#starter;gemma

Gemma had waited up for hours. They were supposed to be home for dinner, but never showed up. Didn’t even call to tell her the plans had changed. Or to make sure they were okay. The table was still set and the food was cold. The clock on the wall was almost half past ten. As soon as they made their appearance in the living room, she stood. “Do you have any idea how worried I’ve been?” she yelled at them. “You didn’t call. You didn’t text me. For all I knew you could’ve been D E A D. But right now I don’t want to hear your excuses, ‘cause I’ve already spoken with Emily and she said I could sleep there tonight.” She picked up her bag from the floor and threw it over her shoulder. “While I’m gone, you can clean this up --” She gestured to the dining table. “And while you’re at it, why don’t you clean up the mess you made in the bathroom earlier? I’m so sick and tired of always cleaning up after you.” 

she’d had a long day. and when she eventually got home the apartment was empty. thank god. it was going to be so nice to just have the place for herself for a while. now, she didn’t always enjoy being alone, but who didn’t need some time for themselves? finally, she could write without being interrupted every other minute. she plugged in her earplugs and listened to her favorite playlist. she was writing her essay while chatting with her friend from class in another window, when suddenly a hand wrapped around her throat from behind. her heart stopped for a second and she quickly pulled out her earplugs. 

gemma thought she’d imagined things when she heard footsteps in the hall and knocking on her door. she should have known better than to sneak her boyfriend in the window to spend the night together. it wasn’t the first time, but then again, she hadn’t been caught the other times. she did her best not to open her door more than she had to in order to hide the sleeping figure in her bed. thank god her boyfriend didn’t snore. “can’t this wait till morning?  i’m trying to get some sleep here,” she whispered as she pulled her gown closer to her body, not wanting to show the lack of clothing hidden underneath.