The Hidden Pocket {ruel van dijk}

chapter eight.

A poke on my shoulder woke me up. Then another came, and another, until I yanked the pillow from behind my head and violently threw it at the person standing besides my bed.

I smirked with satisfaction when I heard it make contact with a body, then fall onto the floor; at which I rolled over and tried to fall back asleep.

I sighed in content and cuddled back into my blankets as I heard footsteps walking out of my room. Then in full force, a pillow made contact with my face.

"Dude!" I shout as I sit up, pressing a hand to my cheek.

Ruel stands in my doorway, armed with another pillow.

"I'm sorry I couldn't help it. I've been up for hours now, I'm so bored." He says, squeezing the pillow in dramatic anguish.

"So you decided to come in here and bombard me?"

"To be completely fair, you were the first one to throw. I was just poking you."

"How long have you been up for?" I ask, throwing the covers off of me and walking into the bathroom. I turn on the tap and squirt toothpaste onto my toothbrush

"Since nine." He follows me, then leans against the shower wall and crosses his arms. His hair is the messiest I've ever seen it. Instead of his straight, every-hair-in-place hairdo, random pieces stick out at random angles.

"What time is it now?" I ask, trying to speak as clearly as I can, even with the brush in my mouth.

"Noon."

"Goodness gracious. I guess I was exhausted." I shrug then spit into the sink. I'm surprised he was able to figure out what I was saying.

"I'm sorry." He looks down and his hands go into his hoodie pocket. I pick up a wash rag and rinse my face with water.

I scowl at him. "That's stupid. You have nothing to be sorry about."

"But I showed up with no warning and just dumped everything on you. My problems aren't yours. I'm sorry for keeping you up all night."

"You don't need to apologize to me." I say as I walk out, sitting on my bed and picking up my phone. "You haven't done anything wrong, you can always talk to me."

His eyes soften when they meet mine. He smiles gently and nods his head.

"Now get out I need to get dressed." I shoo him away with my hand. He laughs and shuts the door behind him.

I fall back into the blankets and close my eyes. I find a smile creeping onto my lips. All of these emotions about Ruel spending the night start to bubble to the surface. But, I suppress them as soon as they come up. He's hurting right now. I have to put his emotions before mine. Priorities, Genevieve.

So I put on my favorite playlist and try to figure out what to wear. It's a Saturday, nice and sunny. I opt for a white flowy tank top and boyfriend jeans. I grab my purse and my phone and head for the door.

Ruel is sitting on my couch, scrolling through his phone.

"Let's go do something." I say enthusiastically. I grab a pair of sunglasses from the foyer table and push them through my hair.

He nods his head and stands up. Pillows and blankets are still strewn about the couch, messy from him sleeping there. 

"I need to head home first. Come with me, I'll only take a few minutes." He says. He walks out of my front door. I follow in suit, having a tad bit of trouble keeping up with him and his long legs.

:

We stop walking when we reach a beautiful home. It's made of dark stone and white wood. Ruel leads the way, hopping up a few steps and a twisted driveway. A large mangled tree stands proudly in front of the house. He pulls a house key out of his pocket and puts it in the lock, twisting it. He pushes the door open as quietly as possible.