Oh and a huge "Thank you." to my new beta for MF, Geena. You've done wonders!
Chapter 6
Twenty-two year old Sara Sidle slapped the buzzing alarm with a quick hand. Her partner stirred groggily beside her.
"Was that the 'larm?" He mumbled still half asleep.
She had grown accustomed to his presence beside her and thus wasn't surprised by his wakeful yet drowsy question.
"I have to get up. Go back to bed." She whispered crawling out from under the blankets that were now bathed in early morning light.
A few months ago they made the big leap all relationships take. They decided to move in with each other. Well actually, she moved into his place. It was bigger and a lot nicer than the slum she was living in, and not to mention she was with him. Eric Roberts was a great person and a perfect match for Sara Sidle. He was a physics student like herself and very dedicated to his work and studies. He understood the pressures of scholarship renewal and going somewhere with your life. He valued intelligence and became annoyed with stupidity. Eric was charming and handsome in a boyish way that usually attracted many, men and women alike. But that is where the character information stops.
He knew almost everything about her. It seemed natural to learn the quirks of your mate. In reality though, he didn't seem to really trust her enough to talk about himself. She really didn't know much about his family or childhood for example. He never was forthcoming and if she'd ask, he would deflect with a vague answer or change of subject. It was cute in a mysterious way and she supposed it didn't matter. She would cross that "relationship bridge" when she came to it because as it always seemed to be with young people, love is what could lay the foundation for the bridges.
She did love him. In fact, he was part of her firsts list. There had been others but she never reached this level of comfort and love with them. Now, everything was as perfect as the ingredients in a gourmet dish.
Her feet touched the cool floor and she shuddered. As she began to rise Eric's hand snaked out and grabbed the back of her nightshirt.
"Why are you up? No classes on Saturday."
She turned toward his clear voice. His eyes remained closed, but she knew he was awake. "I have some things to do and wanted to get a head start."
His eyes blinked open. "What things?"
She shrugged and though he was talking loudly she maintained her whisper. "Just some errands and such. It's no big deal. Go back to bed."
He threw the covers aside forcefully. A rush of air blew her hair on her neck mirroring her inner surprise.
"I can't sleep now. I'm wide awake because of your damn alarm clock." He spat and went to the bathroom.
Her brow furrowed in confusion. She had seen him like this several times before. He usually got moody when exams were creeping near or he was lacking his usual nine hours of sleep. Sara could never understand why anyone would need so much sleep, but he used every minute apparently.
She rose from the bed and went to the closet lost in more thoughts. Her first encounter with hostility came with the usual arguments and shouts. But the first physical argument is one she never saw coming. He had slapped her outside the movie theater as she got in the car because she told him he should have stayed home if he was going to be such an ass and complain the whole night. Well he popped her a good one. Her eyes immediately watered with a mixture of physiological response and tears. That night she stayed with a friend but was back the next day after he apologized.
The later incidents were few and far between, almost as if it never happened. She gave him space to calm down, but he never really intentionally hurt her. The rules of fate knew otherwise. Then the arguments were punctuated by open-hand slapping. Sara had a few hits of her own. Oddly enough, it never occurred to her as abuse. The things you say and do when you're angry don't really count. Do they? Anyway, they had their breaks as all couples do, but managed to find each other again. She really didn't know why she came back, but vowed it would be her last if he touched her again. He understood and accepted the new ground rule avidly.
She is startled from her thoughts as his lips touch her neck.
He kisses her neck. "I want you to stay."
She smiled. "Eric..."
Sara awoke before she knew she fell asleep, which was rather odd considering the circumstances. However, whenever sleep occurred she was thankful. Even a small amount of time is enough to clear her head and keep her going longer.
Although the dream was imprinted in her mind she always anticipated the end of it's series: first the start of it all dream, then the progression dream, and lastly the grand finale dream. She shook her head to discard the pounding left over from such intense memory, but it remained consistent. Then she realized the pounding wasn't the thoughts leaving a headache in its wake. It was someone at her apartment door.
Still slightly dazed and stiff from her nap, she went to get the door.
"Who is it?"
Sara stood on her tiptoes to look through the peephole with her hand on the lock.
TBC...