To Our Pinky Promises

Chapter 14

I woke up in a strange bed that felt foreign to me. The smell of the sheets were different than the ones I usually use. The air in the room isn't as cold as it usually is in the morning. I couldn't hear any birds chirping on the tree outside of my window.

I frowned. It was all very strange, indeed. But it wasn't enough for my mind to gather the will to actually open my eyes, rouse my full consciousness and wake up. My eyes were glued shut and still felt heavy with sleep.

I tried to recall what happened yesterday to give myself an explanation of why my bed didn't feel like my bed instead of opening my eyes to check out my surrounding. What was I up to last night? Did I change my sheets and turn on the heater? Did the birds that nested on the tree by my bedroom window die?

I thought long and hard, trying to push past my sleepy state and jog my memory.

Until it all came back to me and my eyes snapped open in shock.

My body bolted into a sitting position on the bed and I turned to the bedside table to check my phone. It was running really low on battery. Hell, it was a miracle that it hasn't died, yet.

I quickly checked the time and texted Kimmy before my phone dies on me. I know she'd be up by then, being the morning person she was. She was probably sitting in her kitchen, sipping on some coffee and scrolling through instagram right now.

Judging by the instant reply I got from her, I must be half right.

I got out of bed and make the bed, trying to clean it as best as I can to not make my stay such an inconvenience to Alex and his brother.

It was my first time staying at someone's house other than friends who I've known for a long time.

I mean, technically speaking, Alex was a friend that I've known for a long time. But that wasn't the point. I grabbed my phone and checked the room once more before heading out of the bedroom.

I covered my yawning lips as I walked out of the guest bedroom and towards the kitchen to grab some water. The sun was already out and it was probably nearing noon soon but I still felt some leftover fatigue from yesterday's ordeal.

I heard the a machine buzzing from the kitchen and assumed that someone else was already up. The realization that I was on someone else's property, in their house, inflicted a sense of meekness in me. It felt strange to be walking around in someone else's place. I felt out of place. It didn't help that I've never been in that house before, or that I wasn't close enough to Alex to be able to feel comfortable roaming around his house without anyone's supervision. Not that I needed any babysitting.

I slowly continued to walk to the kitchen, figuring that it's best to let my presence known to whoever was in there. I didn't know how to make an entrance so I purposely made a few noises to let whoever was in the kitchen aware that someone else had woken up.

Alex's older brother turned around from the counter and looked at me. "Ah, you're up. Coffee?" He offered, tilting his head towards the coffee machine that sat on the counter in front of his body.

I shook my head before smiling at him, "No, thanks. I don't really drink coffee."

Wayne looked surprised at my answer but shrugged, "It's probably healthier that way."

"I'm about to make breakfast so just take a seat. Do you want anything to drink? Juice? Tea?" He offered.

I bit my lip before finally replying, "Um, just water, please."

He pointed to a drawer under the counter, "The cups are in there, help yourself."

I stood up from the stool and walked over to the drawer he had pointed at, pulling it open and grabbing a cup before filling it with some tap water.