"IT'S 6 AM NEW YORK! GOOD MORNING!!!!" Laying in bed, drool on the pillow, hair covering my face, I aimlessly reached for the alarm clock to shut it off. Sitting up, yawning and rubbing the back of my neck, I mumbled, "Says who?" Pulling on my robe, I went in the bathroom, then remembered "Tom!" I was completely awake now. I threw on my slippers, made sure my robe was tied and went to get him up.
But he was already up...in the kitchen...making breakfast? He didn't hear me come out. "Um...good morning."
He whipped around, smiling, yet embarrassed. "Good morning Chelsea, ehehe. I'm so sorry I fell asleep on your couch last night, so to make up for it, I made breakfast. Coffee?" He stood there in the same clothes he wore last night, holding a coffee mug, while bacon and eggs were cooking on the stove.
I stood there, leaning against my wall, barely awake, and this man is happily making breakfast, smiling ear-to-ear. How can a person wake up smiling like this, especially after a rough day?
Walking to the kitchen, shaking my head and chuckling, I took the coffee cup from him. "Thank you. So, you're apologizing to me for falling asleep on my couch and then you make me breakfast, even though you have to be at work? You do have to work, don't you?"
He tossed a piece of bacon in my mouth, smiling like a loon. "Yes, I do. I wanted to properly thank you for letting me stay."
I crunched on the bacon, shaking my head. "Tom, you really don't need to thank me! We're neighbors. We're friends. I see that you haven't showered yet, and you must have to be getting to the set sometime soon, don't you? I'd feel bad if you were late because of me! Did you eat?"
After taking a sip of his coffee, he walked towards me and with those puppy eyes said, "Well, yes, but I don't want to leave you with a mess to clean up." He turned back to put some plates and silverware in the dishwasher, and leaning over him, I took the dish from him, and replied, "You know Tom, I love that you made me breakfast, and I am truly grateful, but if you don't get ready for work, I'm gonna have to break this dish and cut your pretty face! Now go!!"
Tom actually blushed. He stood directly in front of me, (holy cow Tom, back up! My neck hurts!) and squished my cheeks together, all the while, grinning. "Awww, you think I'm pretty!!"
I managed to get out of his grip and reached for a plate. Trying my best to look threatening, I pointed to the door. "My breakfast is getting cold. And this is a treat! I never eat breakfast! So get!"
"Why don't you eat breakfast, darling?" Whoa, the entire tone here became too serious! But, after knowing him for just this short period of time, I knew he wouldn't let this go.
I shrugged. "I don't know. After..." Tom followed my line of sight to the picture of Steve and me. Tom touched my arm lightly.
"Chelsea, you can tell me if I'm overstepping my boundaries, but have you been taking care of yourself for the past 18 months?"
I almost told him to mind his own business, but Tom was just concerned. He's not going to lecture me like a little kid...is he?
I pursed my lips in a smile, but I've always had a hard time looking at someone when I lie. "Of course I have," I said to my microwave.
"Well Chelsea, I really hope you do, because your health is nothing to mess with." He looked at me in a way that was hard to read. As if he liked me or wanted to kiss me. But he knows I don't think of him like that. We're friends and he knows that nothing would happen...right?
