Naked Eyes

XIII

A/N:- Can't believe I almost gave up. Anyway, here's another rewritten chapter.

-- Unedited + Rewritten --

Chapter 13 / Floating Thoughts.

"She was a mind floating in an ocean of confusion."

- Caroline. B.

.....

10pm.

The perfect time Rhoda and especially Melissa wished to put their fatigued body to rest - though not after a blissful period of movie time. And it didn't fail to include one of their most loved habits - delightful pop corn munching.

That period seemed quite amazing and wonderful for Rhoda whose mind remained at peace. But not for Melissa. She only sat there - on the brown couch - watching moving pictures as her mind had swayed far off to only one person.

Andy.

All through the movie moment, it was her suspicions and near logic about him that repeatedly floated through her thoughts.

Even the news headlines that she'd always taken note of, remained more of blurry writings as Rhoda kept on moving past TV channels.

Rhoda had finally settled on the one that was airing their favourite Nigerian comedy series : Jenifa's Diary.

Though she could tell that - as usual - those news headlines carried negative, worrisome happenings (probably connected to the so called "evil man on the loose"), her brain failed to register anything from such blurriness. Neither did her heart even gather the determination to know and find out the actual contents.

Hours later, now tucked in Rhoda's king-sized bed, she couldn't shake any of her initial perturbance.

Her heart rate had elevated to a depressing, unhealthy state. Part of her even doubted if she would survive that night - without suddenly being knocked out by such emotions of intense worriedness and partial horror.

"Lights out, bestie?" Rhoda asked, laying close to Melissa, and hands stretched to the light switch.

"Yes," Melissa asserted, turning to the other side and muttering "Goodnight, Rho."

After hearing Rhoda reply same, Melissa unsuccessfully tried drifting right into a much needed slumber.

Just when her eyelids were so close to joining in unison, thoughts of different kinds swayed to and fro; less of gleeful nature and more of worrisome like.

Just like the attraction of a metal to a magnet, the deliberation about the stalker became drawn to her delicate mind.

Thus causing her eyes to shoot wide open.

With eyes now stuck on the green wall that showed forth the black shadow of Rhoda's bed, she realized one thing : with such disturbances lingering in her mind, she would never be able to gain any form of sleep. No matter how or what she tried.

So, surrendering to such consternations, she drew back  the bed spread - that covered all of her body - downwards, to her feet area.