A- Villain

Chapter 19 - The proof is in the pudding

"My room."

Em raises an eyebrow, "Are you sure?"

I move towards the steps and grab onto the railing, "Do you doubt my ability to climb steps?"

The corners of Emily's mouth turn upwards, into a smile, "No, I'd never."

I'm halfway up the steps when I realize I didn't get the cereal I promised myself. I pause. "Em?"

Without looking back down at her, I hear her respond, "Hmm?"

"I need a favor."

"Anything."

I turn around to see her wearing a smug look, knowing that I would need help eventually in some way.

"I want cereal."

***
Eventually, I find the motivation to pull myself out of bed to go brush my teeth and use the bathroom. I'm just a tad unsteady, but I make it to the bathroom just fine. When I come out of the bathroom, I hear faint music coming from down the hall. Out of sheer curiosity, I make my way down the hallway and see that the door to the guest room is wide open and Emily is spinning around in the black leather desk chair.

A slight smile comes to my lips as I prop myself against the doorframe. Em stops mid-spin, anchoring her feet to the floor and bracing her hands against the arm rests. She gives me a bashful look. "I didn't mean to wake you up. I should've closed the door."

I shake my head, unable to wipe the grin from my face. "You didn't wake me up. What're you doing spinning around in an office chair at," I pause, looking for the time on the wall clock, "Two a.m.?"

She shrugs, "I'm just thinking."

I nod, "About life in general or are you having a more specific existential crisis?"

Em taps her finger against her chin, "More specific. I'll let you know if I come to a resolution worth sharing."

As I cross my arms over my chest, I take in the sight of her. She's dressed in an oversized t-shirt and leggings, and her hair is tossed into a sloppy bun. I stop taking in her apparel when my eyes land on the large, black frames around her eyes.

"Do you usually wear glasses?"

She blushes a crimson red, and quickly yanks them off her face, "No, and you didn't see those."

I walk into the guest room and grab the glasses off of the desk she just laid them on. "Yeah, these are definitely glasses, and I saw them on your face. Can't say I didn't see them." I give her a teasing smile. Em jumps up from her chair and tries to grab them from my hands, but my arms are just slightly longer than hers, so I dangle them above her head.

"Beckett Coleman, give me my glasses!" She tries over and over to get them from my grasp, but each time she jumps up, I can't help but laugh.

"Here you go." I hand them over when she gives up and crosses her arms angrily.

Em raises an eyebrow, "Oh, now you want to give them back?"

I shrug, "I just wanted you to admit they were yours. No sense in being embarrassed over them. You look adorable in them." Just like that, her face grows five times redder.

"Sleep tight, cutie." I toss in a wink for good measure before I walk out the door and go back to my own room.

When I lay my head down on the pillow and pull the comforter over my body, my mind is still unable to rest.

That was cute and all Becky, but you forgot one thing: Emily still doesn't know your big secret.

You know what, Reggie? It's been a long day. I'll tell her in the morning.