This is really just a mini-chapter. Kinda just fluff. I wouldn't even call it a chapter. But it's the semi-calm before the storm. One of the storms. Maybe. Oooooh, I do hate surprises!

Anyway, it was mentioned by one of my faithful readers that a one-shot is in order, following the previous chapter. I'm thinking I'll just include the information within the upcoming chapters. While I do have the pluck to do such a thing—meaning, adding in the missing info after the slight cliffhanger….catch my drift?—it will come later rather than sooner. I don't write lemons for the sheer joy of the thing. I want it in good taste. So, it will be as such!

For those of my readers who don't like material venturing towards the "lemon" label, I hear your cry, and I will place the details in a way where you can avoid it. I really don't like stumbling across things that I didn't intend to find, so I don't want to have my readers experience the same…

Anyway, enough of my rambling. Here's another stupid chunk of garbage to read.

Hole punching to the ends of the earth,

Kelsey

CHAPTER 19: (W)HOLE

Laura opened her eyes slowly. The darkness of the room told her it was definitely past 8 o'clock. Blinking the sleep away, she tried to comprehend why she was seeing walls that were not her own. The sheets felt too soft to be her own. The room was indeed too large to be her own. She curled herself up, loving the cold feeling of the fabric that had not yet been warmed by her skin.

In a moment, her brain remembered.

Turning quickly, she craned her neck to the right. A dark shape was spread out underneath the bed sheet, holding its pillow tightly. The Professor's head and body were turned away from her, but she could tell he was shirtless.

Looking down at herself, she realized she wasn't clothed in anything either.

She sat up, tucking her hair behind her ears. Her movement shook the bed ever so slightly. Layton shifted, looking over at her with lazy eyes.

"Laurie?"

"I didn't know I'd fallen asleep. How long has it been?"

He reached over to a small night table and checked the alarm clock. "Half after 9."

"Half after? My parents are probably worried sick. I told them I'd be back shortly after dinner, around 8." She threw back the sheet and slid her feet to the floor, holding her arms close about her. Her skin prickled as the cool air enveloped her. "It's so cold…" She rummaged through the dark like a blind beggar, trying to find her dress on the carpet, as Professor Layton pulled a cloak about him. He turned on a small table lamp.

"I'll walk you back and explain," he whispered as she pulled her dress over her head.

"Explain? Certainly you don't mean—"

"Well, I'm not telling them the exact truth! But I will explain that I got a call from a good friend in need, that this friend desperately needed my presence, and I was unable to walk you back at a decent hour after our study group." Pulling on his pants and shirt, he looked at her. "Isn't that the truth?"

Glowering, Laura pulled her socks on. "With several omissions, undoubtedly. Assuming I'm the 'friend' you mentioned, you saw it as 'desperately needing your presence'?"

"Well, six to one, half dozen to the other, I suppose…"

Scowling, she raced from the room, descending the stairs as if to escape a house fire. The Professor caught up with her as she was struggling to pull a shoe on one foot, hopping on the other.

"Laurie, it's going to be quite alright. I'm sure they'll understand. I am a professor after all."

"So you use that now to your advantage? No one will suspect the professor, no one will question the professor, is that right? You don't know my parents. They suspect everybody. Even if they serve them goose and pricey wine." She reached for the door's handle when Layton gently turned her head to face him. He kissed her lightly on the lips.

"You shouldn't get so angry over such trivial things."

"This is not trivial. My parents are severely overprotective, and they are severely strict. Now, I need to get back quickly. I can just go back on my own."

"Well, I'm still giving your parents a call to inform them anyway," he stated firmly. "As it stands, I was busy with someone and had to give them my undivided attention. That'll be the story. Yes…"

Laura nodded, scrutinizing him with deep brown eyes. "Uh huh, undivided attention, hmm? Is that what kids are calling 'doing it' nowadays? I must say, it's quite the euphemism…" Ignoring his scorn, she grabbed her messenger bag. "Good enough. Well, er…I'll be off then."

"Um, Laura, you may want to correct your clothing…"

"What's wrong with it?" She stared down at a part of her dress that she didn't often see: the back. "Oh, my word, for Heaven's sake! Don't look at me, turn around!"

Grumbling, she turned her dress around, the Professor chuckling as he walked away to the phone, prepared to make a convincing phone call.

END.

Totally lame! Oh well. NEXT CHAPTER PLEASE.