A stroke of wetness could be felt on my cheeks. Uncertain of where I was, I looked up to the sky in a daze. Was it raining?
The only thing that met with my gaze was the high vaulted ceiling with its intricate patterned design and the dazzling crystal chandelier with its ethereal glow.
No, get a grip Aria. I instructed myself. Of course, it's not raining, you're indoors.
"Are you ok?" Theo asked, his voice full of concern, "you're crying."
Was I? I wasn't aware of it. I quickly wiped my face dry with the back of my hand, smearing my perfectly made-up face, the mascara, eyeshadow, blusher and foundation making their own version of a rainbow.
Theo was towering over me, there was a look of pity on his face. His dark eyes fixated on me, then he gently shook his head in pity.
He felt sorry for me. I found the thought laughable. He was looking at me as if I was some strayed cat that just wandered off the street, lost.
With his mouth pursed into a hard line, he grabbed my wrist and before I knew it, he was taking me up the spiralling, red-carpet staircase, then along the corridor leading to my room.
I followed him numbly, my mind elsewhere. But as soon as we walked past my door, my mind immediately regained its focus.
"Where are we going?" I asked sharply.
"My room." He said. His voice calm and determined.
I felt all the hairs on the back of my neck stand up. Then I started yanking my hand out of his grip, "No, I don't think so." There was no way in hell I was going into his room!
Theo saw my reaction and almost laughed, "What did you think was going to happen? Dr Watt is just going to check your hand."
Shaking my head, I hid my hands behind my back stubbornly, "it's fine now, it'll heal by tomorrow."
"Come on, are you scared of doctors or something?" He teased, "I didn't think you were scared of anything!"
I was still shaking my head nonstop. I wasn't scared of doctors and I wasn't scared of most things, but I knew fine well that I shouldn't be going into a stranger's bedrooms at night, especially when it happened to be a boy that I didn't know. That was like asking for trouble.
It was like a chicken accepting an invite to a fox's home then asking a fox moments before its death, "why did you eat me?" With the fox spitting out the last of its feathers before answering, "why did you have look so delicious?"
I gritted my teeth. Worst case scenario, if he tries anything funny I could always kick him in the balls and then jump out the window. It may be the second floor but I figured I could escape relatively unscathed.
Theo placed his hand on the doorknob and raised his eyebrow at me as if saying, "are you ready?".
I rolled my eyes, not interested in his juvenile shenanigans. Before I had the chance to argue, he turned the doorknob and pushed me in.
"Ariaaaaaa!" A voice shrieked.
My jaw dropped. "What the hell..."
Lottie was busy jumping on the bed as if it was a bouncy castle. Her nanny was standing by the side of the bed, ready to catch her in case she fell. She saw me and screamed with excitement.
She was wearing a white bunny onesie. The dangly fluffy ears on the back of her hood were bouncing up and down as she jumped. Her soft blonde hair was now up in a cute little ponytail.
Theo looked at her and laughed, "told you she was going to be bouncing off the walls all night."
"Come Aria! It's so much fun!" Lottie wailed. She waved her little hand at me, beckoning me to head over and join her.
I grinned broadly and I started taking my shoes off. Why not? I loved bouncy castles, it was something that people hired out for birthday parties which we never had the money for. Or you would see them at the Fairs. I haven't been to many birthday parties and it had been years since I went on a bouncy castle.
"Not yet," Theo stepped in front of me, blocking my path.
Lottie stared at him with her big eyes, confused.
I did the same. My facial expression matched hers. Why was I not allowed to go on the bouncy castle? Was he worried I was going to break the bed or something? I wondered.
He saw our equally dumbfounded faces and laughed good naturally. "Aria needs to have her hand checked first."
Lottie darted her eyes onto my bandaged hand and the corner of her little rosebud mouth turned upside down in a frown. "Oh no, Aria, are you hurt?" She asked, placing her little hand on my shoulder as if trying to comfort me. Her hand was so warm and yet so gentle.
"I'm ok, honestly, I'm fine." I raised my arm in the air to prove it. It was bloody sore but I didn't want her to worry about me.
Just then, there was a knock on the door and the nanny went to answer it. A short elderly gentleman with a white beard walked in.
I knew immediately that it was Dr Watt. And that had nothing to do with the clairvoyance either. He looked like a doctor even if he didn't have a stethoscope wrapped around his neck.
He checked my hand and praised Theo for his good work.
I mean, actually PRAISED him! Theo just looked at me with a smirk on his face, he must've been very proud of himself because he almost puffed out his chest like a rooster!
Once the doctor had left, Lottie held onto my good hand and we started jumping on the bed.
"Ahhhhh! Haha haha!" Lottie squealed. She had the most captivating laugh. It was like a little bird! I laughed along with her.