Our Two Bedroom Story

2

I lay on my back, staring in the dark. I'm not regretting leaving, but I'm not happy either.

My eyes are droopy, but I can't sleep. I don't feel safe. A liquid runs down my neck, probably sweat. I decide to touch it anyways.

A frothy substance brushes against my finger, blood. Probably from earlier. I wipe it off, but it won't stop bleeding.

"Ugh," I roll out of bed and step into the hallway.

As I close the door, in startled by footsteps behind me. I jump and turn, finding Hayes.

"Joy, you okay?" he asks, noticing I'm holding my neck.

"Oh, uh, yeah. I just need to-"

"Oh my god, are you bleeding?!" he examines my neck.

"It's nothing, really." I try to detach his warm hands from my neck.

"Here," he grabs my wrist and pulls me into the bathroom. Hayes runs a rag under warm water, and places it on my neck.

"How'd this happen?".

"I-I don't really want to talk about it." I try avoiding his question, without seeming rude.

He wipes my neck and makes sure nothing else is wrong with it. His azure eyes are stunning in the dimmed light, popping out like crystals.

"You poor thing," he says, while applying pressure to it slightly.

"I-I should, um, get back to, uh, bed." I try excluding him from getting any information about what has happened before.

"If you can't sleep or you don't feel safe, my rooms right next to yours." his smile lights up the room, when his pearly whites shine.

I don't want Hayes to get to comfortable or close to me. "Thanks, but I'm fine.".

"Okay," he looks at the ground, before clearing his throat and heading back into his room.

I trudge back to the guest room, and flop into the bed.

After about an hour, I finally give up, knowing I can't sleep.

My heart thumps harder, as I walk towards Hayes's door. Chills roll down my arms, as I near my hand towards the wood of his door.

The knuckles of my right hand lightly brush the tip, before making enough noise to be heard. Thoughts of regret, yet satisfaction roll in my mind.

The door slowly opens, as Hayes pokes his head out," Joy?".

"Did I wake you?".

"No, I couldn't sleep." he sighs, looking into my jasmine eyes.

"Yeah, same, with me..." I sound like a petty and sore looser, who's never asked anyone out and barely is finding the courage to speak.

"Do you wanna come in?" Hayes offers. Obviously. That's the reason I came here.

"Sure...well, if you don't mind..." ugh, I still sound wimpy.

"I don't mind at all." he opens the door, as a signal for me to enter.

The walls are painted topaz blue, bringing out his eyes even more. Damn, can his eyes get any bluer?

"Sorry, it's kind of messy." he apologizes, even though all I can see that could be considered a mess are a few t-shirts and pillows scattered on the ground.

"I can pull out the bottom bed, if you'd like. Or you can sleep in my bed." he scratches the back of his head.

"Whatever's easier for you," my voice cracks, from being so sleepless and tired.

"Depends, do you want me in here or not?".

"In here, I guess." I mutter, in a sheepish tone.

"Okay, I guess I'll pull out the bottom bed." he reaches for what looks like a drawer under his bed. Pulling by the knobs, he pulls out a second mattress.

"Here you go," he hands me a blanket and a pillow. I thank him and crawl into the bed, just bellow the feet of his bed.

"Better?" he asks, already in bed.

"Yes." I smile, even though he can't see my face.

"Joy, if you don't mind me asking, how old are you?" Hayes randomly asks.

"Sixteen, you?".

"Same." he giggles.

"How old is Nash?" I ask.

"Nash is nineteen, he leaves for college soon.".

"Oh, cool." I yawn. I hear Hayes take a deep breath through his nose and out his mouth.

"Just try to relax and before you know it, you'll be asleep." Hayes suggests. I remember my foster sister Lexi telling me that, before she got moved to a new home.

If our foster mom was mean to me and I cried or screamed, she'd tell me to take a deep breath and try to fall asleep. For some reason, it always worked.

I take a deep breath, and my eyes start to flutter shut. "Night Paisley, er, I mean Joy." Hayes whispers.

"Night." is the last thing I hear, until everything fades into black.

Opinions?

-Rose🌹