The next morning is uneventful as I wake up alone, but I figure Knots is back in his door. ‘Knots?’
‘In the kitchen making breakfast…or trying to.’
A little thrill goes through me knowing Knots hasn’t returned to his position after all, but I’m a little nervous also. You don’t have to tell me that I don’t know Knots as well as I know the others, but there’s something freeing about it. I knew Knots by his actions, not by false promises or how he could easily make me feel. He didn’t have to fight to save Lynx, but he stood by his side and fought till the end. If anything, he’s the type of person Ishouldhave by my side. I guess that’s why it felt natural to go with the flow and let the seduction proceed.
Allowing me to play the seducer with Knots last night granted me the chance to get out of my own head. It’s what I needed to take a small step in the right direction. Depression is an ugly force to deal with, and I know if I didn’t find a purpose, I’d be swallowed whole. I had fun but also found comfort and felt cherished with Knots last night. Not that JP doesn’t do any of that for me, but Knots just calls to me differently. It was also a chance to be there for him. I felt the need to help him experience something that I excelled at.
Slipping on a pair of sweats, I make it out into the living room before I hear Moni scream at the top of her lungs.
“Who the hell are you, and why are you burning water?” Moni shrieks, flickering a white and red combination. Her tail thrashes back and forth like a whip, and for the first time, I wonder if she can use it as a weapon.
“Woah, Woah, Woah. Moni, stop!” I run to her as she picks an apple off the counter to throw it at Knots. “That’s Knots!” I say as I grab the fruit from her.
She gives me a baffled look before concentrating on Knots again. “Knots? As in our door?” she asks as she floats closer to him.
“Door Knight, Miss Moni,” Knots bows and Moni’s jaw drops as her skin goes back to her normal greenish-brown.
“Holy Flaming poop balls,” she says right before she faints.
That’s one.
Before I get a chance to wake her up, she pops up and attacks Knots with questions one after another. “When did this happen? Holy shit, you’re hot. Damn, did I just say that? How are you out of your door? Who knows? Do you have powers? Cooking definitely isn’t one of them. Did you sleep like this? Can all Door Knights pop out like a joke-in-a-box? If you’re here, who’s protecting our damn dorm? Whatcha trying to cook? Welcome Home!” She throws her arms up like she’s throwing confetti and, just like clock work, faints again.
And there’s two.
Hearing the thunk sound of her bark hitting the floor once again, it finally dawns on me why she’s covered in bark. It’s probably to protect her from her constant fainting. I give Knots a ‘she’s all yours’ look as I pull out some cereal, milk, and three bowls for breakfast. I don’t know what he was trying to cook, but burnt smells about right.
While eating breakfast, Knots gets the chance to answer all of Moni’s questions between bites of his cereal until she’s somewhat satisfied. She even calls dibs on telling Dean Caldron about Knots coming back with an upgrade after breakfast. She couldn’t be in a better mood, that is until she notices my injured hand.
“What in blueberries happened there?” Moni points to my bandaged palm before taking a bite of her fruit.
I give her a feeble smile before explaining what occurred last night. Moni sits enamored as she listens to my story, and Knots takes it as an opportunity to reexamine my injury. Finding it acceptable to his standards, he wraps it back up but continues to hold my hand. I bite my inner cheek to keep the goofy smile off my face as I feel my skin heat.
Moni notices my blush though, and her eyes widen as she notices Knots rubbing small circles on the back of my hand. While he contemplates on what I said about my dream, Moni sends me knowing looks. First she raises her eyebrow at me and smirks, but when I return a blank stare, she pouts, sporting a blue skin tone. Of course my bestie doesn’t stop there, she then places her chin in her hands and bats her honey brown eyes at me. I bat mine right back before sticking out my tongue and she snorts.
“I’m sorry. I’ve never heard of that happening before,” Knots confirms.
“It must have been a night for allsortsof new things since I’ve never heard of a Door Knight stepping out of their position either,” Moni teases as she gives me a mischievous expression before looking down at our hands.
I roll my eyes at her, and she laughs, falling off the counter.
She’s so lucky I love her.
A few moments go by before Knots starts laughing out of nowhere after taking a bite of cereal. “That tickles,” he says with a full mouth between his laughter, and the next thing I know I hear cursing coming from the front door.
“Damnit Knots, I’m gonna be late,” JP grumbles before he freezes, taking all of us in where we sit at the kitchen island, Knots included.
“Sorry, didn’t realize it was you,” Knots says as he wipes his mouth with the back of his hand.
JP’s astonishment is enough to make me giggle, which causes him to pull out of his shock. “Knots? How the hell are you here?” The answer he gets is a shrug from Knots. “Okay then. I need to get dressed for class, but this isn’t over. I need answers,” he says, shaking his head as he runs back to his room.
I still need to break it to him that I kind of got down and dirty in his bed last night.
JP pokes his head back out of the den with his eyes wide and his mouth agape. “You did what in my bed?”
Oh shit!
‘JP, I’m so sorry. I wasn’t thinking about it being your bed when—’I start, but Knots, not missing a beat, intervenes.
