillows at him and soon enough they were having a pillow fight, where unsurprisingly Audrey was winning.

"You know, for someone who is fit and built, you are really easy to take down," Audrey laughed. "Maybe you're not as tough as you say you are."

"Oh really?" Before Audrey could comprehend what what was happening, jay picked her up over his shoulder.

"Jay! Put me down!"

"Gladly." Jay dropped Audrey on the bed and started tickling her. Audrey burst out laughing.

"Jay! Stop!" Audrey said between giggles.

"Not until you admit that I am the toughest most awesome dude in Auradon!"

"How-about-no?" Audrey said.

"Am I interrupting something?" They both immediately turned their heads to see an elderly woman standing by the door with a small tray.

"What? No," Audrey said quickly, sitting and fixing her hair.

"We were just messing around," Jay said blushing.

The woman gave him a knowing look and smiled. "I brought you kids some breakfast."

"Thank you, ma'am," Audrey said. "You have been so kind. How much was the stay?" She pulled out her purse.

"Oh no," the woman said. "Put that away. This stay is complimentary. This nice young man explained your situation and I'm more than happy to host such a nice young couple."

"Well, actually-" Jay began.

"- we appreciate it," Audrey interrupted. "But really there must be something we could do for you."

The woman smiled. "Actually there is something you could do for me."
*************************************
Mal dragged her exhausted body out of her bed and fell on the floor. Her alarm rang throughout her room and she mentally slapped herself for choosing such an early class today.

"Mal if you don't mind, can you shut your alarm up!" Sasha yelled from under her pillow.

"Yeah," Vega huffed. "It's hard to be a morning person when you're ruining the morning!"

"Sorry guys," Mal apologized. "But I was late yesterday's and I intend to not repeat it."

"What teacher?"

"Wellington."

"Ooh had her my first year. She's rough. You'll be dead by the end of the summer," Sasha said. "Well goodnight!" She fell back on her bed and covered her head with her covers.

"Don't listen to her," Vega said. "Mrs. Wellington is not that bad. Sure she's strict but that's just because she pushed people to be their best. Besides I've seen some of your art. You're really talented."

"Thanks," Mal smiled. "You know, you remind me of my friend Evie. Sunny, cheerful, wise beyond her years. I miss her."

"Yeah, it's hard being away from everyone you love," Vega said, getting back into bed.

Mal sighed. It sure was.
******************************
"Okay, so everyone has what they need?" Ben asked for the 15th time.

"Yes Ben we packed everything," Chad said. "Dude if you weren't checking materials for 40 minutes, we could've been in the forest already."

"I just want to be prepared," Ben defended.

Doug sighed. "I'm all about being prepared but this is just ridiculous."

"Okay, fine, let's head out!" Ben said.

"That won't be necessary," Carlos said.

"Why is that?"

"Turn around."

Ben turned around to see a hobbling Audrey walk being supported by Jay. Evie immediately ran over to them and hugged them. She then smacked Jay on his arm.

"Ow! What was that for?" Jay complained.

"Don't you ever scare me like that again!" Evie said. She hugged them again. "I was so worried about you guys."

"Yeah well we're completely fine," Audrey said. "Except for the fact that I can't breathe!"

Evie immediately let go. "Sorry."

"Completely fine?" Lonnie asked. "What about your ankle."

"Yeah last time I checked your ankle didn't match Evie's hair," Carlos said.

"It's a.... long story," Jay said.

"We've got time," Evie said.

"Yeah but can we go inside? My ankle is killing me!" Audrey said.

"Yeah sure!" Evie and Lonnie helped her up the stairs. The guys hung back.

Ben patted Jay on the back. He led him into the cabin. "You've got a lot of explaining to do."