Chapter 3
After the best night’s sleep of my life, the morning light streaming through the curtains is demanding my eyes to open.
I try my hardest to stay asleep. If I stay still then I won't need to open my eyes and face the raging hangover that's waiting for me, like a gremlin rubbing his hands together ready to pound a headache into my skull.
I move my feet under the covers to try and find that nice cool spot that only lasts for a few seconds and that's when I realise I'm not under the covers.
I must have kicked them off during the night.
Even so, I should be cold but I'm not. I move my feet around to try and find my covers and that's when I feel something flutter over the skin on my legs.
I open my eyes and the sight that greets me means I'm definitely still in the land of nod.
Dotted all over my body are butterflies.
All different sizes and colours. I feel tickling on my head and lift my arm to brush it off and the butterflies that are perched on my arm stay there, instead of fluttering off like expected.
The ones on my head just shuffle over when I gently nudge them.
I feel like I should be freaked out but I'm not.
I'm strangely calm. I relax and take a deep breath.
That's when I feel the connection. It's kinda like last night with the tree but instead of the sadness and the panic I feel calm, rejuvenating energy.
I know exactly where every butterfly is, every leg and every wing.
The energising feeling coming from each and every one of them is flowing into me like pulsing waves.
It's a fantastic feeling and I can't help but smile.
Then, as if on cue, they all take to the air and flutter out the window.
I sit up and watch them all go with a goofy smile on my face.
I turn back to check the time and see Cassey staring at me like I've got Legolas and Loki in bed with me.
She goes to speak a few times but no sound comes out. I jump out of bed and drag the sleeping bag off her. “Morning Sunshine!”
She sits up and points her finger at me. “You... butterflies!... Fucking.... no-way-... this is just....I mean.... you've got no hangover!?!?” She's beyond confused the poor girl.
“No? No, I don't.” I know I should, I mean I was beyond drunk last night. I don't even have a headache. Then, it hits me. “Somehow... and don't ask me how but I think the butterflies sorted that.”
“Kris, this is beyond weird. After last night and now the butterflies somehow curing your hangover, I have no idea what to think about anything anymore!” She gets up and goes to the door. “I need coffee!”
I follow her in a bit of a daze. What the hell is going on with me? It's not bad so far, I guess. I don't understand why or how though and that's the confusing part. Have I somehow turned into some kind of super hippie tree hugger?
I make Cassey a coffee and myself a green tea and we sit in the living room. I realise its only 7am. I would've thought I'd have slept in more but my best guess is that I can thank the butterflies for making me an early bird today.
Cassey downs her coffee and takes a deep breath.
“So, let's get this straight. OK. You have a creepy stalker. You stopped a tree from falling on us without touching it. Saving both our lives. You wake up in the morning covered in butterflies and after getting totally sloshed the night before you somehow have no hangover. Then to top it all off you have a perfect complexion and your hair is shinier than it has ever been!”
I look down at my hair that's fallen over my shoulder and run it through my fingers. “Wow, it is really shiny.” Another plus to the hippie powers.
Cassey clicks her fingers in front of my face. “Focus! This is all totally crazy!”
“What's totally crazy?”
We both look up to see my mum standing in the doorway.
“Umm...” Cassey looks at me with a questioning look.
Do I tell her or do I just come up with some story?
I never lie to my mum. Then again since when does this sort of thing happen to people.
Will she totally freak out and get me tested?
No, I don't think so. I mean Cassey seems to be handling it quite well.
... sort of. She was there though she's seen it all happen, whereas my mum is just gonna hear some craziness from her daughter and her best friend. Oh! I don't know what to do!
“Is it something bad?” My mum says as she sits in the armchair with one brow raised.
“No, it’s not. It's nothing bad just.... crazy I guess.” Way to go, that sounded so reassuring.
My mum looks between me and Cassey as if trying to read our minds.
I smile at her and take a sip of tea. I feel her eyes on me.
Assessing. Then her eyes crinkle in the corners with a slight smile.
Inspection over, she picks up the remote and turns on the news.
“OK girls. I trust you. If it's something important Krista, then I want you to know you can tell me anything. No matter how crazy. Until then, just be careful OK?”
“I know mum don't worry. Everything's fine. Like I said its nothing bad.” I get up and Cassey follows me out the room.
“Oh, and Krista?”
I stop. “Yeah mum?”
“Your hair is more shiny than usual.” She smiles at me and winks. Then turns her attention back to the TV.
I bite my lip then go with Cassey back upstairs. Did she just blatantly let me know she heard the whole conversation? I have no idea what to think any more.
Once upstairs and safely in my room Cassey closes the door and spins around. Gripping my shoulders' she smiles at me.
“With all the crazy going on, we need some normal. I am taking you shopping for your birthday!” She giggles as she legs it into the bathroom, locking the door.
“But I don't need anything!” I stare into my wardrobe for a decent outfit and struggle to put anything that's to Cassey’s standards together. My idea of comfy day wear is much different to hers.
I peek out the window to get an idea of the weather.
There's a frost covering everything in sight, making the street twinkle in the early morning light.
The sun is struggling to come through low, heavy, dark clouds.
It looks like it could snow. It's going to be freezing today.
I pick out my favourite skinny jeans and dark purple jumper and lay them on the bed.
Cassey shouts from the bathroom snapping me back to our debate about my wardrobe. “Yes, you bloody well do and it's your birthday so I can buy you anything I want!”
The sound of the shower turning on ended the argument.
A couple of hours later Cassey parks up in the shopping centre car park. It's a multi storey and instinctively I scan the area for a hooded figure. There's no denying that Alistair was a dodgy guy. One I definitely don't wanna see again. Yeah keep telling yourself that.
Cassey flicks her blonde hair over her shoulder and starts walking to the lift. “Right, first we need coffee then we need dresses and Shoes!” She's totally in her element and now she has me deep in her lair of designer labels. I doubt even my comfy, fur-lined wedge boots are gonna save my feet.
After what feels like an age, Cassey has started to get annoyed that everything she liked I didn't or wouldn't try on because it was far too overpriced. The amount people pay for a designer name is ridiculous.
“Honestly Krista, how do you have any clothes!
I'm trying to buy you an outfit for your birthday and you're not helping one little bit.” She says with a harrumph.
“What about this! It's so pretty! Simple, but cute and in the sale!” She sings the last word and wiggles a peach coloured lace skater style dress in my face.
I go to just say no as after all this time I'm on autopilot, but a quick glance has me cocking my head to the side as I get a good look at it. I run my fingers along the hem and feel the soft cotton under layer and the detailed lace overlay. “It's actually quite nice.”
“Is that a 'I'm gonna go try it on'?” She gives me a Cheshire cat grin and slowly holds it out to me as if moving too quick is gonna have me scampering away.
“Well... it's cold now so I'm gonna freeze in this.” Cassey rolls her eyes at me and I look at the dress again. It really is gorgeous. “But with some tights I'll be a little warmer. Fine, I'll try it.” I try to sound fed up but I can't help but smile at her as I walk off to the changing room.
Once in the changing room I pull the curtain closed and take off my jeans and jumper.
Pulling the dress off the hanger I examine it to try and find a zip, but it doesn't have one.
I guess I just need to pull it over my head.
It's a size 8 so it should fit perfect. I put my arms in and pull it over my head.
It's a bit tighter than I expected and I struggle to get my shoulders through.
I can't see a thing and I've got my arms waving around in the air like a loon.
I feel something run down my spine and I shrink away from it.
Tugging the dress down harder I force an elbow through just as I feel finger tips run from my rib cage to my hip.
I let out a squeak and my heart starts hammering in my chest. I bang my shoulder against the side of the small room and I panic at the unseen person in the tiny space.
I get my other elbow through and finally tug my head through.
I glimpse a flash of grey eyes staring back at me in the mirror.
I spin around pressing my back against the glass with my fist raised, but there's no-one there.
I look around frantically then above me but there's nothing apart from cobwebs.
Realising the dress is stuck between my armpits and my breasts I tug it down and straighten it out.
I stare at the curtain for a few seconds and calm myself.
I peek through the curtain and the only thing out there is the staff member manning the changing room entrance.
The panic in my chest slowly disappears and I take a few deep breaths as I look at myself in the mirror.
The dress is gorgeous but It's suddenly lost its appeal.
I just wanna get out of the changing room and somewhere more crowded.
Even though I must have imagined Alistair touching me, I can't help but feel violated.
Clearly, I didn't sleep as well as I thought if I'm seeing things.
I admire the dress one more time and I can't help but feel good in it.
It fits perfectly despite the effort it took to get it on.
Falling just above the knee, it's a bit more risky than what I'm used to but it's not tarty looking.
The pretty colour and the sweetheart neck line make it look really cute.
Looks like Cassey's gonna get her wish after all.
I pull it off surprisingly easier than when I got it on.
It slips quickly over my head and I'm soon dressed back in my jeans and jumper and heading out the changing rooms.
Cassey comes straight over as I come out. “Hey you didn't come out so I could see you in it.” She pouts.
“You'll just have to see me in it another time.” I grin.
“Yay!” She takes it from me and practically skips to the checkout.
I look around the shop one more time. Not seeing Alistair anywhere, I follow Cassey mentally kicking myself for being so easily spooked by my own imagination.
As we walk Cassey's busy texting on her phone occasionally smiling or biting her lip at whatever she's reading.
“Hey Kris.” she says without looking up from her phone.
“Yeah?”
“Mind if we meet up with Christian and Robbie in a bit?”
That's when I remember her telling me last night that Christian asked her out.
That being the reason she was late coming outside when I needed her.
Not that what happened was her fault in the slightest. It was just bad timing.
Even so, I feel excited for her. She's been flirting with him for ages, it's about time they got together.
“Yeah sure! Where we meeting them?”
She texts him at lighting speed and in a few moments, she gets a message back. “He says about going to the park and making the most of all the snow outside.”
We both rush to the exit doors and look outside to see at least a foot of snow covering everything. It must have really come down whilst we were shopping.
“We never get this much snow!” Cassey squeals. She's back on her phone as we make our way to the car. “We're meeting them at 2 near the cafe in the park.”
“Cool, so we got an hour to nip home and wrap up 'coz I'm gonna need more layers.” I grin.