Life behind The Walls

Prologue

The ringing of my 7 a.m. alarm annoyed me as I turned my tired heavy body over, pulling the thick cotton blanket over my head and pressed it against my ear as i tried to block out the persistent sounds.

"Babe, it's time to get up."

The sweet angelic voice of my roommate, who happened to have won my heart and me winning hers, broke through the annoying clanging of the classical twin bells.

"Five more minutes," I groaned, hoping she'd do more to get me up.

In a few seconds, I heard her light footsteps travel over to my side, the ringing stopping once she did, and felt her body move over mine, the sheets rustling and the bed creaking as she did.

"Wake up or I'll reluctantly break that pretty face of yours."

That did it.

With a disappointed grumble, I pulled the covers off my face and rolled over to lie on my back, having a great view of Chloe with her messy blonde hair, bright magnificent blue eyes complimented by her fair skin and rosy cheeks. She was dressed in her pink home sweater and a pair of turquoise shorts straddled over me.

"There, I'm up. You still going to break my pretty face?"

"It's tempting, but I'd rather do this,"

She leaned down and pressed her soft pink lips against mine in a wet kiss. I love it when she takes the initiative to kiss me first, and without make-up too. When she pulled away, I couldn't help but break out into an amused smile.

"What's so funny, Ryan Atkinson?"

"Nothing."

My sheepish reply and attempt to avoid eye contact with her resulted in her noticing my flushed cheeks. She giggled and moved her legs over me to get off the bed.

"You've got work, dumbass."

I hated the everyday commute to work, the hourly jobs that paid me just enough to support Chloe and myself with a little extra for special occasions, but having someone to love and who loves you back made it all the more better. I only had an hour with her each morning, just enough to have breakfast together before I had to leave for work and her leaving for photography school. It was her forté. She had even turned the study into a darkroom after seeking my consent (since I was paying the majority for the apartment) and promised to work hard on being a professional photographer. As such, both of us are caught up in work and school that the only time we ever get to cuddle up with each other and a little wine or beer at our sides after a hearty meal is late at night - as in when we're nodding our heads to stop ourselves from falling asleep while watching the latest episode of CSI.

I stared myself down in the mirror. This usual sight was getting old for me but was never enough for her. My Toys 'R' Us uniform hugging my - currently - fit and muscular body, my chin completely shaven with a smooth touch which Chloe always loved to nibble on, and my bright green eyes complimenting my natural brown hair. I was to change into my other uniforms for my other jobs later in the day. One,  an apron, for my work as a part-time florist salesperson and the other for selling cakes at a local café.

My final hour before work with Chloe involved us eating homemade pancakes with thick maple syrup drizzled on each stack, topped with a few big bright blueberries. I was forced to head to the cream painted front door after that and planted one last kiss on her lips before sending a small wave to her, which she returned, as I began my daily commute to the neighborhood's Toys 'R' Us store. 

Work went on as per normal. Unloading boxes from delivery trucks, cutting them open with a box cutter, unpacking the various toys inside and sorting them out on the shelves. The store today seemed way more packed than usual. My colleagues assured me that it was nothing much and that I was just too paranoid but my instincts convinced me to doubt their words, and myself.