Page 8 of Imbalanced Minds

Chapter Four

Iris

Bolting upright in bed I’m wondering how I got here, then quickly realise what I thought was a dream was indeed a real-life nightmare.

On top of this, my head hurts like a bitch. However, the insistent throbbing is nothing in comparison to the ache in my heart. Rubbing over the vulnerable spot on my chest I take myself back to the reminder of last night. To the rejection and mixed messages. Gah, why do males have to be so complicated? More importantly, why do I have to be so obsessed with one man? There are so many more out there – kind, attentive – that’d be good for me. Even so, I can’t stop thinking about him. Even with this killer headache.

Thrashing my legs about to rid the blankets, I climb out of bed, slip on my robe then walk as lightly as possible to the kitchen in need of pain relief and a big glass of icy cold water.

The sight before me stops me dead in my tracks. It looks like a tornado struck in the kitchen; there’re papers and god knows what else scattered everywhere, trailing through to the lounge. I cannot deal with this mess right now, so putting it all aside I go in search of what I left bed for and taking one more than I should.

Hearing a ding sound in the room has me looking around for my phone. Near the entranceway, I find my handbag and rummage for the little device. Ding. It sounds again.

Movement and effort in general right now are not on my agenda, so after tiptoeing around the mess, I decide to head back to bed and read them there.

Climbing back under the cover, gown still on, I unlock the screen and start flicking through the notifications. There are a few missed calls from Justin but it’s the messages that get my attention.

Nat: Babe you shut me in with no lights. It’s dark and I can’t find the lights! Oh wait I have my phone *facepalm*

Nat: You better get you some of that gorgeous man tonight *wink*

Jay: Please make sure you and Nat are alright. Love you sis and I’m sorry for being an ass.

Nat: Iris?????????

Nat: You are so getting lucky. WOOP GO GIRL!

I have to admit, I love my bestie. She never fails to make me laugh. That is until I read the next message from her.

Nat: Hey chick, are you okay? Cory came back to Jay’s last night looking really pissed. I guess things didn’t go so well. Call me k xx

Tears prick in my eyes, but I refuse to let them fall. It hurts that he went to my brothers after what happened. And why would he be angry? If anyone has the right to be mad, it’s certainly not him.

I continue looking through the messages to humour myself.

Nat: My head hurts like a b-ouch. How are you hon?

Nat: Iris? Come on, you can’t ignore me forever!

Nat: Seriously? We’re not doing this today. Crawl out of your hole and make me some pancakes. I’m coming home.

Nat: Scratch that. Your brother has held me hostage *wink face* Please be okay hon. We’ll talk when I see you next. Love you long time xx

Throwing my phone beside me on the bed I slam my back against the mattress. Getting the pillow from under my head I smother myself with it to muffle my scream. Hissy fits aren’t usually my thing. Usually, I’d blare music on my Bluetooth speaker while in the shower. Now that the thought has crossed my mind, I grab my phone back and the little speaker from my bedside draw. Headache be damned.

Heading to the bathroom, I try my best to keep my thoughts from running rampant. Turning on the bath taps I decide a soak will do me better than a shower. Some days you need to soak away your woes and with a little extra bath salts I’ll no doubt be back to myself in no time.

As I wait for the bathtub to fill, I have a look through my playlist. Vetoing the heavy rock I’d normally play I find something more subtle; maybe not soft and swoony but relaxing all the same.

Steam fills the room as I strip off then climb into the instantly soothing water. I manage to block it all out, letting myself get lost in the tranquillity of the singers’ voices and their melodies, one deep breath at a time.

—

Waking to the light shining in my room, I turn to look at my clock. It’s just after eight in the morning, which means I slept through to Sunday. Remarkably better than yesterday, despite the thoughts still torturing me, I find myself in the kitchen making my favourite breakfast. Pancakes with bacon and maple syrup; I could have a food orgasm just thinking about them.

Licking my lips, I get to making them while calling Natalie and putting her on speaker.

“Hey love dove, how are you this morning?” Nat so happily asks.

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