Mark My Words

59 | Care About Her

Rosalie woke up the next morning to her school alarm clock ringing on her phone. She lurched off of the pillow with a gasp, her heart pounding into her throat. She looked around the unfamiliar room until yesterdays events sunk in. She let out a sigh of relief, a hand slapping to her forehead as she shut off the alarm. It was Thursday. They didn't have school.

She slumped forward, her forehead touching her legs through the heavy, down feather comforter. Beside her, Sami moved a little, turning over onto his back with a deep exhale. She looked at him from over her arm, smiling faintly at the sight of Sami so content, smothered in fluffy white sheets. Sami smiled sleepily at her before turning back over. The bed was big enough for three, so when Sami settled back in, he slung his arm over Isaiah's waist and went back to sleep.

Sunlight streamed in through the floor length windows. Rosalie pulled her knees up and snuck out from under the covers. She went to the windows, her bare feet padding lightly over the carpet as she stepped around the bags they left sitting on the floor.

She reached for the curtains. They were heavy and made of thick, velvety grey material that, when tugged over the windows, blocked out all light. The room was pitched into darkness once more, but Rosalie was done sleeping.

She unplugged her phone from its cord and plucked her sweatshirt and toiletry bag out of her duffle. At the attached bathroom, she shut the door before flicking on the light, giving herself a moment of privacy to take a shower before the long day ahead.

After brushing her teeth and combing her hair out, Rosalie left feeling clean and refreshed. She disappeared out into the mostly vacant hallway. The doors were all closed to the second floor guest bedrooms, and as she approached the railing overlooking the kitchen, she found quiet voices whispering over the purr of the coffee machine.

Rosalie padded down the steps with her hands in the front pocket of her 2014 Club soccer sweatshirt. Wet patches seeped into the fabric over her chest where her curls fell, but she didn't care. When she reached the ground floor, she realized that Kim Simons was one of the few awake at this hour. With her was another freshmen, the both of them looking fascinated by the coffee machine that Joanna was working.

Joanna passed two mugs onto the girls, who took them with warm smiles and satisfied sighs as they took their first sips. Kim went to the refrigerator to dress it up with flavoring, and beamed at the sight of Rosalie.

"Rosalie! You're up!" Kim said, voice still hushed.

At the sound of Rosalie's name, Joanna turned around.

They stared at one another until the silence became too much for Rosalie to bear. Everything was on her mind, and she could only image what was going through Joanna's head. She hoped that there it was some reassurance that Rosalie was still there in the morning after learning about the exact danger Joanna was involved with.

Rosalie cleared her throat, and with it, the tension in the air. Joanna looked down at her feet and back to the coffee machine. She grabbed another mug and poured a fourth cup.

"How did you guys sleep?" Rosalie asked, looking to Kim.

Kim took a seat at the island counter and said, "Really well. The bed was so comfortable. I don't think I've ever been in a house this size before."

"It's nice, huh?" Rosalie said with a laugh as she leaned her elbows against the countertop. She rested her chin on her hand as Joanna came forward with a mug of coffee. "Thanks," she said.

When Rosalie tugged the cup towards her, Joanna kept a firm grasp on it. Rosalie looked up to meet her eyes, and Joanna kept her expression neutral, watching Rosalie. "We need to talk," she said. She glanced at the underclassmen, who stared, wide-eyed at them. "Maybe outside," Joanna suggested.