Merula 4:3

Chapter 4:3- Odd occurences

Cold dead eyes were staring at me. It were Rogan's. This was a dream, I thought, it must be. Rogan can't be dead. I had to wake up, get away from these empty eyes. But then it weren't just eyes. His face appeared from a thick veil of darkness, his nose, his mouth, his cheeks and chin. His neck. It were all white as paper. Suddenly a red line appeared on his white neck. Involuntarily I reached out and touched it. I looked at my fingers, they were smudged with blood. I looked back at Rogan, the red line on his neck was an open cut gushing out the darkest red of blood. I looked into his eyes, searching for a sign of life but his eyes were dead cold.

I was looking into a pair of green eyes sparkling with life. Mandy, thank god.

-How're you doing? She asked with a wrinkle of concern between her well plucked eyebrows. She was leaning over me. -Having a nighmare?

-You know me too well, I answered her and sat up in my bed.

Mandy put a comforting arm around my back.

-Oh my, you're sweaty. Must have been one hell of a nightmare?

-It was, I sighed deeply and brushed back my black hair.

-Got something to do with what happened yesterday?

I opened my eyes wide. What did she know? Did she know it was me? How did she know?

-I heard you got home early because of a headache? Mandy inquired.

-Ah, yes, I answered relieved and with a tad of guilt. -Who...?

-Your boyfriend informed me.

-Rogan is not my boyfriend, I rolled my eyes by the usual nag.

-I meant Morgan, Mandy blinked her eyes a bit surprised.

-Oh.

I didn't have a better reply. Of course Mandy took advantage of my silence.

-So... you're not gonna loudly deny that Morgan is your boyfriend?

-Well... he isn't.

-Sure darling, now it's too late to deny the awkward silence, she teased me.

Mandy rose from my bed and slipped out of the bedroom. But I wasn't far behind but she had already been stopped on the other side of our bedroom door by none less than Rogan. I stayed behind the door, eavesdropping. Damn my curiosity!

-How's she? Rogan asked with a low voice, he seemed anxious.

-Why don't you ask her yourself? Mandy answered irritated. -She's awake now.

Were they talking about me?! Was Rogan asking about me?

-You coward, Mandy called after Rogan as he left the livingroom.

I decided to remain in the bedroom awhile longer to not make it obvious that I'd just eavesdropped their conversation before I walked into the kitchen to join the rest of the Evaeus family for their saturday morning breakfast. I loved their joint weekend breakfasts. They were like hotel buffees and filled with happiness and laughter. Rogan had learnt to tolerate my existence after awhile, a really long while. Tolerate is not the word, it was more like he put up with it as there was nothing he could do to change our situation. Unless he had money stuffed away to buy me a flat. I had the money but I didn't want to leave because no matter how harsh he treated me I rather fight every day then live alone, that's what I had learnt after moving in to the Evaeus home. It was the opposite to the environment I'd grown up in and I long thought I was a lone wolf, that I could take care of myself and easily live by my own without family and friends. Meeting the Evaeus and sharing their breakfasts and dinners had proved me wrong. I was quickly becoming dependent on their love and warmth. I'd reckon it was all due to Hazel's wonderful cooking. Who knew what spices she used to make the food magical.

After breakfast I borrowed Blake's bicycle to meet up with Morgan. He'd sent me a text to meet up in the library, which was unusual coming from him, even more so as it was before lunchtime which was when he usually woke up during weekends. When I at last had found my way to the library Morgan sat at its steps waiting patiently. His blond hair looked almost white in the sun.

-Took you long enough Ed, were his first words followed by the widest of grins. -How many times did you lose your way?

-Around three or five times.

-And exactly how many times have you been to the library since you moved here?

-More than my two hands fingers combined, I admitted.

-You really have no way of direction, Morgan sighed.

-Well thank god for maps on the phone, I smiled at him and parked Blake's bicycle.

-You used maps?

-Only when I got really lost, I said and sat down by the golden boy. -So what's up? Why meet at the library?

-Don't you remember? We, and by 'we' I mean you, decided that we should have a study session at the library. This weekend. For the upcoming test.

-Really?

I'd completely forgot.

-Then I need to get my books.

-You mean it will take you another 40 minutes to go home, get your stuff and get back before we can actually start.

I had to smile. It would take me approx 40 minutes when really should just take like 20.

-Maybe, I answered devious.

-Then I'm coming with you, saving both us some time.

And that's how we ended up getting back to the flat together. It was the first time I'd invited him in. Not that I really invited him but rather he invited himself. Anyhow, I let him in.

Despite the common breakfast when everyone gathered no one was home now. They had all flown out. Well, not everyone it apparently. Rogan walked out of his bedroom as we entered the flat. He took one look at me and then glared at Morgan intensely. He was not happy by the sight of the golden boy.

-We're just getting some books, I said carefully and slipped out of my shoes real quickly.

I practically run to my bedroom before Rogan could speak. The bedroom I had left this morning had been neat. It was neat no more and my books were all gone underneath the chaos Mandy had left behind her. As I was searching for my books on my knees Morgan positioned himself at the door frame, observing me and the room quietly.

-So this is your room, he said at last.

-That I share with two other girls, yes. I would like to point out that this mess was not created by me.

-Aha.

I could hear on Morgan's voice that he wasn't convinced. I rolled my eyes.

-Are you going to help or should I go through this mess alone for 40 minutes to find my books? I asked him.

-Edi, do you really think I should go through a mess created by girls?

I rolled my eyes again.

-Wait outside then, I said with a grumpy voice.

He disappeared and I rummaged through the room as quickly as I could. Damn Mandy! When I finally found my books I discovered Morgan at the kitchen table with a cup of tea in his hands.

-What are you doing? I asked him and glanced towards Blake and Rogan's bedroom.

-Making myself comfortable. Want one? Morgan raised his cup to me.

-We're supposed to go to the library.

-We might as well stay here, save ourselves some time. Morgan took a sip from the cup.

-No we can't, I hissed.

-What, are you afraid or something? He raised an eyebrow.

-Of course not!

No, I was not afraid. Why should I be? This was my home as much as Rogan's. Why shouldn't I be able to stay home and study?! I put my books on the kitchen table and went straight to the water boiler and filled it with more water. Then I prepared my own cup of tea. I reached for the tea in the cupboard but couldn't get it. Suddenly another hand reached for the tea and I was pushed against the kitchen counter. Morgan put his mouth close to my ear.

-You should use a chair when you get the tea, he teased me and brought down the tea for me.

-I'm not that short, I pouted.

I turned around and saw Rogan staring at us.

-What are you doing? He asked.

I didn't like his tone. I put on a stern face.

-Making tea. Want some?

Rogan furrowed his eyebrows,in irritation no doubt, and turned around and went back to his bedroom. I turned back to Morgan.

-So let's study.

-Oh, he whined.

To be continued...
By J.L.Frick