Ch. 5

I might have gotten all of my homework done, but at what cost? I had fallen asleep at my desk and woke up to my alarm going off. I went to hit it and all I did was bash my half-asleep hand into my desk. The sound made my head ring. I almost felt hung over… I say almost only because I truly don't know the feeling, but I'm hoping it feels like how I feel right now. I sat up from my desk only to have papers stuck to the side of my face. I peeled them off and slowly approached my clock. I stared at it for a minute, letting the annoying on and off buzzing sound ring in my ears and then, I set my hand on it and lightly pressed the off button… And when that didn't turn it off, I smashed my hand on the clock and was met with silence.

"why..?"

I looked down at my shirt and the only thing I thought was, 'Hu, I should change that.' and that's all I did. I changed out of my shirt and nothing else. I even still had the same shoes on and socks and everything.

I walked downstairs with my bag on one shoulder and a handful of papers in my hand. I slumped down into the living room couch and looked at all my homework.

"Hu, well at least I finished it all before one…"

All the lights in the house were off. I'm the first one up… now that's a first. I looked over the couch and tried to read the time on the microwave, but it was just too far away. I then heard someone walking around upstairs and a door slowly being creaked open.

A whisper, "Feli?" and then almost a panicked walk down the stairs and out the door. They came back in, shutting the door quietly and walked into the kitchen. I could now see who it was, Ludwig? I had my head sticking from the side of the couch. He was staring right at me but I knew he couldn't actually see me. But then he noticed something was on the couch and walked over to it.

"Feliciano? Vhat are you doing? It's late."

"What, no, school's gonna start soon. Why is no one up?"

I could barely see his hand moving up to his head to slick back his hair; but he only partly ran his fingers through it and left it there. "It's 2:30 in the morning."

"That can't be true 'cause my alarm for school woke me up."

He ran his hand through the rest of his hair and left it on the back of his neck, "That may be partly my fault. I had unplugged it vhen I was in your room putting my notes and vork on your desk. I had unplugged something and without really thinking, I plugged it in and left for dinner. It might have reset your alarms."

"Huu, that's great…"

He sat down next to me on the couch and saw the pile of papers in my hand, "You finished it all?"

"Yup, even the work that's due in a couple of days. I did it all."

"Wow, good job. No wonder you're so confused about the days. Are you even getting any sleep?"

"Eh, I guess, but I'm not getting enough if that's what you're asking."

"Is it because of me being here?"

I quickly sat up in my seat and looked directly at him, "No!". I said it a little loud and I felt my face going red.

He smiled, "You act differently when I'm around you, why is that? Your mother said it's just because you are shy when it comes to new people but this is boarder-line crushy… or I act the same way when I happen to like some girl a little too much."

'What is he playing at?! Does he know already?! It's only been three days! He can't already know!'

"Um well, maybe it's cuz I just really want to be your friend or something. I don't know. It'll be fine in a good week or so. You'll be like my tall older brother." My face grew even redder as I said that. I'm very grateful that it's dark or he'd know I was lying. But good news, as I talked to him, I did look him in the eyes, not at my twiddling fingers.

"I guess we'll give it a couple of days then."

I noticed that during our conversation, his accent slowly faded off, "Hey, where's that accent you came here with?"

"HA, you got me. Yes, I'm from Germany but I took an English class a couple of months before I got here and my accent quickly talked away the more English I spoke. I thought maybe when I came here I should just let my accent fall away so no one would really notice. But you noticed. Are you ok with that or do you want me to keep using my accent?"

"You do you, bro…"

I'd like it if he kept it but at the same time, I kinda lost my accent too so…

"You should go back to bed, or you can stay up if you really wanted to, it's your call." Lud sat up from the couch and gestured to help me off the couch.

"I don't know, if I go to bed now, I'll barely be able to wake up for classes tomorrow…" I slumped into the couch more.

"The more sleep the better. Come on, let's go back to bed." He reached his hand out.

I grabbed it, "Ya sure."

"It never hurt to get a much sleep as possible. I'm probably going to be just as tired are you so,…"

We both walked up the stairs and stopped at the top. I left my bag and papers down there. Hope I don't forget that I did that.

"Good night Feli."

"Night."

We walked into our separate rooms and I quickly but quietly shut the door behind me. I pulled the backs of my shoes off my heels and slid them off as I swung my legs onto my bed. 'I'll just wear this in the morning. I don't feel like changing…' I quickly fell back asleep. 'Well, at least I know he actually doesn't hate me. Maybe now I can rest easy. Maybe if I told someone, it'd make this heaviness a little lighter. But who to tell?'

The next morning, I woke up, but for the first time in forever, my pillow wasn't stuck to the side of my face. I didn't feel tired. I actually felt like I was going to get something done today. I sat up and realized I had slept with no covers over me.

"Ha, I don't even need to make my bed. Well, that works."

I grabbed my shoes from the ground and slipped my feet in. I lifted the backs of my shoes so my heels could get into them. I looked around my room for my bag and everything I did last night and I couldn't remember where I had put them. I then remembered that I had left everything downstairs by the couch.

"Then let's get downstairs!"

I ran down the stairs and was met with mom making toast and eggs for everyone. I grabbed my things from the couch and ran back over to the dinner table.

"Morning mom. I got all my work done so now I don't need to worry about anything for the rest of the week."

"That's awesome honey. Hey, make sure that everyone is awake and getting ready. You guys need to leave soon."

I ran back up the stairs and into Romano's room, "You up?"

He looked at me with his grumpy face and just said, "My eyes are open, aren't they? I'm dressed and standing aren't I?"

"Just making sure. Mom has food ready for us."

I then ran out of his room and into Lud's… I slowed down and I felt this heavy weight pressing itself against my heart. "Lud, it's almost time to leave, you ready? Mom has food for us."

His head poked out from his closet and then the rest of him. He had a shirt on his arms ready to go onto his body. 'His muscles. They're so perfect.' My face went red and I turned around. "Com'on, mom has food ready for us. We need to leave soon."

"Oh yah sure." He put his shirt on and walked out of the room, slicking his hair back as he walked.

I ran down the stairs and mom saw me with my red face pointing towards the ground.

"What'd he do now sweetie?"

"Mom, he didn't have his shirt on."

"Well, that happens. I'm sorry. I bet it was awesome."

I nodded my head and sat down at the table. Mom put a plate of toast and egg in front of me with a glass of milk. I dug in immediately. Everyone else came downstairs and sat at the table. I could tell that my face was still red and that Lud was looking at me but I kept eating. Mom put their plates of food in front of them with milk as well and they started eating too. I finished my milk and toast, put my plate and cup in the sink and went over to the couch. I put all my loose papers into a folder and put it in my backpack and dug out my keys from the bottom of it. Everyone else finished and grabbed their bags.

"Bye, mom." Romano and I said.

"Bye Mrs. Vargas."

"Bye guys, enjoy school."

Thank heavens that it's Friday. I don't think I can take any more stress this week. I drove the car to school and parked it. I got out and just ran to the doors of the school. Everyone ran with me. Roma went to his class and Lud and I went to ours. Today is going to be a good day, I can feel it. That and did I mention it's Friday?