The alarm clock began softly beckoning her from her sleep with the dulcet tones of Foals “Blue Blood”, tugging her attention away from her dreams and towards the distraction. With a small groan of dislike she sat up, groping around for the bedside lamp in the dark room.  A few blonde hairs fell into her face and she tucked them behind her ear in her habitual way. Sluggishly a hand that did not belong to her reached over her stomach to silence the music growing louder in increments.

“Sorry Hun, I forgot.” She spoke apologetically in a low and sleepy whisper.

“Unghn.” Was the response from the mass of dark curly hair that faced her on the mattress. She chuckled softly to herself, fondly watching the girl for a moment as she gathered enough resolve to leave the bed. Finally she huffed a sigh and pulled her 20-year-old body to its unsteady feet. She walked the familiar path to the bathroom with her eyes half-shut, dreading the onslaught on light awaiting her.

Her face was already scrunched up into a flinch as she flipped the switch for the bright bathroom lights. They adjusted quickly though, widening some as she began to fully return to consciousness. Looking in the mirror she frowned at the small dark circles marking the thin skin beneath her eyes. Briefly she contemplated a retreat to bed, but her resolve had hardened. After splashing her face with water and putting her hair up she returned to the bedroom to put on her sweats. Occasionally her eyes drifted to the motionless sleeping figure on the bed and her lips would purse contemplatively. It was like she was constantly fighting this magnetic pull towards the girl, a feeling that still intrigued her.

Slipping her feet into a pair of running shoes she tore herself away from the bedroom and towards the front door. A black lab came tumbling into the room, elated to see her awake and dressed for the outdoors.

“Hey Frankie, you ready for a run?” The blonde spoke to the dog in a quiet voice, smiling as he spun in circles to display a fervent yes. She slipped a collar over his head and attached the leash, struggling with the wiggling mass of hair.