Amour

Somnambulisme

Azariah woke that morning to a pitter-patter sound on his rooftop. He breathed in and breathed out, trying to collect pieces of his memory and put them together. He then remembered.

Fiona was in his attic.

Fiona, the girl who made him weak in the knees, the girl who made him smile just thinking about her, the girl who's touch was electrifying, the girl he never thought he'd see again was sleeping soundly and peacefully in his attic.

And he had to hide her from her parents and his own parents.

For a second, he panicked and sat up, getting out of his bed and beginning to pace the room. Beads of sweat cooled his forehead. His heart raced wildly. He needed to get her up. What were they even going to do?

He took a deep breath and checked the time. It was still quite early but that didn't bother Azariah in the least. He opened his door to get Fiona from the attic and almost tripped over something.

Wait, a person.

Wait.

Fiona!

She sat on the ground, leaned against the wall. Her breath was slow amd steady; she was asleep. She was kind of crumpled on the ground in her pajamas, and she looked so peaceful sleeping there. Azariah stood there for a moment, breathless, looking at her. She was so beautiful looking so peaceful. Her hair was tossed over her face a little and her blush pink lips parted in the slightest. Her eyelashes shadowded her perfectly rosy cheeks. He smiled.

Then he panicked again.

Why was Fiona asleep outside his door? If Phoenix had gotten up early, or his parents, she would have been caught. This is bad.

He bent down to her and softly shook her awake. She jumped a little, brushing the vibrant red curls out of her face and her eyes widened. "Azariah. Where am I?" she said softly.

He sighed, "You're in front of my room. I don't know how you got here."

Fiona's eyes widened wider, if it was possible. She spoke. "I'm a sleepwalker. I'm sorry. I-I didn't tell you. I should have." She shook her head. Azariah softened inside. He couldn't stand to see her sad. "It—it's okay. We'll think of something," he said sympathetically.

He furrowed his brow and began to think. Fiona could wander anywhere she wants in the house during the night. She could get caught by Azariah's parents. What was he to do?

He pinched the bridge of his nose. "We might have to just trap you inside the attic for the night. Would that bother you? I could just come get you when I wake up," he offered. Fiona shrugged. "I'd be fine with that, but how are we going to trap me in there?"

Azariah furrowed his brow again. He heaved a heavy sigh and said, "we could make a steel door."

Fiona raised an eyebrow. "Make?" she said confused. Azariah nodded slowly. " my father is a blacksmith and he has taught me a couple things."

"Awesome!" she shouted. Then her face dropped. "How are we going to get there?" she looked defeated. Azariah thought. Fiona's limo driver couldn't drive them, Fiona would have to go back home. Azariah's father nor his mother could drive them, or they would find out about Fiona. They couldn't walk, it was twenty minutes by car.

Wait. Azariah was brewing an idea.

"Listen, Fiona. My father will be leaving for work soon. If we can ride with him, then we will get there in about twenty minutes time. But you have to hide in the trunk. Okay?"

"Who will pick us up after we make the door? And how will your father not see us while we're there?"

"My father won't notice with your mask on. Um, I guess we could just hang around until  it's time to leave. My father's weekend shift is very short. Five hours."

"Five hours!?"

"Be lucky. His regular are ten. He leaves at seven, it's 6:30 right now-we have to get ready and get you in the trunk by 7. My father should be up any-"

Just in that moment, the door cracked open. From his parents room.

Oh no.

His father lazily walked out, yawning. Azariah shoved Fiona into his room and whisper-shouted, "Stay there!"

His father's eyes were sleepy as he trudged down the stairs. Yawning again, he uttered, "why you up so early, son?"

Azariah cleared his throat. His face turned beet red. He smiled wide and said, "I-I wanted to come to work with you today."

"You never want to come to work with me," his father said as if Azariah were crazy. He retrieved a mug from the cupboard and put a pot of coffee on the stove. "Besides, you can't today. It's going to be a busy day. Maybe some other time, okay kid?" His father poured the coffee into the mug and took a sip.

"But dad. Please. We need to go there to make something."

"We?" His father eyed him suspiciously.

Azariah became flushed once again. "I meant me. It's for the attic. A steel door. Um, I noticed Freckle has been escaping lately from the attic, and you know, she is a sly cat. She could easily escape the house. I mean-"

"Azariah. I would like to think you are telling me the truth. But even if you aren't, I guess-" he sighed and put his empty mug in the sink, "-I guess I'll take you along."

Azariah did a fist pump. His dad chuckled. "Now. Go get ready," he said, shooing him off. Then he stopped, looking at the top of the stairs. "Who's that?"

Azariah turned around, seeing something with curly red hair standing at the top of the stairs.

This chapter is unedited, if you find any mistakes please let me know! Tell me what you think of this chapter!