Alissa rubbed her eyes to help her see better. She woke up feeling like hell but relieved to feel the soft bed under her. She looks around and immediately see a figure in front of her. She widened her eyes at the sight of Paul leaning against the mirror,
"Rise and shine, Sleeping beauty."
She was going to freak out, but then she immediately calmed down when she remembered that it was Pennywise disguised as Paul. She groaned and rested her head back on the pillow again. She sighed and then sat up, "I need to stop waking up to this."
"Too bad I like hanging out with you."
She shot Paul a look and he smiled,
"Why are you...Paul?" She frowned at the sight of him,
"Well maybe it would help you calm down." He grinned, "Since you know this face so well."
"I liked the clown better." Alissa mumbled and pulled the blanket off her,
Paul heard it and chuckled, "Ah, do you?"
She looked up and frowned, "What do you want now?"
"Don't ya miss me?"
"Actually after thinking about it..." Alissa felt strange looking back when she didn't know it was Paul all along, "...I kinda do miss Paul."
"See?"
She sneered, "Not anymore."
"May I?" Paul asked gesturing at the foot of the bed,
She just looked at him and nodded in approval. Paul sat near her feet and looked at her,
"How are you feeling?" Paul asked sincerely. This made Alissa sneer again, "What?" Paul asked,
"Are you serious? You're gonna play mister nice guy on me?" She grimaced, "I can't."
Paul shook his head and laid his hand on her leg gently, looking directly into her eyes he genuinely smiled, "Is it wrong for me to worry about you, Alissa?"
"Are you really?" She wanted to believe it, though, she played cold.
Paul smiled warmly, "You're my-"
She pulled her leg away and sat up completely, about to get off the bed, "-I don't want to hear it." She tried to stand on her feet but felt too tired. She tried to balance on her feet and Paul immediately stood up to support her,
She was surprised to see the sincerity as she stared at him while he had his arm wrapped around her loosely, "I can handle myself." She said and moved away from his touch,
Pennywise knew it had done well. After spying and learning from other humans that night, it finally knew the basics of genuine sincerity even though it was as if it was still playing a role. It did not mind, for if it was for the sake of protecting its obsession and source of eternal power. It did not mind playing Paul at all.
Alissa could not help but stare at Paul, "I really feel uncomfortable." She said out loud almost frowning at the sight of him,
Paul furrowed his eyebrows, "How so?"
"I don't like Paul all that much."
Paul smirked, "That's too bad. Although, you have to agree, I am a good looking guy. That won't do you any harm." Paul winked at her, "Tell me, Alissa, don't you like it?"
Alissa faked a smile then immediately frowned at Paul, turned away and decided to walk out of her bedroom.
She made herself breakfast. Alissa brought her plateful of pancakes and sat down in front of the table where Pennywise sat at the opposite side, its hands clasped in front of it, rested on the table, as It stared at her with gleaming blue eyes. It smiled at her, watching her eat.
"Are you really going to stare at me while I eat?"
Pennywise giggled, "I'm starving!"
She ate a slice of her pancake,
"I'm hungry for some fresh meat." It licked the drool off its lips,
She noticed this and didn't even flinch. She liked observing the clown when she got the chance. She knew it was strange how she wasn't bothered, but then again, it doesn't really bother her. She enjoyed It's peculiarity.
She hated how it annoyed the hell out of her but all at the same time, she missed it when it didn't.
Alissa took another bite from her pancake, "When we ate at the restaurant and you didn't eat, is it because you really don't eat human food?"
"It's all blunt to me." Pennywise pretended to gag and rolled its eyes, "I don't understand how you humans enjoy garbage."
"And yet you talk about circus food like it's made from heaven." She mumbled before eating another slice,
Pennywise leaned closer, "To lure children, of course!"
"Yeah, I get it."
There was a pause between them. She sliced some from her pancake and showed It,
Pennywise raised Its eyebrows,
She held the fork towards It, "Taste it."
It glared at Alissa. Pennywise hated that she was unpredictably witty. A human virgin outsmarting and making a fool out of It was unacceptable. But Alissa enjoyed this. She enjoyed the fact that Pennywise could not harm her, which meant that she could play along. She could play along with the certainty of her safety. She began to ride along It's humor.
Alissa gently swayed the fork in front of Pennywise, teasing It, "Come on, you know you wanna."
Pennywise glared at her teasing and said nothing,
"Don't tell me you're scared of pancakes?"
Pennywise lowly sneered, giving her a devilish look, leaning its head,
She continued swaying the fork in front of It's face. It annoyed Pennywise. It instantly grabbed her wrist making her stop. The smile on her face disappeared into shock. Pennywise shook its head, "Tut-tut-tut. Don't provoke me, Alissa."
Alissa knew she had the upperhand. She had to have the upperhand. Whatever happens, she knew Pennywise wouldn't dare hurt her. And she used this as revenge. She knew this way she could finally tease the demon.
Instead of pulling away, she stood from her seat, leaned forward the table where Pennywise was leaning as well. For a moment, their faces were so close to each other. She opened her mouth and ate the pancake from the fork in a subtle sensual way. Their eyes met before she slowly backed away and sat back in her seat. Pennywise kept still as It watched her until she sat back, a smug look on It's face,
It loosened its grip on Alissa's wrist letting her put the fork back on her plate. She kept eye contact as she stood up again, took her plate and utensils on her plate, and walked away into the kitchen. Pennywise was still, but laughing a throaty chuckle, knowing that she did it on purpose.