My eyes flutter open, and I see my door open. I look for my phone under my pillow to look at the time. My phone reminds me to charge it but I ignore it and put it back under my pillow. 7 AM, and I'm up already.

The image hits me. I lay in bed for a little longer, pondering on what I just did last night. I land my palm on my face and cringe at myself. Why did I even do that? Damn it, Julie. He may look like a thirty year old man but he still has a heart of a child. You can't go kissing around people. YOU CAN'T GO KISSING AROUND PEOPLE'S MASKS.

I sit up and put my face in my hands.

I wonder what he thought? Does he have any idea at all? Or is he puzzled? Do I even ask him about it? Oh, God. He's not like most boys, Julie. Stop being stupid.

"Okay..." I try to calm myself and head my way to the hallway. I observe if he's somewhere in the hall, I stay quiet, waiting for footsteps or any kind of sound that might come from him. But the house is dead quiet.

For some reason...I need to see him. I'm nervous because of what I've done but...I want to see him at least.

"Brahms?" I shout across the hallway, hoping he'd appear somewhere. I enter his room, he's not there. I was kinda hoping he'd be, though. For once maybe he'd sleep like a normal human being and still be in bed like the lazy fudge I am. I look at the doll, still placed on the chair inside his room. I look at it long enough to remember that maybe it's time to put it away. I carry it in my arms.

"Brahms?" I shout from his room and walk out. I head to the end of the hallway and open a huge, empty glass cabinet. I make the doll sit up inside, fix its clothes, and shut the glass door.

I descend the stairs, walk around and finally spot him near the bookshelves. He's reading.

Well, this is new.

"Hey." I say, he's still looking at the book, ignoring me. But then, he looks right at me, closes it and holds it out, gesturing for me to take it. I approach him slowly, not breaking eye contact. I crack a warm smile before glancing down at the book in his hand. It's my book.

I take it and examine the book itself. It looks different. It's dusty and the pages are a little crisp. I realize it isn't mine. "You have one, too?" I ask, and he nods right away. "Do you like it?"

He doesn't respond. I sigh in disbelief. "You know you could at least tell me a little something. I'm just saying...I've been here for a really long time and not getting to talk to anyone really is boring the hell out of me." I roll my eyes and lowkey turn away from him with a bitch face. I place the book on an end table,

"I finished it long ago." His hoarse voice sends goosebumps straight down my whole body and stops me from walking away. I look at him slowly, "Oh."

"So when I read you the story, you knew it already?"

"Yes."

I nod, looking at my feet. Then I look at him. "Did you...like my story telling?" I joked.

He just looked at me. Now I wish I never pushed him to talk to me. I feel stupid.

"It was quite decent." He suddenly says.

"Decent?" I chuckle, "Thanks, anyway."

We both stay quiet. This is probably the longest conversation we've ever had...plus he sounds...masculine for some weird reason.

"I didn't know you read?" He doesn't respond, "I mean...I didn't know you liked reading."

Brahms turns away and looks like he's about to leave me hanging. "Brahms, wait." He looks at me.

"I put the doll inside the glass cabinet." Here we go. "But I want you to know that this doesn't mean anything negative." He's silent and not throwing a fit. I guess it's a good sign?

"I just thought that it's about time that we put the doll aside, you know, somewhere safe. So there's space for me to take care of something else." I play with my fingers, realizing I look too unsure and nervous. I stop and look straight at him, at least letting him feel that I know what I'm doing.

Authority might at least get him to agree with me since he still has a child-like mind.

"And that's...you." I try to stop myself from talking but I can't anymore, "And you don't have to worry. I'll still do the rules you want me to. I'll do all of that. The only difference is..I'll do it with you."

Silence. Just a little more push.

"Do you hear me?"

He nods.

"Do you understand me?"

He nods again.

"Do you want some breakfast?"

Brahms' eyes seem like they're lit up. I don't know if he's smiling or what under that mask but I'm just happy. I'm stuck in the moment right now. I feel good with the fact that I got to have a conversation with him. This should be good.