An antique clock ticked away overhead, taunting April from her place under the stuffy, suffocating covers of the equally old bed. She watched the pendulum underneath it sway back and forth, something that should've been soothing, but just was another thing distracting her from turning in for the night. Eyes drifted from the clock to the old family photos stuck on the wall, the fan lazily spinning overhead in slow-motion, and then the doll sitting up on the table right across from her, the creepy thing's beady eyes piercing into her soul even in the dark. She had considered throwing a pillow at it a few hours before, but the two she had were too precious to waste.
Laying on her back to avert her eyes, she blinked away some of the pitch black in the room and rolled to her side, then her stomach, the other side, then back to where she started over the course of a minute, trying to find some magical position that would fix everything. Each movement rustled the covers of the bed, prompting a noise from the other side of the bed as her bedmate groped at the blankets and stole another inch away. It wouldn't have really mattered to her normally, given how her body felt a few moments from overheating, but the outside air was equally as unpleasant, just in the opposite direction. Thanks to a cold, winter chill coming across, April had a choice between melting or freezing to death, and she was toying with the former.
Bitterness for agreeing to this trip to her best friend's old childhood home was starting to bubble over. Somehow she had skipped over the 10 hour drive, the 'living out in the middle of nowhere' portion, and the fact that they'd be doubling up on a bed that was barely big enough for even one when she described the trip the first time.
She was tired of not getting sleep, tired of being miserable, tired of being hundreds of miles away from her own cozy room, tired of...
April sat up just slightly and cleared her throat, peering over at the women beside her that had tangled up much more than half of the sheets by now and a lion's share of the pillows. She was lying on her side, facing away, towards the slightly ajar doorway out.
Tired of not having a bit of time to herself?
The thought had invasively wormed its way into her brain, gnawing away at her composure and taking her thoughts in a different direction. It was days straight now where everywhere she went, her friends or her parents were right at her side, explaining all the stories behind the house and the history and this or that. April was surprised they hadn't tried to follow her into the bathroom too, with how clingy they were. Friendly, yes, but not conducive to...other things.
Shifting back down, more and more of April's body slipped beneath the covers, shuffling down, until only her chin upwards wasn't hidden. Her body twisted away from her friend and towards the opposite wall, body twitching and shifting more uncomfortably than before. She now had a small rectangular window gazing over her on the wall, thin curtains barely even concealing the bedroom's residence, sending an extra jolt of adrenaline through her system. It wasn't like someone would come strolling by, peering into the window, but just the idea that someone could was enough. Not she was, ehm, doing anything she wouldn't want people to watch.
Suddenly, April didn't feel like she was the one controlling in her actions. Fingers brushing against her side and grazing the tank top there...thumbs toying with the waistband of her loose, black shorts, stretching them out further than she was already managing to do. A wiggle of her hips, back arched up slightly off of the bed, head pressed even deeper into the pillow, all done without any thought to the next step. She could feel more of her skin being exposed under the blanket, starting from her waist and working ever so slowly down. It was all she could do to keep herself from shuddering at the feeling of open air hitting against every new inch, feeling so absolutely...
Depraved?
Embarrassed?
Excited...?
It was a mix of emotions, as her shorts were soon wrapped around one of her ankles and no longer impeding things, having neglected for wearing anything else beneath that. April felt in control once again, wrangling it back from the invasive thoughts and desires, but that didn't necessarily mean much anymore. Her hands massaged on her thighs, feeling them squish beneath her gentle touch. It soothed her while she went back and forth with herself in her mind: yes this was okay to do because it was totally normal, no she couldn't just sneak off to the bathroom, especially with her shorts off, yes my best friend is so close they could almost touch and no I don't care anymore it's almost been a week god.
Her fingers dipped lower finally and she shut her eyes, lying back against the pillow and letting her do what she needed. Just a small bit of relief, completely harmless, and then she would finally be able to sleep. But, noises that she might usually make freely now would have been horrifying, magnified in the silent house, something she couldn't bear doing and then facing the three of them in the morning. Just slow, gentle movements would do, keeping in control, and riding that wave calmly along until it finally peaked, hopefully tumbling down in satisfaction and a good night's r-
April's eyes opened wide and stared as she felt her friend stir, rolling herself up in more blankets and going from facing the door to facing her. The covers disappeared from her side of the bed completely, every last one dragged away from her body. Cold air striked at her burning body, and she couldn't help but let out the smallest of gasps. Even in the dark, she could make out the features of her body, now for all to see: the paleness of her skin, the way her chest was heaving up and now (the only modest part of her left), her thighs pressing together for warmth and in a futile attempt to hide, and- well, she had neglected the first thing most strangers would have cared for.