This chapter isn't finished yet, but it will be soon! Thanks for your patience :)

One sound and Stephanie's eyes open.

Egg yolk sun pours through the window above her, awaiting entrance into her wide eyes.

Thoughts of the vivid nightmares from her slumber come and go in waves as she rubs the terror away.

Waking up has never been a pleasure for Stephanie, so she doesn't burrow her hands through the sheets and snuggle up against the embroidered yellow flowers like she did as a child.

As her heartrate begins to fall, and the cold sweat lining her forehead adjusts to a normal temperature, she can't think for the life of her why she is awake.

Kicking away the sheets with the strength of a fly, she places her feet on the soft cold carpet. Her long rainbow jersey that reaches just below her thighs grabs her attention, a rather fashionable item of clothing she had found laying on her bed the night before. It was soft to her skin, and overwhelmingly smelt like coconuts.

She paddles over to the door with her small feet, making sure not to step on any sharp objects.

Reaching for the doorknob, she nearly twists it, if it weren't for the hushed conversation taking place not too far away from her door.

Just a soft, sighing whisper, and she was deathly silent, fighting the urge to sneeze, or worse, fart.

Her mother had taught her at a young age that eavesdropping was unkindly. Her words had left a definite print on how Stephanie lived her life, but every fibre of her being yearned to listen as she involuntarily found herself moving her ear to the wooden surface.

She felt bad, but reminded herself that she had been kidnapped for no apparent reason. To hell with it.

"Hell... What the hell?," she just barely caught the end of a hushed sentence that could only belong to Carter.

"I know man, I made a big mistake," Drake replied quietly, followed by pacing footsteps.

Suddenly, a strong urge to use the toilet hit her. She bit her lip and wiggled her hips, silently urging her full bladder to make do for a little while longer.

"I just... I miss her," he continued, his voice cracking halfway through the sentence.

"We all do, fratellastro," murmured Carter. What may or may not be the sounds of hugging or kissing followed, as Stephanie was not a professional eavesdropper and truly couldn't identify which one it was.

Her brows did lower in confusion as her mind processed what she had just heard. Drake was a ruthless, arrogant and cold yet handsome man, who always had his way, definitely had  a horrible style of fashion and was rather fond of injecting things into her. Yet there were times when she felt he was somewhat caring, where he let his guard down slightly. He sounded so vulnerable talking to Carter. Could the cold heartless man be sad?

What were they whispering about? Who were they talking about? Why at such an early hour of the morning? And why was Capri-Sun so goddamn delicious?

Her mind centered in on the latter as thoughts of the heavenly juice consumed her. She raised an elbow to run a hand through her messy hair, but as she did so, her clumsy self knocked over a vase of beautiful blue flowers on the dresser to her side.

Biting her lip, she cursed her actions as their hushed whispers were silenced. Remind the Government to never enlist her help as a spy.

She ran over to her bed, and just about made the jump, the bed creeking with the impact, when the doorknob twisted and opened.

There stood Drake at the doorway, arms crossed over his chest - thankfully he was fully clothed, or else Stephanie would've found herself in a pool.

Propped up by her elbow, and staring right back at Drake, was the almighty Stephanie Cain. Also known as the world's worst liar.

Her lips spread into a smile as Drake stared back at her blankly. He sure knew how to make a girl awkward.

"So, what has you visiting these places?" she questioned him with a strong country accent.

The urge to laugh never seemed stronger, as her lips pained from the constant stretch of a smile.

Drake only raised a cigarette to his lips and puffed out a cloud of smoke, very unamused.

In an attempt to break the awkward tension, she continued. "Well, howdy partner, I sure hope the cat didn't bite your tongue!"

With nobody telling her to stop and another blank stare, she raised her voice.

"Well come on, partner!-"

Drake raised a hand.

She wasn't finished yet.

Her hands moved to form words in sign language with ease, followed by a "Yeah, boy!"

She truly hoped Drake wasn't familiar with sign language, or else she would surely place her head into a cardboard box.

Drake blinked at her in confusion.

She blinked back, sending a warm smile his way.

His eyes adjusted to her room, green orbs glancing at his surroundings and finally stopping on an object close to him with interest.

"What happened to the flowers?," he asked, his lips stretching into the tiniest bit of a smirk.

Her lips dropped into a thin smile. The poop had really hit the fan. Someone ought to call the police, because she was a dead woman.

"I...." her bladder protested again. "I sleep- I need...." not a single lie came to mind. "I must go to the toilet, partner!"

And with that, she ran past Drake, flying down to the bathroom with the impossibly soft towels. To her surprise, the door was wide open, Mike's fit of diarrhea seeming to have passed.

♡

Sorry if this seemed short, I needed to update. The next one will be better. Please read my book, "The Key" because honestly, I think it's way better than this one. It may be a bit different because it's fantasy, but that's fantasy for you.

^ Don't mind 13 year old me, and please don't read that book. It was rather awful.

Am currently reading Pride and Prejudice! Darcy is the original bad boy. I wonder if he and Drake would get along 😉

If you liked this chapter, please vote. But you don't have to, I respect you!

Later alligators :)