'I'm going to go mad.'
When the guys finally calmed down and we had our dinner, all of us retired for some much needed sleep.
Except in the last hour, I haven't slept a wink.
My body is on high alert for some reason, and no matter how many times I toss and turn, I can't shake the feeling of unease.
'It's just because it's a new place.' I tell myself, pressing my eyes close. 'There's nothing to worry about.'
Something rattles in the bathroom.
I'm on my feet and out of my room the next instant.
I'm still holding my blanket, which is good, since my spaghetti strap PJ's don't leave much to imagination.
I put the blanket around my shoulders and wonder what to do.
If I don't get a good night's sleep even now, I'll kill someone.
My eyes survey the lounge, which isn't much help since the lights are turned off. I really don't want to sleep on the lounge couch.
I notice light coming from under Reece's door.
I take another look at my open room.
Knocking on Reece's door doesn't look so bad in comparison.
A moment later, light spills out as the door opens, and Reece stares down at me in question.
"Swap rooms with me." I blurt out
Reece stares at me a moment longer "No."
He starts closing the door but I wedge my foot and shoulder in it.
"Come on!" I say desperately "There's something wrong with that room! I can't sleep."
Reece lets go of the door and I stumble in "Barely an hour ago, you just watched as Nico and Collin tortured me. Plus, you and Nico never cleaned my bathroom. Now you expect me to do you favors? I think not."
"You deserved it." I point out "And you guys wouldn't have this place if I hadn't agreed to come."
"Listen," Reece pushes his hair back from his face, and I notice a beauty mark near his left eye "I have a lot of work to do, and you're really ruining the mood here."
He puts his hands on my shoulders and before I know it, I'm out of his room.
"You're in college," He says "Don't be a baby."
"Fine then!" I say before he can close the door "I'm leaving right now!"
"What?" Reece swings his door open in an instant
"I'm packing my bag and leaving." I said firmly "And I'll drop by to leave Gerald a note."
"You're really going to blackmail me because you're afraid of sleeping in a new place?" Reece asks, exasperated
"I haven't slept in the last 48 hours," I narrow my eyes "Do not underestimate that."
For a moment, I think Reece is going to call my bluff and I'll end up sleeping in the lounge after all.
But he takes a deep breath, goes back inside to grab his blanket, pillow, laptop and a few books.
"Just for one night," Reece tells me "If I can sleep there, then that means it's a perfectly fine room and you have to deal with it."
"Thanks." I nod at him as he passes by me
Reece drops his stuff on my bed and tosses me my pillow. I catch it with one hand. He starts adjusting his things, stops, turns and gives me a quizzical look.
By this time, I've already readjusted my blanket.
"Good night," I hurry to his room
Once I'm inside, I let out a shaky breath.
I nearly blew my cover to catch a stupid pillow!
With a deep breath and still convincing myself that only a mad man would jump to the conclusion that 'Hey, he must be a girl' based on a bare glimpse, I drop my pillow and blanket on Reece's bed. I take a moment to look around the room.
It feels comfortable, somehow livelier then mine, even though Reece hasn't unpacked any more than I have.
Satisfied, I turn the lights off, and climb into bed.
I fall asleep in minutes.
…
I wake up to the sound of my alarm.
8 am, my phone screen says. I smile in my pillow as I put it away.
God, I haven't slept so well in days.
I stretch my arms over my head, making the weird 'Human just woke up' sound, and then get up. It feels odd not having my long hair immediately fall on my back.
I crack the door open and peek out. The lounge seems empty. I wonder if I should just grab my clothes from my room and shower here. Reece is probably still asleep.
Keeping my footsteps quiet, I step out and carefully close the door behind me. I haven't taken two steps forward when I freeze in place.
Reece is half sprawled on the couch, half off of it, bed hair in his face and blanket going in every direction.
I'm not sure if I should be happy or upset that he couldn't sleep in my room either.
Nevertheless, I head to my room, shower as quickly as humanely possible, change and go right back out.
"Reece," I stand over him near the couch "Reece, get up."
He doesn't even stir. I lightly kick the couch. Then give it a hard kick.
Reece wakes up with a start, and I feel a pang of guilt. I can't imagine the couch would've been very comfortable for even me, and he's a head taller.
"You can sleep in your own room," I tell him
"What time is it?" He yawns, stretching his arms
"About 8:30."
"Too soon to be up on a weekend," Reece gathers his things and walks to his room
I send a quick text to Jay, and then make myself some instant coffee.
It occurs to me that we have nothing to eat here.
Not that we have a fridge either.
Or gas for that matter.
"What a mess," I sigh
As I'm washing my cup, I recall my conversation with Jay last night. I know Uncle and Aunt won't have reported in the police yet, but they just might.
I don't want anyone to know where I am, and I don't want to involve the police in this matter either. That seems like a shortcut to jail.
My mind made up, I go to my room and keep the door wide open. Grabbing a pen and notebook, I write a brief letter.
Once done with it, I read it again.
'Uncle Grey and Aunt Linda, I understand your reasons for wanting to sell the house, but nothing you say will change my mind. I didn't mean to cause you any worry. I'm safe, I'm okay. Please don't look for me, as you won't find me anyway.
I'll be home once you're willing to see my side of the picture.
Jade.'
It seems reasonable enough.
Now I just have to post it without a return address.
I take my wallet and phone and leave the apartment. The stairs creak under my feet, sunlight filters dust from the air, autumn air is cold and crisp.
I only see a few people around campus, most of them either jogging or headed for breakfast in the cafeteria.
After almost a whole month of suffocating pity and shadows arching over me from every side, I feel like it's finally morning.
I take a deep breath of the crisp, autumn air and smile like an idiot.
The post office is hear enough for me to jog there and back— running cross-country in highschool comes in handy sometimes. On my way back, I consider if my budget allows for some breakfast bagels for everyone.
By the time I make it back, there's a very noticeable skip in my step. Humming, I make my way to the fourth floor.
I open the front door "Hey guys—
I find Collin holding Nico in a headlock, and Reece standing over the kitchen counter, arms hooked around Collin's neck as if trying to pull him back. The lounge is in utter chaos, with the couch and coffee table tilted at awkward angles, I see a pillow sitting in one corner.
"Uh," I awkwardly hold up the food bag "Breakfast?"
"Oh thank God," Reece gracefully slides off the counter "I'm starving."
Collin takes a sniff of the air "Are those… bagels?"
I nod, closing the door with my foot as I walk in.
Nico takes that moment to elbow him in the gut and slip out of his hold "Tell me you brought a hell lot of cream cheese."
"So," I start as Reece takes the bag from my hand "What are you guys doing?"
It seems I shattered whatever peace had been formed with the work 'breakfast'.
Collin dramatically flings his arms towards an empty wall in the kitchen. I stare at it blankly.
"It's a wall?" I say
"Don't you get it?" Collin says "There's no fridge! And nothing to eat!"
"For the last time," Nico sighs "We just moved in yesterday. What did you expect?"
"Those are just excuses, Aldrich."
"So anyway, we were thinking we should go grocery shopping." Reece tells me
My brows furrow in confusion "I thought you guys were fighting—
"It's how we communicate." Reece says, perfectly reasonable. Nico and Collin nod in agreement.
Well, who am I question that?
…
We get out of Reece's car and he hands me a list they'd made so I can see if I want to add anything.
"I feel like I should warn you," Reece says "They can't call the cops on us. I checked."
"What?" My brows rise
"You'll figure out soon enough I guess."
I've been to Walmart enough times to be genuinely surprised when the employees start freaking out.
"Oh no, it's them again." A guy in his twenties looks our way dreadfully, another simply throws his hands up and walks away
"How's it going, Ryan?" Reece says, grinning impishly
"It was going good until I saw you, Everett." Ryan walks over to us "You three aren't allowed here."
"Don't be like that," Collin says, dropping an arm on Ryan's shoulder and I'm not surprised to find the same troublesome grin on his face as Reece's "We're you're best costumers, after all."
"When pigs start flying," Ryan takes a step back, and points a finger at them "Every time you demons walk in, I fear this whole place will crumble."
"Good for you, we're not here for anything," Nico says, putting a hand on my shoulder "We're just helping out a friend."
"He's new around here, so we're showing him around." Reece says, the embodiment of righteousness
Ryan turns to me and I awkwardly wave.
"Listen, you really don't wanna be around these guys," He tells me "They're trouble—
"Ryan? What're doin'?"
An older lady walks over to us, indifference and tiredness evident on her face.
"Hi Jennifer," Nico says
"Ah, it's you boys again," Jennifer says nonchalantly "Hurry up and go before the manager sees you."
"Thanks Jen," Collin says, starting forward "You're the best!"
"You could learn a thing or two from her," Reece says to Ryan
Ryan looks like he's about to protest "But—
"Let 'em be," Jennifer waves him off "How 'bout you help me set up the tomato sauce cans?"
"What's with you guys being known for trouble everywhere?" I ask
"It's just an aura people can't ignore," Reece winks at the security camera
"Hurry up, people!" Collin says as he grabs a cart
And then all hell breaks loose.