Chapter Three #2
“I think you’re mixing me up with your other girlfriend.
” I push him towards the bathroom. “But if you hurry, I might find a way to repay you for all your acts of service,” I say, glancing back at him flirtatiously.
He rips his shirt off, throws it to the ground and is quickly inside the bathroom.
I smile to myself as I head back to bed.
My meditation music is still playing which I’m definitely not finishing tonight, so I switch it to my well-loved white noise track I always have downloaded.
I can't sleep without something to drown out the noise of my own apartment, much less whatever creaks and groans this place makes and I don't even want to imagine the noises that happen outside this far into the wilderness. Thanks to my white noise, I won’t have to hear any of it. I climb under the blankets and lay down, replaying what happened. I try to explain it to myself to help it make sense in my own mind, but it was scary and weird. I don’t really understand what happened.
Was he sleepwalking? What if he was having a medical emergency and I’m not taking it seriously enough?
He seems okay now. He doesn’t seem worried about it.
I’ll keep a closer eye on him. A mean thought flits through my mind... it would be a great excuse to leave.
When I hear the shower turn off, I quickly decide to hide from Luke. I pull the covers up and over my head, even though it’s childish and obvious since I’ll be in no way hidden, but it’s still fun. We have a very playful relationship, so this behavior is an everyday staple in our lives together.
I hope it’ll bring some normalcy and playfulness back into the night.
After a few moments I realize with annoyance that I probably hid a little too soon and am now stuck waiting.
If I come out of the hiding place too early, he will for sure be emerging and I’ll ruin my lame prank, so I must be patient.
Not my strong suit. Suddenly, I think I hear the bathroom door open.
It’s hard to know for sure over the white noise; that was not well thought out.
The worst part about hiding is that time starts to bleed together.
Has it been one minute or ten? It all feels the same at some point.
As I get stuck in a loop about how long it’s been or if I should just give up before I suffocate, I hear a loud floorboard creak coming into the room.
I hold back a giggle and imagine myself sinking lower, absorbing into the bed.
Soft footsteps move toward me before they stop right next to the bed.
I can see Luke’s silhouette from under the covers and hear him breathing, but he isn’t saying or doing anything, so I wait, seeing which one of us will break first. His hand touches below my knee before his fingers run up my leg, stopping at my upper thigh, circling slowly.
Goosebumps break out all over my body as I shiver slightly.
He stops and I excitedly wait to see what he’s going to do next, thinking of all the things I would like him to do.
Enough time passes in stillness that I start to get anxious.
I throw the blanket off me and sit up, “Don’t tease me, Luke!
” But the room is empty. I look side to side; he isn’t here.
“Ha ha. I know I started this but hide and seek isn’t exactly what I thought you had in mind.
” When I get no answer, I grab my phone, turn off the sound and listen.
I look out the bedroom door, hoping I will be able to see if the bathroom door is open but it’s too dark.
I wonder if I misheard the shower turn off, but then who was touching me?
Before I can dig too deep into that, I hear the breathing start up again, but this time I can’t figure out where it’s coming from and it’s getting quieter as my heartbeat is thundering louder and louder in my ears.
A thought comes to me suddenly and I glance toward the foot of the bed.
The sheets we hung across the bed frame now feel like an enclosed space, like I’m trapped.
I close my eyes and take a deep, steadying breath.
My eyes open wide as I realize where the breathing is coming from.
It’s under me. I crawl to the end of the bed and push the sheets to the side so I can peek under the bed, even though I don’t want to.
I’ve seen enough movies to know that nothing good comes from looking, but everyone does, and I’m no different.
I slowly lean over the edge of the bed, laying my hands on the floor so I don’t fall.
This already feels terrifying as images of something grabbing me flash through my mind.
I lower myself more, letting the underside of the bed come into view.
The desire to throw myself back up onto the bed is so strong, I almost give in, but when I force myself to look, it’s empty.
Right as I’m feeling an immense amount of relief, something grabs me. I flail away from whatever has taken hold of me, falling off the bed, unable to muster a scream. I flip over, swinging my arms violently, ready to fight whoever or whatever is coming for me.
“Oh my god! Are you okay?” Luke manages to get out between his fits of laughter. He is leaning over the end of the bed staring down at me. “Hanna! It’s just me.” It takes me a moment to fully process what happened, but it doesn’t take long at all for my temper to take hold.
“What’s wrong with you? Why would you do that? I wasn’t actually trying to scare you, Luke. Not after what happened earlier. I was just trying to be silly. You were trying to scare me!” I stand up and shove him, but he is a solid wall, not moving an inch.
He stops laughing and takes hold of my arms. “I’m sorry, you're right. I thought that was going to go over way more playful and fun than it did.” He pulls me toward him, and I topple onto the bed, half on top of him as he wraps his arms around me, holding onto me.
“Forgive me?” He gives me a fake pout with a small smile pulling at the sides of his mouth.
I think for a moment about doubling down and staying mad, but I can’t resist his stupid face, so I roll my eyes and kiss him.
“Fine, I forgive you, but you are SO not getting lucky tonight,” I say while trying to dramatically roll away. He doesn’t let go of me but instead chuckles and pulls me in closer, kissing the top of my head.
“I would try and argue my way back but honestly, I’m exhausted. I’m down to go to bed and start over tomorrow. We can sleep in, and I’ll make you your favorite breakfast– freeze dried eggs, bacon and instant coffee, and THEN I’ll get lucky.” I look up at him, unamused.
“You know, you aren’t nearly as funny as you think you are.” He grabs my chin and pulls me in for a soft kiss.
“Maybe not, but you couldn’t live without me.”