New Start

Part 16

Alex cursed loudly into the darkness when her alarm clock rang out breaking her comfortable sleep. She had maybe 3 hours sleep, after she tossed and turned trying to switch her brain off and find unconsciousness.

It was 5.30am, still dark outside, and cold. She heaved herself up, dragging herself into the shower, so she could be ready to go downstairs at 6.30am. Hae-soo had told her they would have a wardrobe for her, and make up, so she didn't bother thinking too hard about either. It was too cold to really think about her clothes, so throwing on a warm pair of black sweats, a black top and an oversized hoodie she left the tiny room. Chanyeol was stood outside his room, leaning backwards, with his leg raised on the door when she entered the non-descript hall way.

'Morning,' he chirped a little too brightly.

Alex didn't have the energy to decipher what he was doing out there, so yawning she replied, 'morning.'

'Tired?' he asked her, taking in her unusually, overly casual appearance.

'Didn't sleep so well.' She told him grudgingly.

'It's pretty early, but these things tend to have to be. It's going to be a long day.' He said as they began walking towards the elevator together.

As Alex rubbed her eyes she noticed Chanyeol was dressed pretty casually too, same kind of over sized hoodie that swamped his vast frame.

She grunted in reply, desperate to get some coffee down her neck as he chuckled at her. She gave him a glare, who was this Chanyeol and why had she never met him before?

'We can eat downstairs, then they will drive us out, we'll do make up and wardrobe at the location.' He kept talking, explaining things.

'Is anyone actually here, in this hotel?' she asked him grumpily.

'No. It's just us. They are all at the location already.' He smiled. He was a puppy again, and she felt the need to reach out and pat him, mostly though, to tell him to be quiet.

'Is there coffee?' she asked, leaving the elevator.

'Yeah,' he laughed, his face breaking into a wide toothy grin. It was the Chanyeol she had expected to have met, but who had been hiding so far.

She followed him down the hall way into a tiny room. On a huge white table opposite, there was a buffet breakfast laid out, everything from Kimchi to bacon, and most importantly, a pot of coffee waiting to be drank.

She followed Chanyeol as he picked up a plate and began piling food up high. She paused as she watched him cram unbelievable amounts of food into every bit of available space on the plate. Sensing her gaze, he stopped, looking innocently down at her.

'What?' he asked incredulously.

'That's a lot of food.' She told him eyeing the food.

'It's going to be a long day, you should eat a lot too.' He smiled returning to the heated serving dishes. It looked like Chanyeol had some of everything they had to offer, and then more.

Alex looked around the room, there were not many tables, maybe 6, all adorned with perfectly pressed white sheets and rickety chairs. Chanyeol already had two plates and had sat down on a table not too far away. She picked up a white circular plate and picked up some eggs, bacon and tomatoes. She couldn't really eat a lot in the morning, this was already more than she was used to and of course, a big cup of coffee. She turned from the buffet, not really sure if she should sit next to Chanyeol or one of the other conspicuously empty tables around him. She had taken one step forward towards a separate table when Chanyeol pulled out the chair next to him, clearly indicating she should sit there.