I went into my room and laid down on my bed, staring at my ceiling. Why don't they ever paint the ceiling? When I get my own house, I am definitely painting my ceilings. No debate. I must've drifted into a deep sleep, because the next thing I knew, I heard a whimpering sound.

I shot up from my sleeping position and turned to my bedroom door. I heard it again. It sounded like a scared child, whimpering. I slowly stood up and walked to my bedroom door. Right before I turned the doorknob, I heard a faint scream.

"Don't go! Please, don't... don't leave me again!"

It was Brooke!

I threw my door open and sprinted to her room. I opened her door. She was lying on her bed, clutching her sheets, tears flowing down her cheeks in rivulets. Her face was contorted in pain, her forehead was dripping with sweat, her hair was stuck to her face, and her eyes were closed. She was still fast asleep. She was quieter now, sobbing silently. I walked up to her bed and grabbed her hand.

She didn't stir. "Brooke?" I shook her a little bit, trying to see if she would wake up, but it was to no avail.

I sighed and ran a hand though my hair. I looked at her and then shifted her body closer to the other end of the bed. I laid down on her bed, careful not to hurt her. I picked her body up and moved her closer to me, so that her head was laying on my chest. I stroked her hair and whispered soothing words in her ear until she stopped crying.

I sighed and whispered in her ear, "Goodnight." I held her in place in my arms and fell into a dreamless sleep.

*

I woke up to Brooke's soft snores. I looked down at her and smiled. She looked more relaxed now and her lips were turned up into a small smile.

Somehow, during her slumber, she must've shifted around a lot because most of her body was now on top of mine. Her head was still laying on my chest, but her entire left side was resting on my legs.

I stared at her, taking in her beauty. The sun shine in from the window, casting a brilliant light shadows on her face, causing it to glow. She is like an angel, my angel, sent to me from our mothers. I kissed the top of her head and slowly pulled back again to stare at her. I was starting to turn my head back to its resting position to the left, but Brooke woke up.

She blinked at me and then looked down at our intertwined bodies. I smiled and whispered, "Good morning, Brooke."

She blinked her eyes again and then quickly pulled away. She rubbed her eyes and jolted back in surprise, almost falling off the bed. She curled her legs up to her chest and said, "C-Cason? What are you— what are you doing in my room?"

I sat up fully, running a hand through my hair. With a sheepish look, I said, "You were screaming and crying last night and I heard you in my room. At first I thought you were being hurt or something, but I realized it was just a bad dream."

She didn't say anything, just stared at me. I took this as an opportunity to continue.

"So I came into your room and tried to wake you up, but you wouldn't awaken. I climbed into bed with you and set your head on my chest until you calmed down. Once you were calm, I started falling into a deep sleep myself. My guess is during our slumber, you made me your giant teddy bear."

She looked me in the eye, keeping heavy eye contact. So many emotions flowing in those eyes of hers! I wish I could just know one! She looked away, and I continued staring at her, trying to will her to talk about her dream.

I sighed and turned on the bed, hopping off to go back to my room, when she tackled me into a hug, causing me to land back onto her bed. She was on top of me, holding me in a bear hug. She held me tight as if afraid that if she let go, she'd never see me again. I hugged her back and said, "Brooke? Why—? What are you doing?"

She pulled her head up and looked at me. We were at eye level, our lips inches apart. Her eyes flickered to my lips and she saw I had caught her looking, she bit her lip and looked away.

She turned back to me and his her head in my chest, her cheeks warm from embarrassment. "Please don't go, Cason. Just stay a little longer?"

I grinned and patted her head. "Sure, Brooke. I'll stay with you for a little while longer. Whenever you're ready."

*

Well, as it seems we slept way longer than a little while longer. We had settled down into sleep again at eight o'clock and it was now noon. Good thing I set the interview at one o'clock then!

I was now in my own room, getting dressed for the day ahead of us. I had told Brooke were going to Starbucks, seeing as Ms. Brookland had said she really wanted a cake pop today.

She was one strange lady, but she sure is amazing. I could see why she was Brooke's favorite artist. Her artwork is truly beautiful; she uses her experiences and puts them into various artworks. She makes wire sculptures, clay sculptures, wooden frames decorated with past events, quilts sown with stories from her life, paintings and drawings, even little kid art like macaroni art!

She embraces her past and outs all of her emotion into her artworks, if that makes any sense. You can see the anger and frustration with every paint stroke in some artworks, but others you can see the hope and the happiness.

I shook my head, clearing my thoughts. I needed to focus on the day ahead. I needed to make sure Brooke and I weren't late to the cafe. Brooke wouldn't get the job at Ms. Brookland's studio if she was a slacker!

Well, actually, Ms. Brookland did call me and ask me to meet her there because she wanted to surprise Brooke... I think she'd actually keep a spot open in hop for Brooke to somehow wonder into her studio one day.

I finished typing my shoes and headed over to Brooke's room. She should be done with her shower and mostly dressed by now. I knocked on the door and said, "Come on, Brooke, I'm starving!"

I heard a muffled, "Coming!" from the other side of her door. I sighed and leaned against the opposite wall, the one facing her room. I closed my eyes and dozed for a bit while I waited.

About five minutes later, Brooke's door opened and I cracked one eye open, surveying the scene. My other eye popped open as I looked over Brooke's body. She was wearing a blue sundress with a beautiful bird drawn on it whose wings were open, as if it were about to fly right off of the dress. Her hair was in its natural curls and she was wearing red high top converse.

I looked up to her face, blushing, and said, "Let's go or we'll be late!"

She chuckled and shook her head. "It's not like we're going somewhere fancy, Cason, we don't have a reservation."

I smirked and said, "Exactly! That means other people can take any seats and we won't get any good ones! Let's go!"

With that, I ran down the steps, Brooke falling close behind me.

*

We walked into Starbucks and I shot Ms. Brookland a quick text to let her know that we were here. She sent a text back a few seconds later as I opened the cafe door for Brooke.

Janet- I'm in the booth to the left when you first walk into the cafe. You can't see me at any angle this way, so Brooke will be surprised to see me.

I smiled and walked into the cafe after Brooke. I pointed to the booth Janet was talking about and said, "Let's sit over there, Brooke."

She nodded and we walked over to the booth. Brooke stopped when she reached the booth, her jaw dropping to the floor, eyes widened in surprise. I smiled and wrapped an arm around her shoulder. I ripped my head slightly to Ms. Janet Brookland.

"Good afternoon, Ms. Brookland."

She stood up and waved her hand at me dismissively. She looked me in the eye, a glint present, and teasingly said, "Oh, Cason, you make me feel so old! Just call me Janet already!"

I chuckled and sat down across from her. Brooke was still standing there staring at Ms. Brook— I mean Janet. Janet wriggled her eyebrows and teased, "You know, Brooke, another spot is right next to your friend over there."

Brooke shook her head slowly and lowered herself down next to me and whispered-yelled, "Cason... What— what is going on? Why is JANET BROOKLAND HERE? Is this a dream?"

I threw my head back and laughed. I shook my head. "No, Brooke, this is not a dream. Janet is here because she wanted to talk to you about a job in her studio. She really likes your artwork and she believes you can be very successful. Right, Janet?"

We both turned to Janet, who was watching us with an amused smirk. She winked and answered, "Yup." popping the "p."

Brooke's eyes widened in surprise and her jaw dropped again. She looked from me to Janet, eyes widening even more, if that were even possible.

"You, but she, what, I?" Brooke sputtered.

Janet and I shared a look, then we turned back to Brooke. Janet shook her head with a smile and exclaimed, "Well, Brooke, what do you say? Will you work in my studio with me?"

"Why, I— Of course!" Brooke screamed in excitement.

Janet's smile grew and she said, "Cool." She stood up, so Brooke and I stood up as well. She came around the table and hugged Brooke, then me. Janet clicked her tongue and checked her watch. "Well, kiddies, I've got to go." She started to walk away, but turned around right before she left the cafe. "Oh and I'm going to start calling you guys minion names because I love minions."
*****
AN: REALLY QUICK, I HAVE TO SAY HOW MUCH I LOVE THIS CHAPTER! I LAUGHED SO HARD EVEN THOUGH IT SEEMS SO SHORT AND EVEN THOUGH IM COWRITING THIS IS ONE OF MY FAVORITE CASON CHAPTERS SO FAR! PROPS TO FriendlyDragon478 FOR BEING ABLE TO WRITE FROM A GUYS POV! 👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻 BROOKE'S CHAPTER WILL BE UP SOON!
WritingMelody🙏🏻❤️✌🏻️