Chapter 9 - Michelle
"So why did you wake me up so early, Brent?" I asked, still rubbing the sleep out of my eyes. "What was so freakin' 'urgent' that you wanted me to see?"
I'm not usually such an early riser, at least without a few gallons of coffee in my system. But Brent insisted that I wake up at 4AM - an ungodly hour, even for some of the 24 hour party people living in this glitzy hotel. And when I wasn't responding to the wake up calls in my room that were wailing in my ears like a banshee to a sleeping giant, he ended up banging on my door like he was going to break the thing down. And he probably would have, if he didn't own this place and didn't have every key hanging somewhere, waiting for supposedly 'urgent' moments like these.
Brent stood at the entrance of my room, flicking the lights on and off, like when our 10th grade teacher Mrs. Stonebrook wanted to get our attention. I found it weird that she would do that when we were already all in high school. And I found it annoying then as I did right now.
"Taking one from the page of old Mrs. Stonebrook, huh?" I said, trying to shut my eyes to keep the light out.
"You know it," Brent said. "It works. I was so motivated to never have a class with her again that I ended up acing biology. And I hated biology. I just hated the thought of having to repeat the course with her again in the summer."
I laughed at the memory Brent shared. It's true that sometimes he would slack a bit when it came to academics, back in the day. But he could be top of the class if he wanted to, if it had fit his own goals. In that case, avoiding the most annoying teacher in the history of education.
"It's working, isn't it?" he teased, sensing my annoyance as he continued flicking the lights.
"Yes," I said. "But it won't when I do this!"
I flung the blanket over my head and hid myself under it as if it were a tent.
"Can't see anything, now," I said, "might as well go back to sleep."
I adjusted my body to a new position and called out to Brent, my voice muffled by the blankets. "Good night!"
I no longer heard the light switch rhythmically being flicked on and off nor did I see the light strobing in my room. I felt the familiar sensation of falling asleep as my eyes closed from the darkness under the covers.
Suddenly I felt the covers on my side being whipped open and a warm body pressing against me. I pulled them down over my head and saw Brent embracing me, and my body shivered when I felt his hardness rubbing against my crotch.
"I'm going to carry you out of bed if I have to," Brent said, his arm rubbing my back.
"You're doing a pretty bad job of that," I said.
"I'm just getting warmed up," he shot back.
Mmmm, I could feel that he was. I was too. His hand found its way under my pajamas and the warmth over the small of my back made my hips involuntarily jerk towards him.
Brent rolled on top of me and cupped my face. Even in the darkness and I could see how handsome he was at the moonlight crept through the window and gently outlined his face.
He bent his head down and kissed me softly, and I found my arms wrapping around his back, keeping him close.
His lips carefully caressed mine and I all I could sense was our bodies sharing heat, sharing this moment under the covers. I realized how empty the bed had felt until he was with me here.
"Michelle," he said, breaking the kiss, "I would love for this to continue, but we do have to get going. There is something special I want to show you today and time is of the essence."
"Mmmm," I softly moaned, "can you show it to me right here?" The words were so unlike me, but I just felt so safe in his embrace, like I was still in a beautiful dream I didn't want to wake from.
"I'm afraid not, babe," he said, brushing my face. "You've got to trust me on this one."
"OK," I said, holding my hands around his. "We'll get moving."
Brent gave me a peck on the lips, got out of the bed, and starting folding the covers.
"Meet me down at the lobby and we'll get to the runway," he said. "I'll have everything set up for you shortly."
He winked and left the room.
Well, I definitely was wide awake now. I felt ready to go with him, wherever he wanted to go, whatever he wanted to show me. And not only the bed, I realized, but the whole room felt emptier after he left.
***
After I washed up and got changed, I made my way down the lobby to find where Brent was waiting for me.
I passed the bar and saw a few gentlemen sitting by themselves on stools, heads down, nursing their drinks. I wondered about who they were and what they were doing staying here. Surely some kind of business or entertainment magnates. It was the clientele this hotel attracted. But there they were, alone, just their drinks and the bartender to keep them company.
I went up to the bar to order a coffee and one of the gentlemen touched my arm as the bartender went to work.
"What's a young lady like you doing up at a time like this?" he asked.
"I'm not too sure myself, to be honest," I said. "My boyfriend - I mean my friend wanted to show me something." I realized I didn't catch my gaff in time. Maybe I was just too sleepy still. Brent - my boyfriend? I was definitely still waking up and my mind was hazy.
"Well," he said, smiling, "whatever it is he wants to show you, it must be very special."
"I hope you're right," I said. "I'm not usually ever awake at this time."
"It comes with the business for me," the man said. "I have to fly out early soon. Nothing to do here but wait."
"You're not married, sir?" I asked.
"No," he said, shaking his head. "Just never had the time. Still don't. Or won't. Hard to say at this point in my life."
"I'm sure you will find someone nice," I said.
"Thank you, young lady," he said, tapping my hand. "Have a good time with your friend."
The bartender placed my coffee on the bar and I picked it up.
"Thank you, sir, see you."
The man waved as I walked out with my cup in hand, slowly looking around the lobby, wondering who else was sitting here by themselves and wondering how similar their stories were to the man's.
Brent was my friend, that was true. At least now it was - I think. But was he something more? And was that something 'more'? People who are just friends don't end up horsing around in the bed together like we were just moments ago. People who are just friends don't close their eyes and kiss each other as their bodies are in a close embrace. I guess we weren't just friends, but what we were, I wasn't sure, and maybe I was still afraid to recognize.