golden eyes | irwin [HIATUS]

two - friends

Ariel

Last night seemed like a dream, or rather a nightmare. I had been so drowsy and tired that I felt as if I were asleep the whole time, and it wasn't any different from when I actually did fall asleep. But the one thing that told me it was real was the fact that my window was still open and the chilly California breeze woke me up.

I look up at my ceiling as the events of last night come flooding back into my memories. I never did get to see his face, but from the softness of his voice it sounded like he was young. Like, not far from my own age.

I'm seventeen, nearly eighteen, and I've listened to an abundance of male voices at this age. I have solid evidence to back up my hypothesis; I just hope my science teacher from middle school will be proud of me for this.

I laugh at my thoughts out loud, finally registering how cool it is in my room. I bundle myself under the covers of my bed and search around for my phone, eventually finding it on the floor. I stare at it hopelessly. Why must you force me to get out of bed, phone?

I wrap a blanket around myself to stay warm. If it's passed ten o'clock, I'll head downstairs, but if it's any earlier I'm going back to bed.

I gasp as I check the time on my phone: it's nearly noon. My mom's probably wondering why I'm still up in my room rather than chowing down on some nourishment.

I love food.

"Ariel? Are you awake yet, sweets?" I hear my mom call.

I hurriedly drop my blanket, ignoring the air that invades the skin peeking from under my pajamas. I run a brush through my average length brown hair, grimacing at all the knots. "Coming, mom!"

I pull it up into a ponytail, somewhat satisfied, and throw on some fuzzy socks. I hate sleeping with anything on my feet, but it's way too cool to walk around barefoot, especially with all the tile in my house. I take a peek at myself in the mirror, shrugging before rushing downstairs, skipping steps as I go.

"Good morning!" I sing song.

I find it strange that I almost completely ignore everything that happened the night before. I can tell I'm in denial; it didn't happen. Oh, but it did, Ariel. I shiver involuntarily, hearing the stranger's voice in my head. It almost makes me come to a stop in the middle of the kitchen, slightly dazed, but I force it away so my mom doesn't have time to notice.

"Hey, sweets," she replies in a chirpy tone, a wide smile on her face when she turns to glance at me. She's always in front of the stove cooking something up. And that something smells incredibly delicious every time; I can't keep my mouth from watering slightly. "It's practically noon," she continues with a giggle eerily similar to mine, taking a glimpse at the clock on the wall. "You're such a sleepyhead. Rough week, huh?"

I nod and hug her from behind. I don't know why, but I suddenly feel the urge to cry. Maybe it's because she doesn't know what happened. Either way, it has been a rough week. Very tiring. Lots of studying for finals, which come next week. I feel bad for Kylie and Mali who have a game next week, but hopefully the adrenaline carries over into their studying. We used to have studying sessions during Freshman and Sophomore years, but we've been getting busy with clubs and sports that we barely have time.

But we work out days to spend with each other and be stress-free, which is very helpful at times like these.

I could use one of those after yesterday night.

"Ariel?"

I snap out of it, humming.

My mom chuckles, removing my arms from around her torso. She tucks some of her hair, that looks similar to mine besides the highlights she got last year, behind her ear as she grabs out two plates.