closed // tillie & emmett
BEEP. BEEP. BEEP. BEEP. BEEP -
Emmett wakes with a start to the sound of his alarm clock going off - how could it already be morning? Had he really been up that late tossing and turning? He groans, rolling over and slamming his hand down on top of the clock. It clatters to the ground, but he truly can't be bothered to pick it up. He only cares that the incessant noise has stopped. Emmett jams his pillow down on top of his head, blocking out the obnoxious morning light. His breathing slows, his eyelids droop back down. Sleep takes him back over before he knows it.
Emmett slips into a dream - one he has been having many nights in a row, with some variations from time to time. In this one, he's running through the woods, chasing Charlotte who can be heard giggling and teasing him from up ahead. A dumb smile is plastered all over his face as he runs, calling after her to slow down. She weaves in-between the trees, disappearing and re-appearing in the open spaces. Emmett keeps his eyes on her, getting closer. Charlotte disappears behind a tree, but this time, she doesn't come back. Seemingly vanished into thin air. His brow furrows, his steps slow. "Charlotte?" he yells, spinning in a slow circle, looking for her everywhere. "Charlotte!" Emmett pauses, waiting to hear the sounds of her footsteps, but instead he only hears the wind rustling through the trees.
Suddenly, everything seems darker than it was before - as if hours have slipped by while he stood in one spot. A sudden tap on his shoulder causes him to nearly jump out of his skin - Emmett whirls around and there she is. Standing right in front of him. The look on her face is one of worry and panic. She opens her mouth to speak and what comes out is "BEEP. BEEP. BEEP. BEEP."
Emmett flies upwards in bed, struggling and gasping for air, just like he had nearly every morning this week. "Oh shit, oh shit, oh shit." He can tell by the way the light is streaming through the room that he is late for class. Scrambling, he throws his clothes on, brushes his teeth and fixes his hair. Best he can do for now - Emmett yanks his bookbag off the back of his desk chair and runs out of his room.
Before he enters the classroom, Emmett takes a moment to compose himself. A few deep breaths in and out. He doesn't want to seem flustered in front of....her. Emmett enters the room, striding to his usual spot and sits down. "Ah, nice of you to join us, Clermont." says his professor from the front of the room. "I've just assigned group projects. Charlotte, you can join your partner now." Emmett's whole throat feels like it's going to close up. Group projects? Pairs? His eyes lock on the back of her head. She doesn't even turn to look at him. This is an actual waking nightmare. He considers going up to the professor to make up some lie about how he'd been throwing up all night and can't he just go back to his dorm to sleep it off? "Everyone - feel free to work in here or find a comfortable spot on campus, doesn't matter to me. Be back in an hour."
With that, everyone besides the two of them stand and begin moving towards their partner. He glances around nervously, frozen in his spot. Finally, she slowly turns in her seat to face him. Her gaze is so icy and cold he nearly shivers in response. Emmett manages to maintain his composure - his lips pressed into a thin line, eyes narrowing ever so slightly. The room is emptying quickly and in an effort to avoid further intervention from the teacher, Emmett reluctantly stands and approaches Charlotte. They haven't been this close to each other since - well, since - fuck it. He can't think about that right now. "Well, partner......you're going to have to fill me in."
