BitterSweet

Chapter 12: Triggered

Damien's POV:

~5:30 a.m. ~

I hit the snooze button and put the pillow over my face.

I've never been a morning person but ever since I was forced to take over the gang, early days and late nights.

For the next five minutes, I stare blankly at the ceiling, contemplating my entire existence.

I decide that its time to get up so I stretch and walk towards the bathroom. On my way, I pass Ava sleeping on the floor.

I roughly kick her pillow, " Wake up."

She starts flailing her body underneath the blanket, " Five more minutes!"

"No. Didn't I say get up?"

She slightly lifts her head, glancing at me. Exhaustion painted on her face as clearly as it was on mine. And at that moment, for the first time in a while, I feel that someone could relate to me.

I push this thought aside.

I don't have the time to take a stroll through my emotional landscape right now. Rolling my eyes, I continue with what I had planned.

I take a quick shower and brush my teeth. Wrapping the towel around my waist, I walk out of the bathroom. I glance onto the bed looking for my outfit for the day, but its missing.

I don't have time to wait on her today.

Part of her job is to have my clothes for the day laid out and ironed. I have no specific reason for it other than it is something less for me to do.

I hear muffled talk coming from the walk-in closet.

"Damn it, you stupid freaking hangers. Go back on the hanger rod thing."

"Great. Just great. Now I have to pick up all of this up. "

I peek around the edge, seeing Ava drowning in a pool of black and white shirts.

"Ahem", I announce my presence.

She whips her head in my direction.

"Sorry. The shelf broke and everything...", she fades off as her eyes start to slowly trail down my body.

I kind of forgot I had nothing on but a towel, but eh, too late for that now.

"Hello? Ava? The shelf broke and...?"

Her trance broken, she starts scratching her neck, "Oh, um , yeah... umm... sor-sorry about that. I didn't mean to gawk at you or anything. But anyway, the shelf has broken so I was trying to fix it."

She stands up and searches around, "Here's something for you to wear though," a white shirt and sweatpants, " That's all you got bro. Everything else is in the washer."

"Whatever."

She brushes past me, " Or you could always just wear the towel. Your choice dude... the towel looks pretty good on you too, just saying" ending with a wink.

I roll my eyes, "Why are you still in here? Get out."

"Somebody's TRIGGERED", she teases in a sing-song voice.

"GET OUT!"

I collapse face first onto the bed.

Today is going to be a long day, I just know it.

________________

6:37 p.m.

Ava's POV: