I WOKE UP to the sight of Dr. Lorenne Dench in a short towel; her skin practically glowing and her blonde hair freshly brushed and fluffed.

Fighting the sudden flush that warmed my skin, I slowly sat up and squinted. "What time is it?" I murmured, shielding my face from the sunlight that pierced through the gap in the curtains.

"Quarter past eleven," Lorenne quipped.

I was a morning person. I was usually up by eight o'clock at the latest —not because I had things to get done, but because I could not keep my international online teammates waiting.

Eleven was an all new low for me. Rather, a new late.

"What? Why didn't you wake me up?" I groaned, flopping back down onto the mattress. "I can survive on four and a half hours of sleep, I promise."

"You looked so peaceful," Lorenne sighed, "And I didn't have the heart to wake you."

I bit back a smile and smothered my face with a pillow.

"You deserved that extra bit of sleep anyway," she added. "Four and a half hours is appalling."

"Well...what about you? Don't you deserve it too?" I pouted as I threw the pillow aside. "God knows what would have happened if we didn't go to the convenience store when we did."

Lorenne met my gaze, the green and blue in her eyes more vibrant in the sun. The look she gave me bordered on disappointment and annoyance. But her pretty eyes were soft, warm, and non judging.

"I'm fine," she said carefully. "As long as you are."

I meant to sound reassuring as I answered, but it came out as more of a question, like, "I...am?" I then blinked stupidly as she frowned slightly. "I am," I repeated with more conviction. "I'm fine, Lorenne."

Up until that moment I hadn't realised that I hadn't said her name out loud before. She inhaled sharply after I let it slip, and the grip on her towel tightened.

"Well, I'm off to change next door," she then said. She looked a little uncertain about setting foot outside of my door. Then her face cleared a little, and her lips stretched into a smile. "...See you downstairs."

"See you."

As soon as she disappeared I rose from the bed, tugging at the slightly damp pyjamas. The heat was unreal —I felt like I was in an incubator. I stripped before I even started going in the direction of the bathroom, thankful for that privacy once more.

The shower I then took was cold, in order to render me fully alert and to ward off the temptation of imagining what was underneath Lorenne's towel.

I shivered, stiffly dragging my sponge across my chilled skin. The cold was welcomed though, to counteract this heat. I gave my hair a quick rinse, and then switched off the water and grabbed two towels.

I rubbed my hair dry before tossing one of the towels at the bed. I then sifted through my duffle bag and decided on three quarter khaki shorts and a crisp tan short-sleeved shirt. The clothes that I had brought with me were mostly practical, since I had anticipated working for a majority of the trip. I had only brought a few casual outfits —and only one dress. I hated how no dress I had ever come across managed to flatter me, even the one I had worn to the café with Lorenne.

I paused as I laced up one of my boots.

What if we were to have a meal together again, even with Valdez this time? Would I wear the same dress? What would she think of me?

I then shook my head and pulled my hair into a bun. I didn't have time to think about that.

After packing my briefcase with materials and a jacket and long pants for nightfall, I took a deep breath and marched determinedly out of my suite.

The early brunch was a rushed, bleak affair consisting of a flavourless full English breakfast.

The amount of crystallised cholesterol I shook onto my eggs alone should be criminal.

"I thought that this hotel was high-end," Valdez Lors muttered, flicking his napkin before spreading it over his corduroy lap. He was wearing something similar to his ensemble from the day before, his hair tied up in a bun, but he obviously looked more suited for the outdoors. "Why is the food so...flat?" he deadpanned.

"Shitty," Lorenne quipped.

I choked on the scrambled eggs in my mouth, and tried to wash it down with a glass of fresh apple juice. That, at least, had some flavour.

"The food is shitty," Lorenne sighed, setting down her fork and knife. "And frankly, I'm offended."

"Because it's supposed to be a full English breakfast?" Valdez remarked teasingly, leaning closer.

Lorenne scoffed and lightly smacked his shoulder.

She was in a daring white short sleeved chiffon shirt and high waisted brown shorts; her creamy pale legs going on for a mile before her feet sported old dark leather hiking boots over ankle supportive socks.

I glanced over her braided hair and subtle makeup, and began fiddling with my hair and feeling a little out of place, like I was dining with Hollywood celebrities. So I tried to join the conversation.

I cleared my throat, and then spoke up, "You know, we're lucky that they even left out some breakfast for us. They're supposed to stop serving it at eleven."

"Well, who can say no to the beautiful Lorenne Dench," Valdez grinned, winking at her.

"Oh, stop it," she laughed, flicking her French plait over her shoulder. I knew that she wasn't serious, that she wasn't the least bit conceited and arrogant, but she really could sway the rules like that.

I sighed. I couldn't say no to her.

"Where were you last night?" Valdez asked Lorenne. He said it mischievously, but it came out quite possessive. Lorenne caught my eye for a second and we frowned, showing that she could hear as much.

"Why? Were you looking for me?" Lorenne murmured, maliciously cutting a pork sausage in half.

Valdez gulped at the show of unnecessary strength. "Well, no, but you usually stay in your room for the majority of these kind of projects."

Lorenne looked at me again. Colour flooded my cheeks, and I tried to hide it with my napkin. But our eyes met, and I couldn't tear my gaze away from hers.

Then she did, looking down at her plate. "I was with Maya," she said. "In her room."

Valdez raised an eyebrow. "All night?"

"All night," she echoed. "In the bed."

"You guys had sex?" Valdez inquired casually.

"No," Lorenne answered calmly as I choked again. I didn't dare meet her eye as she looked up. "Unlike you, that is not the only thing on our minds."

"So you had a sleepover?" Valdez snorted. He looked at me, playfully annoyed. "That's real cute Maya. Thanks for stealing my woman."

"I'm not your woman," Lorenne smirked, digging into a grilled tomato. "And I like Maya. She's...real, you know? She takes everything seriously."

"Hey, I'm right here," I quipped, frowning at the people sitting across the table from me.

Lorenne smiled, and repeated what she had said, but directed at me. And my face warmed.

"That's gay," Valdez said slyly, ruining the moment.

Lorenne didn't turn away from me to face him as she then responded with a soft, "Really?"

author's note |
like what you're reading? check out a court of dreams trilogy —a diverse science-fantasy set in a post-apocalyptic multidimensional reality  ↴