I couldn't believe my eyes as I stared at the small purple mark on my neck.

He gave me a hickey.

My first one.

It was tender to the touch and poorly concealed by my hair. "Get in a fight with a vacuum, or what?"

I jumped at the sound of Maude's voice behind me. She was in a dressing gown holding a glass of water. Her hair stuck up in all directions. Quickly I pulled my hair in front of the mark and left the bathroom. "It's nothing to stare at," I said heading for the kitchen. Maude followed me out.

"And it's nothing to be ashamed of either," she said taking a sip. "Mum caught me with several once after a late night out with Brett." She shrugged. "Just wear them like medals."

"My mum can't ever see me like this!" I cried. "I'd die of embarrassment. The teasing, the jokes, the stares..." My eyes widened. 

Fuck.

"I've been gone for days and I haven't even called her yet!" Maude stood against the wall and watched me run around the room in panic before grabbing the phone off the hook. Once again paying for a long distance call I waited for my mum to pick up. 

Her voice was groggy. "Hello?"

"Mum?" I asked. She yawned. "Is this a bad time?"

"No, it's only ten at night." I could tell she had woken up to answer the phone. "Make it to London okay?"

"Yeah, it's all fine here." I looked over at Maude to see her pointing to her neck then at me. I shook my head. "Maude says hi."

"Hello, Maude," Mum muttered. Once again I turned to look at Maude to see her back turned toward me, her arms around herself pretending to pash someone. I would have laughed had I not been so embarrassed. "Glad you're safe. Having fun?"

Maude gave me a thumbs up. I waved her off. "Lots of fun."

"That's good." 

"I should probably let you get back to bed." 

"Call me again soon, okay?" she asked. I twirled the phone cord. 

"I will."

"Goodbye, then."

"Bye." I hung up and sighed. 

"That was short," Maude said. I made my way back to the kitchen and took out the bag of bagels from the fridge. "You barely said ten words."

"She was about to fall asleep," I explained putting the bagel in the toaster. I grabbed an avocado slice and peeled off the plastic wrap. 

"Should probably call my mum too," Maude said taking another drink. "She'll be up all night."

Grabbing a butter knife I sliced through a tomato and diced it. Juice dribbled over the counter and I sighed. 

Just my luck.

"I asked Angus about your gig on Friday," I said mopping up the mess with a paper towel. "He said he has somewhere to be that day but he might be able to make it."

"Oh," Maude said staring at her water. My bagel popped out of the toaster and I spread some avocado on it. "That's nice. Hope I don't get stage fright...." Sprinkling on some diced tomato I took a bite of my breakfast.

Well, lunch.

"Where is he going before the gig?" Maude asked.

I wiped my face. "He didn't say. Just kind of...vague about it." Maude raised her eyebrows.

"Oh? A secret tryst?" She put her hand on her hip. "A hidden lover?"

"Of course not," I said trying to suffocate my doubts. "Probably just has an appointment or something." Though I admit, his attitude was rather secretive for a regular appointment...

"You're right," Maude said. She brushed her hair to the side and rubbed her neck with her palm. "He likes you too much."

Giving her my best pout face I took my food with me to the bathroom. There had to be a way I could hide the mark. As lovesick as it made me feel it was quite an eyesore. Setting my breakfast on the bathroom counter I set to work fixing my hair so it would cover my neck. 

What I wished I had noticed sooner was the biggest, hairiest, and the ugliest spider in the world crawling toward my plate. My oblivious arse was too busy with my reflection. When I reached for my bagel to take a bite, I screamed.

Suddenly there was a loud pounding on the door. "HANNAH! What happened?" Maude yelled through the door. 

I had three options. I could fight the beast, and find a blunt option to kill it with. I could freeze in place and let it kill me first. 

Or I could run like hell out of there and let Maude deal with it. 

Maude practically spun in a circle when I zoomed past her for my life. She followed me to the living room to find me backed against the wall. "What on earth happened?"

"Spider," was all I could say. 

Maude's face lit up and her eyes glowed. "Spider??" She ran into the bathroom and let out a squeal. "Oh, she's gorgeous!"

Yeah, she almost ate me. "Can you please get it out of here?" I asked in desperation. 

"Look at those legs..." she cooed. "Those eyes! Oh, your majesty!"

Not that I was scared of spiders. I actually admired things like reptiles, snakes, and rodents. But when a hungry spider with a six pack and biceps sneaks up behind you, you don't stop to ask questions. 

Spiders belonged outside. 

Or stepped underfoot. 

"Hannah, come and see this!"

"Please, Maude, can you take it outside?" 

"Oh, alright," she huffed. I heard some shuffling around in the bathroom and soon she emerged with her now empty glass on top of my plate. "I left your bagel on the counter. She didn't touch it." I nodded and watched as Maude took the captured prisoner outside the hotel room. I let out a shaky breath. 

Good riddance.