Living on borrowed light...

Departure.

~ Sometime during the night between the lulls of twilight sleep, I heard movement. Opening my eyes only long enough to see him looking at the bottles of perfume that had been siting on my dresser. Closing my eyes for what felt like mere seconds, I opened them again to see him now sitting at my artists desk, with the lamp turned on, and papers in hand. Panic set in quickly, my drawings... I attempted to fight against the stronghold of sleep and the hangover that had taken over my body. But it was hopeless, now returning to the darkness of a deep sleep, the room around me faded. ~                  

                                                   -

~Sun rays were floating down from the window above me, cascading along my face causing me to stir. Slowly opening my eyes I looked up, the light now reflecting in the warm hues of brown. Squinting I sat up, my head was pounding and my body ached. My vision now clearing, I looked down. Realizing I had fallen asleep in the black dress Jen had picked out for me the night before. Groaning softly I looked over to my bedside table, the two previously empty glasses now replaced with a full one, and two little pills beside it. My memory suddenly flooding back to me, I quickly looked over to my desk. He wasn't there, neither was the jacket and tie he had draped on the chair last night. I couldn't see anything out of place, so I guessed I was just dreaming. Swinging my legs over the side of my bed, I reached for the pills and glass of water. I studied the pills in my hand for a moment, they looked like advil. He must of left them here for me. Taking them with a big gulp of water, I set the glass back down in its previous place. I stretched, feeling my own pulse thumping in my head, my skin sticky with sweat, and my eyes slightly crusted with sleep and old make up, I definitely needed a shower. So up I got, walking towards my closet with soft steps, picking out a bra, panties, and simple jeans and a shirt. I noticed the house was quiet, thinking to myself that he must have left, I walked to my bathroom. Yawning as I walked, feeling the carpet between my toes, I took a quick look down over the banister of my stairs. His shoes were also gone, there was suddenly an odd feeling that arose in my chest, and I couldn't quite put my finger on. Shrugging it off I headed for my bathroom once again. Entering and putting my items down, I looked at my reflection in the mirror. Slightly horrified, I could now see how all the eyeliner had bled down and burrowed in the cavity under my lower lid, making me look like a raccoon, and my lipstick faded except along the outer line of my lips. Gross, no wonder he left. Laughing to myself I began my usual shower routine, taking in the warmth of the water. Before long, I was clean and felt like myself again. Having finished drying off and drying my hair I got dressed. Now leaving my bathroom, and bringing the black dress with me, I stopped. I heard movement in my kitchen and I could smell something cooking. Walking even softer now I looked back over the banister, his shoes were back on the mat in-front of my door. He came back? My now sober mind slightly confused. I guess he really was the alpha male type, he had to be to take over someones home this way, especially since we just met. Deep in thought I found myself  sort of liking it.  Shaking my head, and my thoughts away, I entered my room. Throwing my clothes into the hamper and now walking to my artists desk. As I looked everything over, I noticed one of my drawer wasn't fully shut, maybe I wasn't dreaming after all... Shit, that drawer was exactly where I stored all my drawings... My very personal, in-depth drawings, that may or may not give the viewer a far too deep look into my psyche. I was now nervous, what did he see? Reaching down to open the drawer and see if they were out of order, I hear his voice right behind me. " How are you feeling? " I just about jumped out of my skin, and instead of opening the drawer, I shut it.  I stood up and turned around to face him, he had a coffee in his hands and was now handing it to me. " Thank you." I took the coffee from him. "Well... My head hurts, but better than expected."  He smiled. His clothes were different now, he wore a tight white t-shirt and jeans, now showing off his slender yet muscular frame, and his arms, oh gosh.... Trying not to make my staring obvious I kept talking. "Did you sleep at all? "  I now sipped the coffee he gave me. " Well... Not much. " He laughed. "You should eat, you'll feel better after.'' He now was beside me guiding me downstairs with his hand on my back. As he stepped closer to me I could smell the soap and cologne coming off of him, he definitely went home to shower. " Thank you Theodore, for the pills and water  this morning." Heading down the stairs he smiled. " Just Ted, and you're welcome. I hope you don't mind that I made you breakfast, cooking is a passion of mine, and I thought you could definitely use a good breakfast after the night you had last night."  Now walking into the kitchen, I saw he had cleaned everything. He had left the stove, and counter immaculate. In the strainer on the counter, the dishes were cleaned and drying. " That's really kind of you, thank you." Walking to the table I could see two places had been set, both beside one another. Along with the plates and forks, there was an array of breakfast food. Pancakes, eggs, bacon, toast, fried ham, and a bowl of fruit. " Ted, you made all this? " I looked at him in disbelief, not because I didn't think he could cook, but because he was so kind to go out of his way to do such a thing for someone he barely knew. " It's the least I could do, when I headed home to clean up, I thought I'd bring back a few things, not a big deal, don't worry about it."  Ted pulled out a chair gesturing for me to sit. Still in shock I put my coffee down and sat, staring at all the food that was beautifully plated. " You're staring like you've never eaten a good meal before." Smiling he now sat beside me, picking up a fork and gracefully grabbing some food. Unable to find the words, I stuttered. " I... Umm, I just... " Then I whispered. "Thank you..."  He looked at me with soft eyes, placing two pancakes and some fruit on my plate, he nudged a bottle of syrup my way. " Canadians sure live up to their polite stereotype. " He laughed, beginning to eat his food now, and In-between bites of food he  talked. " Did I startle you this morning?" Pouring the syrup on my pancakes I smiled sheepishly. " Yeah, a bit, I didn't hear you come up behind me."   He chuckled. " Yeah, I seem to have a bad habit of sneaking up on people."  Remembering the open drawer I looked at him, not sure if I should mention it. He had stopped for a moment, like he could see the gears of thought turning in my head. " Is there something wrong?" Looking down at my plate, I decided to just address it directly. " No, there's nothing wrong I Just..." I paused, trying to calm my nerves. "Ted.. Can I ask you something?" He now had his full attention on me, he had put his fork down and everything. "Sure thing." Fiddling with my fork in my hand, I looked at him, searching his eyes. But his eyes suddenly made me feel freeze again.... I couldn't help but revert back to the dream I had. " I... Last night I woke up for a moment and wasn't sure if I was dreaming or not, did you... Look at my drawings?" I shifted in my seat, uncomfortable now. His demeanor didn't change, not even for a moment.  " Couldn't sleep last night, and while I was waiting for the sun to rise, well... I could tell the desk near your bed was of an artists. I hope you don't mind, my curiosity got the better of me." He now went back to cutting up his food. I however, appreciated his honesty, but that also made me panic. "Ted.. W-what... Drawings did you happen to see?" My voice dripping with a nervous energy. He was smiling... Why was he smiling? Oh god. "Well." Looking at me he swallowed a bite of food he had in his mouth. " I have to say, your art, was quite intense. I don't think I've ever seen something quite like those drawings before." My face had begun to flush, I could feel it.  " I'm sorry.. I." He cut me off. " Why are you sor-"  That's when I heard banging on the window beside the table, both our heads shot up in the direction of it. And there it was, that familiar fuzzy red hair just below the glass. it was Jen, and she was now opening my window, crawling in like some sort of animal. I jumped out of my seat to help her. " Jesus Jen, why can't you use the door like a regular person?" Us all laughing and her now standing she responded. " Well first of all, your door was locked, and second of all, I thought for sure you'd still be sleeping." She placed her hand on her hip " Besides, how could I pass by that nostalgic memory staring straight at me." That's when she stop talking, looking over at Ted then back at me. Her mouth now hanging slightly open and her eyes widening, as a huge smile started to grow on her face. My face went red, I looked at Ted who was leaning his elbow on the table, fork in hand,  and chewing his food. He looked at Jen and back at me with an eyebrow raised.  Looking back at Jen I blurted out.   " What!? Why are you looking at me like that." I knew EXACTLY why she was looking at me like that. Jen now giddy and shaking her finger at me while letting out a series of deep laughs, she began pushing me, dragging me, to the kitchen and behind the wall that separated the dining room. She rushed back to Ted and she pointed her finger at him. " Just a minute my man, I need to talk to my buddy here real quick, girl stuff, so uh, nice pancakes and what not, be right back." Oh god the energy in her voice, I could feel myself dying of embarrassment, what she was thinking had happened was way to obvious, and I knew Ted had to know too. Now back by my side her eyes beaming she whispered, if you could even call it a whisper. " He's still here! You let him stay after he dropped you off?! Oh my god did you guys do it? You guys totally did didn't you? How was it, was he good? Wait... Was he weird? Did you tell him it was your first time? Did you do the thing I told you to do a long time ago? Good right? Man you finally scored!"  Oh god this woman was gunna be the death of me   " Jen!! SHHH! " He heard that, he definitely had to of heard that. " Nothing happened, we just slept." Her previously excited demeanor fell into a look of pure disappointment. " What do you mean you guys just slept, the first time you ever let a guy in your house, and you guys just... Sleep... What?" She look at me with her head tilted, as though I had just grown three heads.   " Yeah, we just slept, that's it, then he made me breakfast, which by the way, thanks for just leaving me  with him by myself last night."  Looking down at my hands my face redder than ever, I picked at my nails. Her brows were furrowed now, and she was staring at me. " What, is there something wrong with him? Did his junk not work or something?" She paused. " ...Hes gay isn't he... Well shit. I should of know by how nicely dressed he was." I hissed at her.   " Jen! He's not gay, he's just... Nice."  Of course I didn't know for sure but I wanted this conversation to end. She stared, blank for a moment then came back to her upbeat self. " Well, that just means you try again no biggie, and don't be such a wimp, you're fiiiine." I rolled my eyes and whispered."Why are you so obsessed with this whole losing my- You know what, never mind." She shrugged doting a smile which showed her lack of guilt. And with me not wanting to keep talking about this any longer, I walked away, back to the table where Ted was sitting and with her following right behind me.  Doe eye'd I looked at Ted, and sat back down beside him. Jen chose the seat on the other side of him, now putting her hand on his shoulder, patting him roughly. " Sorry about that Theo, you know how it is, girl stuff." I looked at Ted and he was smiling through pursed lips. I could tell he was trying his best  to play it off like he didn't hear the entire conversation that just took place. Seeing his reaction I now laughed, resting my face in my hand and shaking my head. "Jen... Would you please just eat something before you have another outburst."  Both me and Ted laughed, shaking his head he went back to working on his pancake. Jen's eyes lit up when she looked at all the food. " Don't mind if I do, I'm starving!"