Within the Lights | Connor McDonough

T w o

My whole body awakens as a ringing sound abruptly made my eyes open. Grunting at the thought of waking up, I realized it was already morning. I blinked twice, later on picking my senses up and noticed that it's my alarm clock. All I wanted was some good long hours of sleep and couldn't believe I forgot to turn the alarm off yesterday. Despite feeling groggy, I urged myself to reach for my phone to turn off the deafening alarm and look the time.

6:31 am

I rubbed my eyes as my feet struggled to remove the blanket over me. Did I just slept for 13 hours? It was 5 in the afternoon when I lie on my bed and eventually falling asleep. Damn, it's the longest sleep I had for years. I felt proud of this new achievement. I couldn't even remember the last time I got to date my bed this long. Yet the ironic things was, staying in bed that long depleted my energy. I still felt weary.

Suddenly, the door in my room opened. I startled at the thud the door created when it hit wall-which honestly woke the hell out of me. And it was Toby heading towards my bed walking like a drunkard with a pillow onhis hand. His eyes were closed. This guy seemed to have a plan on sleeping here on my bed. Now my peaceful heaven-like sleep had been bothered. Before I could even adjust my position, Toby already plopped himself on the space beside me.

"What the heck are you doing?" I creased my forehead as I protested, obviously losing my 'good morning' mood, "Get your sleepy ass out of my bed." I had no choice but to disrupt the plan of laying for another hour on my bed. I pulled my body up and leaned my back on the headboard.

He grunted, "Riley," being the only word he said. Afterwards, he drifted to sleep.

Mom and dad were staying at Riley's room for the mean time that's why Riley was staying at Toby's room for now.

I finally understood why this he's here. I remembered this guy beside me complaining before that he wasn't able to sleep well due to Riley snoring all night. Which was a fact especially when we stayed together on the same room. No doubt that it's the same reason why my brother was here.

Despite shirtless, I departed the comfort of my bed and left Toby. I headed outside to check his room and see what caused this guy to move into my room and bother my sleep. I was still outside the door yet you can hear him snoring already. Riley's in his peaceful sleeping while invading all the space on the bed. His arms were widely spread while his feet was tangled with the sheets.

I smiled at the sight of him.

then I went next to the room beside it to check my parents, but they weren't there anymore. They're probably having breakfast already. I checked the dining room but mom and dad were not there either. So I made my way outside instead. I saw both of them sitting at the table beside the pool with two cups of coffee placed on the table. When they saw me, they both looked at my direction and chuckled.

"Sorry to interrupt your breakfast date," I said the moment I sat on the vacant seat beside mom, looking at them through my tired eyes.

"Why don't you get some more sleep? You look horrible," my father said, making mom burst out laughing.

"Toby just invaded my room," I muttered, my voice sounding hoarse. My eyes were shut due to the blinding light but I could feel them looking at me as I slouched on the chair. "So I just gave him my entire bed 'cause it seems like he wasn't able to sleep well beside Thomas."