LOVEY

⚘

I WOKE UP ON THE FLOOR AGAIN.

My sleeping habits must be absolutely atrocious, because there hasn't been a single day where I remember waking up on a bed. In honesty, sleep itself hasn't been kind either. If it's not a recurring nightmare, then it's got something to do with my insecurities (once my forehead had enlarged to twice its size).

Creep was hovering over me again, eyes creased in disappointment. I wondered how long I'd been laying on the floor till he thought to wake me.

"If I ask for five more minutes," I grumbled, "will you give them to me this time?"

I heard him click his tongue. I was glad my eyes were closed, otherwise I might have kicked him in the knees for being so sarcastic this early in the morning. Or afternoon. Or whatever time it was—it's hard to tell in this moldy room.

"If you want to eat breakfast, you have to get up," he said.

I snorted. "I'm not hungry."

"You're not the only person here, Lovey."

I blinked open an eye, staring up at him. He had a good point. I'd forgotten that he wasn't allowed to leave my side, and that prevented him from eating unless I tagged along. Now that I think about it, I'm like his babysitter.

But I wasn't cruel, and I was actually hungry, so I decided to get up. Dusting off the fabric of my pyjamas, I cleared my throat. I had to piss. As I had learned sometime yesterday, this place had a bathroom—you had to leave the bedroom, go down the narrow hallway, and use the toilet meant for the apartment caretakers. I bought a set of clothes with me, so I didn't have to change in front of Creep.

"I bet you're disappointed I didn't wear the red dress," I smirked, closing the loo door behind me.

Creep was lingering outside. "I don't decide what you wear."

"That wasn't my point."

He didn't respond, so I turned on my heels, beginning to walk out of the courtyard lobby. I'd chosen to wear a yellow sundress, with white pumps that I'd purchased from Galeries Lafayette. It brought on a much needed happiness that yesterday severely lacked.

Today was a new day. I would leave this silly, depressing situation I was in, and make a new light of it. My conversation with Creep left me with hope. After thinking it through while washing my hands, I decided I should start by meeting with my boyfriend—who no doubt was worried sick about me.

"I'm going to call Percy," I called out behind me.

Creep didn't respond, so I had to glance back and make sure he was still there. He was. Perhaps he was sticking to his 'rules' still.

It wasn't long before I found a telephone booth. Slipping in some change, I dialed for the operator and requested Percy Kent. He picked up the phone a few minutes later. Hearing his voice gave me more comfort than I'd felt in days.

"[y/n]?" He said quickly into the phone, "please tell me it's you."

I smiled. "It's me."

"Where have you been? I've been so worried."

"You have?"

"I went to visit you at the Hotel, but they said you haven't checked in since the day you arrived."

"I've found somewhere else to stay," I said sheepishly. I wasn't sure how to go about explaining myself. "The hotel was too much, Perce, I hope you can understand."

There was a pause on the line before he spoke again. "Of course I can understand."

"Thank you."

"Where are you?"

"A telephone booth," I said, glancing out the square window panes. Creep was watching me from a few steps away. If I had to guess, it seemed like he was straining his ears to hear my conversation. "I'm safe, if that's what you're asking. No need to worry about me."

"I'm making a reservation at L'amour Vache," Percy said. He sounded quite desperate, and I didn't blame him. He must have been worried sick. "Please take breakfast with me, alright?"

"Alright."

"I'll be there in half-an-hour, it's under my name."

"Thank you, Perce."

"Love you, Darling, can't wait to see you."

He hung up the phone, and I was left listening to the dial. I missed him. Being around Creep all the time was mostly infuriating. I set the phone back on it's holder, pushing open the booth doors to step outside. It was warm for a morning in Paris.

Creep took a step towards me when I exited. "Well?"

"Well what?"

"The phone call. What did he want?"

"We're getting breakfast at L'amour Vache," I said, beginning to walk, "now let's go, I'm hungry."

I didn't want to discuss Percy to Creep, because I knew how he acted around him. The sour face whenever he was brought up, the whole 'drinking my coffee' thing when we first met, and his obvious disgust to the necklace. He thinks I don't notice, but I do. I just don't know why it bothers him.

As I was nearing the end of the block, I heard Creep loudly clear his throat. Turning my head, I noticed he was still back by the telephone booth.

"You're going the wrong way," he called out, pointing behind him, 'L'amour Vache is there."

⚘

"GOD, I'VE MISSED YOU," Percy said, sweeping me up into a kiss.

He arrived just when he said he would, and I had never been happier. I'd missed him so much these past few days, though I wouldn't let Creep know it. I was glad to finally be back to a state of normalcy—something I've been severely lacking as of recently.

Percy set me back down on my feet, a glint in his mischievous eyes.

"Where have you been?" he asked. "I thought you ran out on me."

I smirked. "I would never do that."

"Good."

He placed his hand on my lower-back, guiding me into the restaurant, through the tables, and into a closed-off booth he had reserved for us. It was like a separate room, with maroon leather seats and mahogany walls. The extravagant gesture reminded me of the time at the cafe we first ate at, which reminded me of—

Oh.

Oh god.

The 'proposal'. 

The one I'd been expecting, and the one that seemed too obvious; I'd completely forgotten about it. Nearly dying does that to you.

I glanced around the booth, the ceiling a putrid shade of green. Where was Creep? He wasn't supposed to leave me. Especially not now—thinking about the possible proposal made my stomach twist nauseously.

I didn't want to get married. Even engaged. I was unsure of it before, but I was sure of it now, because I met—found—myself in this big mess with the Ash Duo, and Creep told me it was because of Percy in the first place.

"Darling?" He asked, shifting across from me at the table, "everything alright?"

I refused to believe it at first, but after being assaulted and nearly killed for the past few days, I'd lost all sense of defense.

"Your boyfriend," Creep had said, words underlined with distaste, "owes money to the wrong kind of people."

Suddenly, the room got colder.

"Everything's alright," I said.

Where was Creep? I didn't want to be here anymore, and I didn't want to be in the presence of Percy—this man, this 'boyfriend'—who had put me in danger. I wondered if he knew it.

I looked up from the tablecloth, locking eyes with him. I couldn't read anything; it felt like I didn't even know him. Have I ever? I've been telling it to myself this whole time, but I'd dismissed it as nothing. I should have listened to myself. I should have listened to Creep.

Standing out of my seat, I took a step towards the door. "I'll be right back."

"Where do you think you're going?"

"The loo."

I'd thought I'd gotten away with it, but before I could reach for the booth handle, Percy called out again. This time his voice sounded sharper—crueler.

"Are you lying?" He asked. There was a shadow around his eyes now.

I looked away. "No."

"You don't seem happy to see me anymore."

"I am. I'm just tired."

"You're doing it again," he said. Harsher this time. "You're lying."

I didn't need a gut-feeling to know that something was wrong. I could see it in his expression. The soft, bright-eyed, cheery man I'd attached myself to was slowly fading away. A flickering expression, like a candle about to be blown out.

I looked up at the ceiling again. It looked like it was closing in on me.

"Sit down, [y/n]," he urged, motioning to the seat. I didn't know what else to do. I couldn't run out on him, even though he was starting to act strange, so I sat back down. Percy's mouth turned into a subtle sneer as he looked at me. "Answer some questions for me."

I blinked. "Okay."

"Be honest."

I nodded my head.

"Did you think I was going to propose to you?" He asked, tilting his head slightly. "Tell me the truth."

He made me feel ashamed for thinking it—but I knew I shouldn't be. It all seemed so obvious. He traveled me out to Paris, made me stay in a luxurious hotel, and gifted me the daisy necklace I loved. Our relationship was never that grand. As I've mentioned before, we rarely saw each other in the first place.

Why else would I be here? 

"I don't know," I answered hesitantly, "maybe a part of me did."

He let out a scoff, almost as if amused. My stomach began to churn. Something wasn't right, and I could sense it.

"I won't marry a liar," he said, "or a cheater."

What?

My gaze shot back down towards the man, a pang of alarm in my chest. Percy looked different now—his jaw was clenched and his eyes were filled with something disturbing. Like he was picking me apart piece by piece.

"What are you talking about?" I scoffed in disbelief.

Percy leaned, reaching over the table and grabbing me by the wrist. I tried to wrench it away in panic, but his grip was tight.

"You don't stay at the hotel," he said under this breath, "you're wearing clothes I didn't buy you, and somehow, just somehow, you're having breakfast with me right now."

"Percy, you're being—"

"Who is he, [y/n]."

"I don't know what you're talking about."

His grip on my wrist got tighter. "Who the hell is he?"

Where was Creep?

"There's nobody," I spat out, struggling to gain composure. "I don't know who you think I've been with, but—"

"Am I to think you killed those men by yourself?" Percy spat out, "don't be pathetic, Darling, you're too weak for that and we both know it."

My head was spinning. I couldn't think. All I knew was that my wrist hurt, my boyfriend was insane, and Creep was missing.

"You really thought I'd marry you, didn't you." Percy was laughing at me now. "You thought I actually gave a damn about you, Lovey."

I wanted to throw up at the sound of my last name on his tongue. It felt unnatural to hear it from anyone else but Creep. It reminded me how he was nowhere to be found, and I was dizzy with anxiety at this table with Percy.

"Don't call me that," I said through gritted teeth.

Something lit up in Percy's eyes. "Why?"

"Let go of me."

"Is it because he calls you that?"

"Let go of me."

Instead, Percy pulled his arm back, yanking me out of my chair and towards him. I nearly tripped over my feet, stumbling across the booth until my face was just inches away from his.

"Shut up and listen," he hissed, "One. You're going to tell me who he is, and why he's protecting you. Two. You're going to tell me who sent him."

My heart was beating so fast I thought I'd pass out. "I don't know who you're talking about."

"Stop lying to me!" His grip got tighter.

"I don't know! I swear!"

It all happened so quickly, it's hard to know if any of it was real. Percy raised his hand, seconds away from slapping me across the face, and I remember closing my eyes and waiting for it. Maybe I deserved it—I wouldn't know why. I was trying my best to understand how and why Percy was acting this way, but it was like my brain was too heavy to think.

I waited for him to hit me. Maybe he'd leave me alone then.

But like a crack of lightning, the door to the booth shot open, and Percy let go of my arms. I fell to the ground, my head smacking against the table and my body crumbling to the floor. I couldn't open my eyes—my head felt like it was ringing.

Almost as if my hearing had become muffled, all I could hear was the sound of shouting before everything faded away.

_

Had severe writer's burnout for the past few months!! *cries*(whydoesthiskeephappening????)