jamie and eric-11-early morning

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Laughing woke him up. Bridgett’s laughing. He knew it was her laughing. It had to be Bridgett’s laughing. Eric groaned.

What day was it? Thursday, he worked today. Why hadn’t his alarm gone off? Adrenaline filled his veins as he flopped out of bed. The conversation in the other room paused momentarily. Then Bridgett laughed again. More of a suppressed giggle.

Eric grabbed his alarm clock from the nightstand. 6:13. Seven minutes before he had to get up. Eric sat on the edge of the bed, holding the clock. Seven minutes. Eric was so tired. The sleep fogginess pained his thinking. His eyes watered. His bed still felt warm. Six minutes. Eric fell backwards.

The alarm went off.

Shrugging on his clothes, Eric hesitated a moment before heading out into the common room. Dahlia wasn’t up yet. She usually wasn’t. Eric didn’t really know when she got up. Only that her classes started later than his work. Master Brown looked tired, eating pancakes from the downstairs kitchen. Bridgett, however, was quite exuberant.

“Good morning, Eric.” She chimed. She had a glass of orange juice in front of her, but she didn’t appear to be eating. How early did she get up?

Eric mumbled good morning back. Jamie was quiet, face hidden by his hair. As usual. Bridgett continued her conversation with Jamie. Jamie’s responses were quiet and short. Eric tuned it out as he fixed himself a bowl of cereal in the kitchenette. But as he sat down at the table, he couldn’t help but overhear them. Something about schedules.

“…physics at 11:30, and after that is my two hour break. Then magic at 2:30. That’s only an hour and after that I’m free.” She slid some sheet of paper back into a book bag at her feet.

“I can hang out any time. I’m either here or at the library.” Came Jamie’s small reply. She had to ask him to repeat it.

“Alright, well…” Bridgett looked at her watch. “I probably have plenty of time, but in case I have trouble finding the room, I think I’m going to head off.” Bridgett picked up her book bag and bade them all goodbye. If not for yesterday, Eric would have thought he imagined the pointed angry look that Bridgett gave him right before she slipped out of their front door. Fine. Whatever. Bridgett was mad at him, why would he care?

Master Brown tried to ask the boys about their plans for the day, but Eric was too tired to articulate his words and Jamie’s answers discouraged further dialog.