Ten Years Ahead

Why are You Doing This?

Regina and I walk hand in hand into the large lobby of the hotel. At first I was confused as to why she grabbed my hand, but it didn't bother me. In fact it felt right, so I just let it go. I take in my surroundings, a huge crystal chandelier hanging from the ceiling, a beautiful lounge with leather couches and chairs in front of a fire place, clean marble flooring... "Wow." I said taken aback by how beautiful and clean the place was. I heard Regina giggle at my reaction and I began to feel my cheeks burn with embarrassment. She lead me over to the front desk before slipping her hand out of mine and resting it on the marble counter top in front of us. The lady at the front desk smiled at us. "Ms. Mills, I didn't expect to see you back so soon. What can I help you with?" The lady asked nicely. "I've run into a few issues that led me to missing my flight home, so I'll be needing another room just for the night." Regina said professionally. "Alright, well unfortunately, the only roomer have available is the room you were just in with the single king bed." The woman behind the counter said looking at me, then back to Regina. Regina sighed at the current predicament but didn't say anything against it. "That's fine, I'll just take the couch." She said as she grabbed her wallet from her purse and took out her credit card to pay for the room. I just stood at her surprised. She didn't seem like the kind of person who would sleep on a couch. If anyone should be sleeping on the couch it should be me, not her. "Here you go, enjoy your stay." The woman finally said handing Regina two room keys and her credit card back. "Thank you" Regina nodded and she turned away and headed towards the elevator and I followed. Once inside the elevator I looked up at her. "You know you don't have to do that." I say quietly. "Do what dear?"she asked. "Sleep on the couch... I can sleep anywhere and besides your paying for the room, you take the bed." I insisted, but Regina shook her head. The elevator door opened and Regina lead me down a long hallway and opened a door with her room key. We both stepped inside, Regina flipping on the lights. The room was huge, actually it wasn't a room, it was a full on suit with marble tile in the kitchen to match the marble counter tops. A huge plush couch with a coffee table in the living room area, and two doors, one I'm guessing lead to the bed room and the other to the bathroom. After a minute there was a knock on the door. Regina opened it to see her driver with a suitcase. "Thank you. Have a goodnight." She said pulling her suitcase into the suit and closing the door. "Regina, I'm serious, take the bed, I'll be fine on the couch. I said again. She sighed and shook her head with a smile. "Alright emma, you win. The bathroom is over there..." She said pointing at one of the doors. "The other is the bedroom." She added pointing to the other. I nodded and she pulled her suit case over to the bedroom door before opening it and walking inside, her suitcase rolling behind her. She flipped on the light switch and set her suit case next to the bed. I didn't go in, not wanting to make things awkward between us. "The extra pillows and blankets are in their dear." She said with a smile pointing to the closet on the other side of the bedroom. I nodded and walked in looking around the room briefly before walking over to the closet. I heard Regina open the zipper of her suit case and I assumed she was unpacking a few things. I grabbed a pillow and a blanket from the top shelf inside the closet and turned around to look at Regina who had her back turned. "Thank you... For all of this, you really didn't have to." I say and she turns around. "No problem dear." She said with a smile and I headed back to the couch in the other room to make a small bed for the night while Regina unpacked. Once my bed was made, I slipped off my jeans and my red leather jacket, leaving myself in just my white tank top and underwear. I slid beneath the covers and rested my head on the pillow and stared up at the ceiling. "Goodnight Emma. If you need anything, I'm right next door." She said and I nodded. "Thank you." I said and she smiled before turning off all the lights and heading to her own bed. I sighed, knowing there was no way I'd be able to sleep after being so used to falling asleep wrapped in Neal's arms in the backseat of that old beat up bug. This was different, something I wasn't used to, and I always found it difficult to fall asleep in new situations and this one I could tell, would be no exception.
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I crawled beneath the same covers I've slept between for the last four nights, the cool sheets feeling amazing against my warm body, but tonight was different. I couldn't stop thinking about the girl who was sleeping in the next room. The girl who made me feel so comfortable and unlike myself. It was odd, and I knew that falling asleep in this bed tonight would be nearly impossible.