Pretty short chapter, I'm sorry. I wasn't going to take this approach to this chapter until today so... sorry for ensuing gibberish.
Beep-beep. Beep-beep. Beep-beep-beep-beep beeeeeeeeep!
Brown eyes flickered open lazily, darting around the blurry room in search of the incessant noise droning in her ears. Kelly rolled over on to her stomach and reached a bare arm down the side of the bed, fumbling for the clock she hoped she would find. Her slender fingers and painted nails found the LED alarm clock which had been knocked over at some point last night and, clumsily, pressed down on the 'off' button. The alarm stopped, and the tired girl lifted the clock to her face, the bright blue numbers burning her eyes.
"9 o'clock?" She groaned, dropping it back to the floor with disgust. Now, why on earth would she set her alarm that early? Was there perhaps something she had to do today? What day was it, anyway?
She pushed herself up on one elbow to look around her room, hissing at the oncoming head-rush. Well, at least she knew there was alcohol involved. Apparently, she hadn't gone home to her hotel room, either. Hazy dawn light filtered through the net curtains into the foreign room, giving her little to go by as she scanned the decidedly plain walls and furniture. At that moment, she felt movement brush against her thigh, and froze in fear. Breathing slowly, she turned her head to where her company slept, wondering what nameless individual she had gone home with; or even worse, a not-so-nameless Flash. She practically choked up relief when she was met with the sound face of Annabelle, and the night's happening's flooded back into her brain. All that panic for nothing. Of course there was no way Kelly would have let herself be lead on by a stranger. Grinning fondly, she ran her fingers along the line of Annabelle's collarbone,
"Hey sweetie," She cooed in a sugar-sweet tone, "According to your bloody clock, it's time to wake up!"
Annabelle flinched as cold fingers touched her skin, and her eyes flittered open, then wider, eyebrows arching in alarm,
"Mmfh?" Kelly didn't catch much of her cry of confusion, as most of it was lost in the pillow. Instead, she laughed at the comical expression on her friend's face.
"Don't look at me like that, Fritton! We're both fully dressed, so no problems there."
Annabelle blinked blankly, before recollection shone in her dark orbs, "Oh, of course. I forgot for a second there. You got drunk, Kel. Real drunk!"
Oh, yeah. I did. Rubbing her head in mock pain, Kelly smiled, "It feels like it! So, why the early wake-up call?"
"Normally I'd have to start getting ready for work now" Annabelle grinned sheepishly in embarrassment at her own ditzy-ness, "I guess I forgot to turn it off!"
"Never mind." The older girl smiled, letting her head sink back down onto the pillow, eyes riveted on her friend. Annabelle, feeling conscious under her gaze, sat up awkwardly,
"Well, since we're up, do you want breakfast?"
A sigh, "Breakfast would be great."
Annabelle literally tumbled out of bed and power-walked across the room in her nightclothes, "I'll only be a minute. You can get changed if you want." With that, she left the room. Kelly, left to her own devices, sat up in bed and sized up her appearance in the mirror doors of the wardrobe on the other side of the room. Her hair was messy and knotted, her makeup was smudged across her face (and partly onto Belle's pillow, whoops) and her white blouse was stained with various drinks. God knows where her tie had gone, and her skirt had ridden most of the way up.
"Christ, I look a mess" She still couldn't stop a stupid smile spreading over her features at her hilarious getup. Dressing in her old uniform brought back years of fond memories; not only that, but it seemed to get Annabelle's attention. Now she did feel a little silly, but there was no way she'd let that show.
Pushing back the covers and wishing she'd had more time to lie in peace with Annabelle before she scarpered off, she swung her legs off the bed and rose stiffly, feeling a mild hangover tugging at the corners of her mind. Of course, she was going to have to pretend it was worse than it actually was, but that was a small price to pay. Her initial goal was to embarrass and mess with Annabelle, something she always enjoyed doing to other people- it came as part of her friendship (and if she was not mistaken, Annabelle enjoyed it well enough too) The last few moments before she drifted into sleep were, however, a little less planned and a lot less well thought-out. She was sure for a moment that Annabelle was going to confess to her. It was definitely about time, although she would miss using her subconscious crush as teasing ammo. But when Annabelle had backed out, she was disappointed in a way she thought she would never be; in a moment of uncharacteristic, tender sincerity, she had leaned over and placed a brief and uncertain kiss on her friend's lips. She had even surprised herself.
Well, at least I don't have to answer any questions just yet.
She padded bare-foot across the carpet and unhooked her bag from the handle of the wardrobe, guessing Belle must have put it there for her. Prepared as always, she had brought a spare change of clothes in case she should find herself in a situation akin to this. Unbuttoning her shirt and shrugging it off her shoulders, she unzipped the bag and pulled out a long-sleeved shirt and a woollen jumper, just as she heard the doorknob turn. Annabelle clattered in noisily; swearing as orange juice spilled onto the tray it was balanced on and dripping onto her hands. Kelly swivelled her head to look over her shoulder, back to the door and to the intruder, a surprised look on her face,
"You could have at least knocked!"
Annabelle had blushed furiously and backed out of the room, apologizing repeatedly. Kelly laughed and told her she really didn't care, and that she was only joking, and that she had seen more whilst changing for PE class, but Annabelle was more humiliated than sorry and apologized even more in her defence. They ate breakfast in almost unbroken silence, until Kelly finished her slice of toast and gave a lengthy stretch,
"Got any plans for today?"
Annabelle pulled at a loose strand of string on the hem of her shirt, "I was kind of hoping I could spend the day with you," She saw Kelly's eyebrows raise, and shook her head frantically, "If you have things to do, I could always do… Paperwork and stuff"
"I'm on holiday in my home; I have nothing to do," Kelly smirked, "Thanks to someone. If you want to spend the day together, together it is!"
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Winter mornings, Annabelle decided, were glorious. She breathed out into the chilling air and watched with that necessary wonder as her breath condensed in front of her face. Tartan coat drawn tightly around herself, feet scuffed on the still frosted-white grass of the park, she also noted how much more pleasant they were with Kelly. The raven-haired girl was filled with an unusual enthusiasm, laughing gleefully at a terrier puppy that raced between her feet and yelling nonsensical words at a fat old swan that squatted at the edge of the lake. Occasionally she would stumble and complain of a headache, but return straight back to her upbeat antics; Annabelle guessed she must be trying to hide her hangover in an act of bravery, and smiled into her collar, mouthing 'adorable'. Kelly, of course, knew her fake ailment was very convincing and pranced on her way. In the centre of the park, she spotted a hotdog stand parked up on the gravel. She turned her gaze on Annabelle,
"Hey, do you want a hotdog?"
Annabelle had shaken her head in the negative, but Kelly had bought one anyway, paying the man in the stand and dragging her over to a nearby bench.
"You sure you don't want any?" Kelly asked, yanking Annabelle down so she next to her.
"No, I'm good. You can have it"
"I don't want it."
"…Well, maybe we can just use it to warm our hands up?"
"Are you cold?" Kelly ran her eyes over Annabelle's pale face and pink nose sternly,
"A little" Annabelle admitted, rubbing her face.
"Here" Kelly passed the food to Annabelle, unwrapped her own scarf and draped it around her friend's neck.
"Thanks…"
"You're welcome."
Despite Annabelle's suggestion, the pair soon found a better use for the impulse-bought hotdog; pulling off the ends of the bread and throwing them to the pigeons that had started to congregate around their feet. They laughed as the birds hopped around, cooing and squabbling over tiny grains of bread, lost in the serenity of the moment. When all the bread was gone and the meat disposed of in the bin, the two girls sat in silence once more. Kelly decided now would be a good time to breach a subject she had been toying with in her mind all morning.
"Say, 'Belle…" She murmured, scooting closer to her, "Didn't you have something you had to tell me today?"
"I did?" Annabelle froze, "I… I don't think so…"
"You said you did last night. You promised." Kelly purred close to her ear, and Annabelle felt the sharp contrast of cold air and hot breath,
"Well, actually, I think that…" Annabelle paused mid-sentence, then eyed Kelly suspiciously, "…Wait, I thought you were drunk last night?"
Kelly, caught off-guard, leaned back and feigned disinterest, "Well, I just seem to remember…"
"Is there anything else you remember?"
"No"
"Not even this?" Annabelle cocked one eyebrow, before leaning brazenly across the bench and giving Kelly a fleeting, almost tasteless kiss.
"M-maybe" Kelly stumbled.
"Kel. Were you really drunk last night?" Annabelle crossed her arms across her chest.
"…Maybe… No. I wasn't." She regained her mental footing quickly, staring straight back at the younger girl.
"…I can't believe this, Kel. Did you actually take advantage of me?"
"N-no! Well, I guess, but I was just messing around…" Kelly struggled, shocked that the normally quite Annabelle was so quick to attack her.
"Just messing around?" Annabelle's voice rose in pitch, "Do you ever think of who you're hurting when you're 'just messing around'? Do you even care?" She shook her head, "I thought we were past that, Kel. I thought I could trust you to be sincere."
"Annabelle, listen! It was supposed to be a joke at first, but I swear…"
"A joke, huh?" Eyes narrowed, "If that's all I appeal to you as," She stood from the bench and turned away from Kelly, who was staring up at her in shock and surprise, "Then I suggest you find yourself some better company." With that, she turned and walked steadily away, willing her eyes not to overflow. She had been about to spill her heart out to Kelly, who apparently saw it as one big jest at her cost. She heard the bench creak as Kelly got to her feet behind her,
"'Belle, wait!"
She didn't turn around. She didn't stop. When she heard Kelly's boots click against the cold tarmac of the path, she began to run. Half of her wanted to collapse emotionally and just sink into Kelly's arms, but her fierce anger made her legs spur into action. Her breath smoked from her nose as she raced across the green, ignoring the swan that squawked in annoyance as she pelted past it, ignoring the terrier that bounded at her heels for a moment, and most of all ignoring Kelly's breathless cries to slow down. She didn't stop until she was out of the park, across the road and outside the corner shop, where she bent over to catch her breath, willing the stitch in her side to stop burning. She wiped furiously at her wet eyes, wondering if she had made the wrong move. She might have lost Kelly for good now; the older girl wasn't a huge fan of 'forgive-and-forget'. Through her blurring senses, her ears suddenly complained as a harsh screeching noise from behind her hit them, followed by a hollow-sounding bang.
The pigeons in the park rose into the air, wings beating in panic-stricken chaos.
Chapter was mostly inspired by the song 'Bright Eyes', everyone who's reviewed (who I'm sorry for making wait for this) and Valvox because tbh I wouldn't have bothered writing if you didn't complain so much :P One more chapter? Maybe two? Don't know yet. Anyway thanks for reading.