"Not you," I snapped.
"Aluminium, get in," he snapped, his tone changing into a harsh command. Businessmen, I grumbled, getting up. The door knob twisted and I grabbed the blanket and pillow and quickly jumped onto the bed just as the door opened. My breath got knocked out. Damn, I needed to get fit. I barely sprinted half a meter!
"Oh good, you both are awake," said my mother as she walked in and I stopped the urge to roll my eyes. As usual, she was dressed in a elegant gown, even at this time, and her hair was perfectly done as she walked in with something in her hands.
"Couldn't this wait till morning?" I asked, raising an eyebrow.
"Of course not," she said, watching us both, her eyes taking us in and I knew she was checking up on us. Well ha! We look like the perfect happy couple. I looked at the floor to see my shoes and socks and cursed under my breath. Hopefully my mother wouldn't notice.
"What is that anyway?" I said, quickly diverting her attention. She handed me an envelope and I pulled it open. It was the invitation to Mrs. Alvin’s ball. Seriously, this couldn't wait till the morning?
"Okay, goodnight," I said. My mother nodded, still watching us, then turned around to leave as I placed the envelope on the bed side cabinet. The second she closed the door, I flopped onto the bed and sighed as the softness embraced me.
"Your turn," I said, pulling the blanket over me.
"My turn for what?"
"On the floor. I spent half the night, you spend half," I said.
"Hell no. It hasn't even been half yet. I'll wake you when it's your turn for the bed," he said, grabbing the blanket off me.
"Hey!" I protested as I made a grab for it.
"That's not fair. The floor’s hard," I said. I sprained a muscle in my neck and it hurt to even move it.
"Well, that's too-"
The door suddenly opened, cutting Darius off and surprising us both. This time, it was his mother who stepped in. We both exchanged looks.
"Is the heating working in this room?" she asked.
"Yes, mother. Is there anything else?" asked Darius as I simply stared. What was with them today?
"Oh, just checking, my dear. This room looked awfully cold," she said.
"We're fine," he said. She nodded, looking at us both.
"Well, get your sleep. We'll just check up on you and this room. It's awfully cold in this house."
Darius nodded. "No need to check up on us."
"Sleep tight, kids." She ignored Darius’ comment and closed the door. You have got to be kidding me.
"Yes, your turn on the floor," I said, lying down and spreading my hands and feet out to leave no space for him.
"No."
Ignoring his answer, I said, "Switch the light off on your way down, too, yea?" I turned around to lie on my stomach. The light turned off and I settled in, ready to sleep, when I felt the bed dip. I sat up and stared at him, as though he could see my frown in the dark.
"Go away," I yelled, smacking his back with the pillow.
I heard his deep sigh, as if he was exasperated with me. "Just sleep, ok? I'll stay on my side and make sure you stay on yours."
I know he couldn’t see my face, but I glared at him nonetheless. I even went as far as giving him a push, a strong one.
"No, Darius. It's my turn!" I snapped like a child.
"If our parents keep barging in, then we need to sleep in this bed."
"Sleep under the bed, then. I'll tell them you went to the potty or something."
"You do that."
"No! I am a lady."
"And?"
"Go away!"
He didn’t budge.
Darius shook his head. "No."
"Oh, come on!" I asked, crossing my hands like a little child. He shrugged and grabbed the pillow and placed it between us.
"Your side, my side. Don't cross it." He chucked the blanket at me and turnedaway. Seeing that there was no way I could make him obey me, I turned my back on him and lay on my side of the bed. Fine, then.
"You got the bigger side," I said after a few seconds. He sighed, turning the other way and I smiled. I have a plan. As soon as he sleeps, I'll push him off the bed. But while waiting for him to fall asleep, I’d close my eyes, just for a few minutes.
Hmm, this bed was so soft and smelled so nice. But for some reason, I swear there was cold air blowing out of the ducted heating.
Chapter seventeen
You know how it feels when it’s so warm it makes you feel sleepy, like on a hot summer day, and you just want to sleep and sleep and not wake up till night. Well, that's what I was feeling. I could tell I was in a dream with these velvet blankets and a warm bed. I did not want to wake up anytime soon.