I shifted. My eyes were puffy and swollen from crying, so I didn't bother opening them. I felt someone stir beside me, drape an arm over my torso, then sigh into my neck contentedly, sending shivers up my spine.

My eyes snapped open, and Larry was curled up next to me, sound asleep. I blushed a deep crimson. Last night was a blur, and I didn't really remember all that had happened after we had left Bernie's.

Then it all came flooding back. Larry carrying me to bed. Me asking him to stay. Falling asleep to the sound of his breathing. I felt the corners of my mouth hitch up into an imperceptible smile.

Larry's brow furrowed.

He must be dreaming, I thought to myself, stroking his hair.

He let out a satisfied hum.

"....mmmm, (your full first name)....." he mumbled.

My heart stopped.

I had shortened my first and last name at the turn of the last century to fit in better, so there was no way he could've known my full name.

Unless...

"L-Lawre-"

I was cut off by a loud, abrupt crash from above. I jumped and Larry jolted awake.

"Whazzat," he slurred groggily, wrapping his arms around me protectively.

"I dunno, but I intend to find out," I said, wriggling out of his arms, throwing off the covers, and slipping on my Bill Cipher house shoes.

"Wait, where are you going?"

"The attic," I replied, opening the bedroom door.

"The attic?? Wait! No!!" Larry panicked, rushing after me. It was too late, though, because I was already climbing the stair that led to it.

When I reached the door, it was slightly a-jar, so there was a sliver of morning sun leaking through the crack. Then I heard Lydia's voice.

"Gosh, Adam, why don't you just throw the hammer through the floor, how 'bout it?" she said playfully.

I then heard a woman laugh and a man say, "I know, I'm sorry! It just slipped through my fingers." It wasn't Charles and Delia, I knew that for certain.

Larry had caught up to where I stood eavesdropping at this point.

"See? It's just Lydia being a gothy punk child, that's all. Let's go back to bed, I want more cuddles."

I shushed him. "But, I hear other voices, too."

"You hear other voices?" he asked me seriously, a grave look on his face. (NO PUN INTENDED PEOPLE I KNOW IM ABOUT TO GET AN INFLUX OF COMMENTS ON THIS AND I AM NOT PREPARED)

I looked at him questioningly, arching an eyebrow. "Um yeah, why?"

He mumbled something about being "strange and unusual", before staring off into space in deep thought.

I shook my head at him and opened the door to the attic, stepping inside and blinking in the bright sunlight filtering in through the windows. My eyes finally adjusted, and once they did, I saw Lydia and two other people staring at me with terrified, panicked expressions. I heard Larry come up behind me.

The people with Lydia were a man and a woman. The man had a green, plaid button-up, khaki pants, and cropped, brown hair. The woman had on a green dress with a floral pattern and dirty blonde hair.

"Uh, Lydia, who are they?" I asked bluntly, trying to make sense of this confusing situation.

"Wait, you can see us?" the man asked, approaching me.

"Um, yes. I'm really confused, why wouldn't I be able to see you?"

"That's not important," I heard Larry say as he walked around me to stand beside the man in front of me. "Meet Adam Maitland, the sexiest man on the planet, besides yours truly, of course," he said, wrapping an arm around Adam's shoulders and giving me a wink.

"Oh, um, it's nice to meet you. Sorry, that introduction kinda threw me for a loop, there."

Adam blushed slightly and glared at Larry. "Yes, well, thank you for that Larry," he retorted, removing Larry's arm from his person. He simply chuckled at Adam's embarrassed frustration.

"So Lydia," I began, sitting down on a crate, "you wanna explain to me why you have two people living in your attic?"

The four of them exchanged a worried glance.

"She deserves the truth, guys," Larry said seriously, giving Lydia a pleading look.

"You're just saying that because you want to use her for your own advantage," she retorted.

I gave them a confused look.

"Lyds, you have to believe me when I say that I want nothing to do with manipulation. I just think it's wrong for us to keep (Y/N) in the dark," Larry responded in earnest.

"Lydia," the blonde woman said softly, resting a hand on the teen's shoulder, "I think, for once, he may actually be right."

Lydia thought for a moment, then finally caved, sighing in defeat. "Alright, fine. I'll explain."

"Get comfortable," Larry told me, coming to sit beside me, "cuz it's a freaking long story."

***********************

Hey guys! Thanks so much for getting me to 80 followers! Y'all are DA BOMBBBBB!!!

Lol anyway, hope you enjoyed this chapter, the next one is on its way! Don't forget to check my page for updates and info about the art contest (which's deadline is the 17th of this month) and also, I'm gonna go live today around 6:15 pm on my Instagram! Feel free to join me, and I can answer some questions you might have about me, my art, or even Timeless! My username is @jazzy_tapper_art  so feel free to stop by! I would love to see you guys! 

Thanks so much for reading and I hope you guys have a wonderful rest of your day! 

Ciao, bellas!

~Smol Emo