Author's Note: This introduces two very close friends of Naina's, Lisa Kendrick and Rani Kapur, both first wave.
I toss and turn. Put a pillow over my head. Nothing helps. Rani's constant snoring is preventing me from getting any sleep and it's driving me insane.
We had a girl's night at my quarters that included a movie, popcorn and girl's talk. And by girl's talk I mean gossip and the Lantean guys. Not that I'd give anything away that might compromise my Lantean guy's authority.
After girl's night was over, Lisa and Rani decided to stay over night. I totally forgot about the little quirk of Rani, but got reminded quickly of it only half an hour later. Lisa was out by then, too, so I was the only one left that was being kept from falling , Rani is snoring - sawing logs, breathing heavily, cutting down trees like a chainsaw - and Lisa is sleeping through all of it like a baby. I'd give anything to be able to do that, but I'm only one snore away from going down to the Infirmary and getting sleeping pills. And oropax.
I even hit her, pinched her nose and woke her up just to get her to stop snoring. Nothing. She'd go right back to sleep and it'd start all over again.
I sigh and sit up in my bed. This is getting unbearable. Just then a thought comes to my mind. I am longing for a snore-free environment, no sounds at all. I could live with the slight sound of breathing, but nothing noisy. I need another room. And I know just the place.
Getting up from the bed, I throw my nightrobe on and head out the door.
It is 3am and by now, almost everyone is asleep except for the night shift and maybe a handful of scientists. I only have to round a corner and would soon be where I long to be. By waving a hand over the crystals, I open the door to a dark room and slowly move forward. I know the layout of the room like the back of my hand, but who knows what "straight line" I am walking in the pitch black, so I take each step carefully. I can literally feel the distance between the bed and my feet and I know it's close, so I take the robe off and climb into bed. As soon as the mattress gives under my weight, a body starts to shift to the side, making room for me.
A low hum out of Evan's throat makes me smile immediately. It's a sound I like, not like that bugging noise in my quarters.
"I thought it was girl's night tonight", he says as I scoot over, closer to him. It's seems only natural when he puts his arm over my body and pulls me even closer.
"It was. Still is. Rani's snoring." It's what I can manage with the exhaustion that suddenly washes over me.
"Hm...", I can hear him say and only a few seconds later, his breathing tells me he is back asleep.
I can't blame him. I'm tired, too, and I can feel the darkness embracing me, the long awaited sleep not far behind. Finally.