|53| • Amelia
Even though Evie said I should stay in my room so I wouldn't feel uncomfortable, I just couldn't! No matter how cosy the bed was, I couldn't fall asleep, I twisted and rolled along the bed, holding mister panda while tightening my eyes shut.
The bed felt empty without him here, which was funny because we had never slept on the same bed before, but now that he was next door, my mind kept thinking back to him.
Was he already asleep?
Gosh, it felt so weird being in another human's house past my curfew.
I looked at the unpacked bags at the edge of the room, huffing, I simply didn't have the strength to unpack them yet.
No matter how much I forced myself to yawn, my eyelids didn't get heavy.
Taking my phone, I squinted at the bright light which beamed from it.
The time was half past ten, I had thought we would stay up together but I was already yawning by nine o'clock, yet now, I simply stared at the ceiling!
Huffing, I rolled out of bed and walked out of my room.
It was dark, there was no light coming from Evie's room, did that mean he was already asleep?
I nibbled on my lip, going to place my hand on his door handle.
I mean, he did say I was welcome to come in any time, right? Gosh, I felt like a stalker right now.
Trying to be extra quiet, I winced when the door creaked open.
Holding my breath, I tried to close it as gently as possible.
When it clicked, I huffed, puffing my chest out in triumph before proceeding to tiptoe to his bed.
The light from the streets shimmered through the curtains, giving me a bit of sight.
I looked over at the king-sized bed, seeing his body sprawled up against it. I stifled in a giggle.
Yep, I was definitely a stalker, hovering over my boyfriend while thinking of the next step.
If I climbed to his bed, that would definitely be weird, right?
Taking in my lower lip, I stretched out a hand to shake him.
I guess all my stealthiness was in vain now that I was waking him.
He didn't even stir, he just continued to sleep, light snores leaving him.
Gently climbing his bed, I tapped him this time.
"U-uhm, E-Evie?" Goodness, what was I doing?
He was probably exhausted, no wonder he fell asleep so fast.
Curling my hands up, I decided to leave.
That was when he stirred, letting out a groan.
I stilled, had I been caught? Turning around, I checked to see if he was awake, he wasn't. It wasn't up to a minute later, he groaned again, as though he was constrained, turning his body.
I frowned, was he having a dream? Reaching for the bedside lamp, I turned it to the lowest, so I could get a good glimpse at him and not disturb him with the lights.
His eyebrows were knitted harshly together, beads of sweat began forming on his forehead, as I stared at him my worry grew. What was wrong? Touching his shoulders, I shook him. "Evie, wake up." Everest shook his head, his body jerking but he was still asleep.
He was having a nightmare.
"Evie!" I began to panic, was this what he endured everyday? Adding force, I shook him harder, sitting up to see his face. He was full on sweating now. Scared, I cupped his cheeks, my heart thudding hard. Why wasn't he waking up? What was he dreaming of?
"Everest Simon!" I yelled, cringing at how long my voice sounded in the quiet room. In that moment, his hand gripped mine which was on his face, his eyes jarring open in an instant. I squealed at his sudden movement, jumping back but he still held in to my hand.
"Shit." He groaned, slowly sitting up, his free hand pulling on his hair. "Not again," I heard his say quietly, before looking up at me, his eyebrows arching in question as though he didn't realise he was holding unto me. "Amelia?" Evie muttered slowly, his voice drowsy.
Crud, I wasn't meant to be here, was I?
"Are you okay now? You were sweating and stirring hard in your sleep.
" I asked, concerned. He narrowed his eyes before nodding, letting go of my hand.
"I'm sorry sweetheart, did I wake you?" Everest replied, his lips downturned in a frown, did he assume I heard him from my room?
"No! It's not that. I couldn't sleep and.
..so I came here. I should leave, sorry to wake—" He didn't let me finish, his hands pulled me down to his bed with him, Evie then pulled me close to him.
"Stay with me, I had a bad dream." Everest said in a whisper, holding my waist tight as though I'd disappear. I didn't know what to say, I just let the heat warm my face while staying in his comfortable hold.
After about a minute, I cleared my throat. "Uh, Evie?"
There was no reply, his chest simply heaved and fell, I smiled.
This man fell asleep way too fast. Taking a deep breath, I cuddled closer to him, resting my head against his chest, listening to his heartbeat.
Concern wasn't too far off, I couldn't help but wonder what made me tremble and groan like that.
My mind went back to the night he called me, saying he couldn't sleep; I remembered him saying he had a nightmare of his time on the battlefield.
Was that what this was?
"I'm sorry you had to go through that, Evie."
My voice was low, knowing he couldn't hear me anyways. Minutes into listening to the rhythm of his heartbeat, my eyelids began feeing heavy and before I knew it, I drifted into a calming sleep.
-
When I woke up, the bed was empty and I was wrapped in the duvet like a sausage.
His room was now bright, the curtains pulled apart and neatly set on the holder.
Groaning, I pushed myself off the comfortable bed, my eyelids still heavy.
Even if I was still dizzy with sleep, my lips went up in a smile.
I had slept in Evie's room, cuddled into him.
No wonder I slept so peacefully.
Yawning, I woblled out of bed, looking around. So this was his room, it was basic compared to what he'd done on mine. From the varsity mirror, I saw my reflection. Bed hair, rumpled nightwear and eye bags. Geez, I hope Evie didn't see me before getting up.
Everest...
Last night he made me worry, watching him sweat and move around with his eyebrows pulled together, I was scared.
He was having a nightmare and there was nothing I could really do except wake him up.
I wished I could take the dream away. Sighing, I arranged his bed, smoothening the duvet and plumping his pillows.
Where was he anyways?
Walking out of his room, I tiptoed into my room, hoping he wouldn't realize I'd woken up yet, once I was in my room, a sigh left my lips.
So, I was in Everest Simon's home...gosh, I still can't believe it.
Not just that, but we slept in each others company!
My stomach turned in excitement, I'd never imagined — okay, I did imagine, but I never thought it'd come true!
Gee, I was grinning so hard my mouth was starting to hurt!
The way he held me yesterday made me feel so warm, his arms wrapped around me, my head on his chest. His heartbeat was quite nice to listen to. I liked it a lot.
Sighing dreamily, I twirled around, giggling to myself as I plumped on the bed, face to face with mister panda.
"Hello baby! How are ya?" I teased, poking the cute stuffed animal.
It looked at me with a cheeky smile, it was so cute!
Thinking of Evie seeing this and choosing it for me made me love it all the more.
"I slept with daddy today." I whispered into its round ears, grinning at it. As long as I was concerned, mister panda considered Evie a daddy. "How was it? Well, it was everything I imagined! I mean, not that I was thinking of it everyday like some stalker."
Mister Panda's cheeky smile remained. "Anyways!
I think he went out...or maybe he's in the kitchen.
Oh right! Let me go wash up! I don't want to look like some slob.
" Kissing mister panda on his button nose, I jumped up, going to arrange my bed as well.
Closing my eyes, I thanked God for how my life was playing out, how could I not?
Taking a deep breath, I went towards the toilet.
Much to my surprise, Evie had dropped a new toothbrush and toothpaste on the counter behind the sink.
I was too excited and forgot to brush last night, so I hadn't seen it.
A small smile formed on my lips, he'd really thought about everything, hadn't he?
Staring at my reflection, I massaged the bottom of my eyes, making the eye bags go down gradually.
Okay, maybe I did bother a bit more about my appearance now that I was living with him.
He just looked so good all the time! Even after sweating from working at Abel's mechanic shop, his hair was still tousled in an attractive way, the beads of sweat of his forehead and chest made him look shiny.
Everest was quite the catch, wasn't he?
Snickering, I felt my heart swoon at the fact that he was in love with me. Me! The socially awkward girl. Huffing, I opened the faucet, throwing the empty toothbrush pack in the bin. As I brushed my teeth, I hummed, thinking back to the bakery.
I missed them.
All of them.
Somehow I wished I'd started working there sooner, so I would have more time to spend with time before leaving.
Preston was a great guy, I told him whenever I could.
He was protective of me, went out of his way to help in one way or the other.
Ava, gee, I found myself grinning when we spoke, especially when Hugh came in, she'd begin to stutter on her words and steal glances from him.
Although I wasn't as close to Blossom and Milan, I still missed their company.
Much more Mrs Margret! She was such a kind woman, when I told her I was going, she enclosed me in a tight hug, saying she wished me the best. That was when I almost shed a tear.
Working with them was one of the best things I even decided on.
Now it was time for a new chapter in my life.
Culinary school.
I was thrilled to say the least, even more that I had someone I cherished by my side, someone who evidently cared for me and my dreams. Goodness, was this how it was to be blessed? Spitting out the paste, I gargled water, I placed the toothbrush in the small plastic beside the tap.
The rest of my hour consisted of me going to unpack some products and arranging it as neatly as possible, going to massage my face with the scrub and then taking a shower in my strawberry scented body wash. I felt fresher just stepping out of the shower cubicle.
After drying myself, I decided on a pair of sweat-shorts, it reached the middle of my thigh, I matched it with an oversized polo shirt. Spraying about three types of perfume, I was finally ready to see Evie.
Humming happily, I skipped out of my room, the scent of pancakes filling the entire apartment. This made a grin stretch on my face. Was he cooking? Quietly, I tiptoed near the kitchen, wanting to catch him off guard, in his element.
When I caught a glimpse of him, warmth rushed to through my body.
There he was, Everest Simon. He had his back turned, hands moving smoothly as he turned something — which I assumed was the pancakes, in the pan.
His head bobbing from side to side, he was whistling a familiar tune while tapping his feet on the floor.
He looked so carefree in a pair of sweatpants and ran top, his biceps flexing as he moved. From behind, I could tell he'd already taken a shower because his hair still seemed wet as it fell to all sides, giving it a rough — yet cute look.
I should scare him.
I thought with a smirk, nodding to myself, I tiptoed towards the kitchen area, trying to stop myself from laughing. He was having so much in his own company, I found it adorable. When I was close enough, I smirked.
"I know you're behind me, pretty girl."
"Ah!" His voice spoke out so suddenly that it creeped me out, putting my hands up in defense, I watched as Evie turned to me with a smirk on his face, the plastic spatula in his hand. "Your footsteps gave it away." He said teasingly, going back to scoop the pancake into a plate.
I pouted, "Hey, no fair!" I tried hard to be stealthy! He just snickered, taking the plate to set on the dining table, I followed him with a frown. "I'll give you an A for effort though," Rolljng my eyes, I moved to hug his waist when he turned to drop the plate.
"Good morning, Evie." I felt him stiffen, I guess it was too sudden?
That was when I realised I wasn't wearing a bra, quickly, I pulled away.
Gosh, my cheeks were hot now. Clearing my throat, I turned to the food, grinning from ear to ear when I took a delicious whiff of the breakfast he was cooking up.
"Good morning to you too, Amelia." He cleared the growing tension, bending his head as he placed a kiss on my cheek. "How'd you sleep?" He asked, still close. I get my body tense up, his cologne scented real nice. "I-I slept okay..." I trailed off, gosh, why was I stuttering now?
Actually, I slept better than okay, but I could say that now.
"You know, I was quite surprised to wake up with you in my arms yesterday," Everest uttered when he went back into the kitchen.
I blushed, I'd been caught a second time.
"Not that I didn't love it, anyways. I was just surprised.
" He began to explain further when I didn't say anything.
Nibbling on my lips, I made my way to him.
He was already looking at me with a cheeky smile.
"I couldn't sleep...so I, kinda snuck into your room." While admitting this, I found my fingers fairly interesting, tinkering with them so I wouldn't have to look at his taunting gaze.
"You don't have to explain, sweetheart. I was actually hoping you'd come." Everest's words made me giggle. He was? I felt better knowing this.
"Actually, what happened with you yesterday? When I came in, you were having a nightmare or something."
His smile faltered, robotically, he went back to the pan, spraying it with oil and pouting already whisked eggs into it. "Oh, that. It happens sometimes. Don't worry about it." Everest gave little when he spoke about it. Don't worry? Of course I would!
Leaning closer to him, I continued. "Are you sure?
You seemed so scared, you were sweating and all.
You can talk about it you know?" He shrugged, turning the eggs.
"I already did, remember? It's just the war thing.
You don't have to worry. I'm sure it'll stop pretty soon.
" He tried he'd to dismiss it, with a sigh, I let him.
"So do you usually wake up so early?" I asked, watching as he prepared a plate for two. This man was too kind, I let the smile on my lips show itself as I observed my man.
"Yeah, I'm kind of used to it already." He dropped the plates in the sink, taking my palms and leading me to the dining. "I hope you like pancakes and eggs. That's all I could whip up right now." Clapping my hands excitedly, I nodded at his question.
"Of course I do!" Taking the fork, I was about to dig in. "Oh! Thank you so much, Evie." I said with a cheery smile, when he looked towards me, I took the opportunity to kiss his cheeks. He looked away, a chuckled coming from him. Was he blushing? How cute!
"You're welcome, my dear."
I was starting to love that endearment, he didn't so it so often but it somehow managed to make my heart warm, looking from him, I took a bit of the pancake. The vanilla flavour and maple syrup went well together. "This tastes good! I knew you had it in you." I teased, taking another bite.
Everest laughed.
"I guess there are two chefs in this relationship."
It took all in me not to jump to his laps and kiss the syrup off his pink lips. My, my, what was wrong with me? I found it hard to focus on my food.
"What?"
My eyes widened slightly, munching on my food. "Hm? What what?" I asked back. Everest cheesed. "Quit staring like that."
I blushed, "Like what?" Deciding not to admit it, I questioned innocently. This earned a playful scoff from Evie, he hummed, taking a sip out of the orange juice he had pouted for the both of us.
"Like you want to jump my bones."
I almost choked on this, widening my eyes at his words.
Could he really see through me? How embarrassing!
"Evie!" My poor attempt of denial went south straight away, hugging, I stared hard into my plate, stabbing and stuffing the scrambled egg into my mouth.
I heard his laugh torment my hormonal self.
"But," The laughing man began when he'd calmed down, his hand going to my lap.
"You're not the only one with that feeling, darling."
Everest said, staring me dead in the eye, and boy oh boy did I feel my heart skip a beat.