Sunlight came through the window, right onto the face of the sleeping person inside. Blue eyes opened, narrowing in annoyance at the interruption. However, more followed.
Several knocks sounded on the door. "Mel?" Adam's voice. "Come on, we're gonna be late!"
Oh golly . . . Kara's bed, across the room, was already empty.
Mel bolted upright. "Yeah, I'm coming."
¤
Two minutes later, she came out of her room, fastening her belt around her waist. Adam was waiting for her.
"Seth awake yet?" she asked, flickingher hair back over her shoulder.
Adam rolled his eyes. "No, I can't get him up. If we're late for the conference, Ailaena's going to -"
"Relax, I'll go wake him up," Mel assured him, slipping into the room Seth and Adam shared.
"You're braver than I am," the thief muttered, continuing down the hall.
¤
Seth was lying on his stomach, mouth slightly open. Kneeling down next to his bed, Mel carefully pushed a piece of dark hair back from his face. Five years ago, just after their defeat of the Megalith, Mel would have had Draykor just blast sound into Seth's ear. But this time, she had something better in mind.
Crossing her legs, Mel leaned forward. "Seth . . . time to get up," she called softly.
Gray eyes opened slowly, to see a pair of bright blue eyes barely an inch away. Seth bolted upright, knocking his head against the shelf over his bed.
"Ow . . ."
Mel laughed slightly. "Genius," she said, getting to her feet. "C'mon, we're supposed to be meeting with Ailaena today."
Seth collapsed back on his bed, one hand over his eyes. "Too late. You made me break my skull!" He took the hand from his eyes, flashing a slightly evil smile. "And for that, you're going to pay, my friend!"
Rolling out of bed, he caught her hand, pulling her back into the room, and started tickling.
"Seth - " the rest of Mel's words got cut off as she tried to breathe.
The two fell backwards,landing safely on Seth's bed. Mel managed to flip him over, pinning him with both hands on his shoulders. Neither moved for a minute, trying to catch their breath.
"I hate you, you know that?" she said sarcastically, yet still grinning. Her hair swung over her shoulder, nearly touching Seth's face.
"I hate you too," Seth answered, returning the comment just as sarcastically. Both looked up as someone cleared their throat from the doorway.
"Are you guys coming?" Erik asked.
