My heart flips, and I can't tell if I'm excited that I've helped or disappointed that no one else has. She's been through so much, but yet, she carries strength. I admire her courage, and being able to call me out when I deserved it. I can't imagine people ignoring her when she has fire on her tongue.
“It's nothing really. I should thank you for opening up my eyes.” I smile back at her. “I'd be living the rest of my life in ignorance if you didn't point out the lies.”
She looks back to my phone sitting in my lap. “What were we talking about?”
We get back on the phone, researching and brainstorming ways to help dreamscreechers. None of our ideas seems to stick.
Eventually, fighting sleep gets trickier than before, and I have to force my eyes open. Once Clara starts to snore softly against me, my body warms. A part of me wants to move but another doesn't want to disturb her so I let her sleep on me, hoping she'll wake before long and tell me to go home.
Before it has a chance to happen, tiredness takes over me and I slip into the abyss of sleep.
Chapter 29
Amias
The first thing I wake up to is the ringing of my phone.
I groan as the melody keeps playing, hoping that it will shut off on its own. I'm too tired to be taken from sleep.
Please, just let me enjoy this bliss for a little longer. Please.
It keeps ringing and it annoys me enough to wake me. Maybe the ringing is something important.
I lift my head and reach into my pocket to see the name on the call is Mother. I yawn. Why is Mother calling me in the middle of the night?
I answer her and put the phone up to my ear as I push my body up. "Hey Mother."
"Is everything okay, dove?" she murmurs.
"I'm fine," I groan. I close my eyes, about ready to go back to sleep, but I fight to keep them open. "Just… very tired…"
"Okay… where are you then?"
"What do you mean? I'm in bed?" I glance at Clara's nightstand then out the window. It's still dark out.
Wait a second… Clara's nightstand?
Suddenly something shifts beside me and moans softly. I whip my head beside me, to see Clara sleeping with her knees close to her chest under the covers.
I've been sleeping in her apartment!
"Oh shit!" I gasp, but then I correct myself. "Shoot! I mean shoot." I glance at the time on my phone. It's morning three!
"I don't care about swearing right now. I just want to know where you are. You didn't respond to your chauffeur and you've been gone for six hours. Your grandmother's been worried too. I was about to file a missing person case! Are you okay?"
I rub my eyes. "Yeah, it's all okay! I was just with a friend and I fell asleep! That's all…"
"Okay good…" She pauses, and I take it as my cue to end the conversation.
"Well, I'll see you soon…"
"Wait a second! I still have something to ask."
My brows crease. "What?"
I can hear her suck her teeth in. "So… who is this friend of yours?"
My brain scrambles for an answer. “It’s just Glaide." I'm not sure how Mother would react if I mentioned a girl.
