Stormy Eyes

Chapter Ten: Returning to the Present

I woke up with sunlight streaming through my window into my eyes, so I turned over to shield them. I ran my hands over my face and began to register where it was that I was lying. 

My couch, in my living room. 

The memories of the night before started to surface and I groaned: I fell asleep, while Carter was here. I looked around, but couldn't locate the soul that told me almost every horrifying detail of his past. I didn't expect him to stay after I had fallen asleep, so I'm not sure why I checked. 

It doesn't surprise me that Carter had a difficult past, but the fact that it has been following him around for all of this time makes it easier to understand why he is like he is. After last night I feel as though I've known Carter for a lot longer than I really have, I'm happy that he trusts me with the information that he has shared. I know that things will be different now. 

At least now I know what I'm dealing with: A psychopath of a father and his men with toxic masculinity complexes. 

Most of my life I've walked around carrying pepper spray, but recently I've been slaking in that department. I'm going to have to carry a pocket size canister in my bag as I move around the city. I'll probably have to keep looking over my shoulder, check the area before entering my apartment and keeping Carter on speed dial. Sounds like the normal daily routine of a female in today's world, so shouldn't be too hard. 

I felt drained, despite having a full nights sleep, but I dragged myself off the couch and walked to the bathroom to brush my teeth. Brushing my teeth first thing in the morning has always been an obsessive thing with me, because I feel like if I haven't brushed my teeth then I cannot get anything else done. I walked to the kitchen and made myself some cereal, walked back over to the couch and opened my laptop to find a movie.

I do not plan on doing anything remotely productive today. 

My phone rang only a few seconds later and when I looked at the screen I saw Liam's name appear on the screen. Did I really feel like a conversation with this guy right now? I answered anyway. 

"Hey." I greeted. 

"Hey, Espen." He said cheerfully. How does he have this much energy at this time on a Sunday? "How are you?"

"I'm doing alright, thanks. You?"

"Same." He said with a pause. "What're your plans for today?" 

Internal groan. I knew where this was going. 

"Um, I'm not sure yet." 

"Well, why don't we do something? If you can I mean."

I wondered if I should've made up an excuse or be a decent human being? 

"I might have plans with some friends of mine."

"Oh." He sounded disappointed. "Which friends?"

"The friends you met when we went to the movies." I felt slightly guilty for my lie, because of the obvious disappointment in his voice. "I can cancel though."

"I can't make you do that."

"I can ask them if you want to join." What am I doing. This is why I don't lie. This web that I have created is going to cause a mess. 

"Would they mind?" 

"Not at all."

"Well, if you're sure."

"Cool, I'll let you know."

"Thanks, Espen."

I put down the phone and ran into my bedroom to change into something decent. I had to fix the mess that I had created with that stupid lie. The lie was to get me out of having to do anything, but instead my conscience got the better of me and now I have more work to do, then if I hadn't lied.