HIDDEN (Hide Or Die)

Chapter 8

ANDREW'S P.O.V.

I woke up to the soft patter against my window, where I had dozed off last night; waiting. My sight was a bit bleary and the lack of sleep consequences greeted me in the form of a conking headache scratching at my temple. I looked out, to the slight splatter of water droplets scattered messily against the window's glass, it was only the beginning of dawn, and the rain was so negligible it would probably stop by the time I have to head out to school.

The sound brought a sense of calmness to my distressed mind, soothing over my interlinked thought but not enough to dissolve them. Where had I gone wrong? I pondered again and again but I knew the answer already. Another night of waiting gone for nothing. It had me wondering; had I imagined it all?

It seemed real, he felt real. Was it because I talked? Had I stayed silent, would have he come back? I rubbed my temple, a strong yawn escaping me, this is too much of pointless thinking so early in the morning. I focused on the melody of rain and nature as they sang a duet of soothing lullabies. Another sleepless night has gone to waste for a silly proof. Why does everything need evidence to be proven? Why can't we take each other's word for it? I heaved a sigh at the stupidity of the question and stretched the sore muscles of my arms, neck, and back to release the tension. Why do I want to prove it to anyone anyway? I know what I saw!

I ruffled my disheveled hair, noting the growing length; I'd have to trim it soon, and puffed out air in slight frustration; this has been the first thought I get when I wake up and the last before I fall asleep. I've told my mother, she snickered at me when I did and told me to stop engrossing myself into those imaginative movies. It irked me, how easily my parents brushed it off. I'm not one to work for attention. If ever, I try to avoid it. And my father obviously sided with my mother on their "active mind of mine" claim. Whatever, I know I'm telling the truth so it's all fine, right? My eyes darted to my position on the windowsill and the camera I had prepared... I guess not.

Agh. I need to stop. I decided on a shower to wash off the leftover drowsiness. Also to wash off the sweat of the previous day. I much preferred morning showers rather than night showers. Who likes sleeping with their hair wet? I was greeted with a miserable state of a reflection as soon as I flipped on the lights to my ensuite bathroom and glanced in the mirror, my eyes red and burning, the bags underneath too heavy, probably the lack of sleep. It's not like I had perfect skin, by any means, I sneak out more times than anyone would guess. And as a junior high student, dark circles are kind of on-brand for most. Except for girls who cake up way too much makeup, or those students who actually get their eight hours of sleep like the goody two shoes they are.

Speaking of girls, where is my phone? I left my toothbrush hanging as I searched for it on my not so tidy countertop. I'm usually a clean freak, but I've been too lazy lately. I couldn't find it, so I assumed I had left it charging outside on my desk. Oh right I haven't even grabbed it yet, why did I think I had it on me? Must be the lack of sleep. Since I had time, I decided to shave the almost unnoticeable five o'clock shadow I had. I didn't like it, it made me feel older than I am. Like I'm twenty or something when I still have two years to miss around before then. Blame it on my father's genes. It runs in the whole family actually. All males are slightly more masculine once we hit puberty. Nothing wrong with that, it just made it harder to blend in since everyone just assumed I'm that manly guy- which I am, but I hate the stereotyping of it.

The first alarm of the day blared out, loud enough for me to hear, but not loud enough to reach my parents on the other side of the house. Thank goodness for thick walls and distance; I can let it ring for as long as I want, otherwise, I'd have to get out and turn it off, and I'm in no mood for that. Already half-undressed and drained of all energy. Good thing I chose a softer song though. I'm not hard to wake up, but I like to coax myself out of sleep rather than jolting myself awake. Unnecessary adrenaline, if you ask me. I continued undressing then hopped into the shower, turning the water on to a suitable temperature before I grabbed one of my honeycomb body scrubbers and squeezed some shower gel on top. Loofahs are overrated honestly. Who'd waste ten dollars on a piece of sponge that only soaks water and does nothing to exfoliate your skin? Also, you have to change it every month? Huh. I think not. Why am I even thinking about these things? God help me, I still need my sanity.