1) A rude awakening

After that experience, it didn't take long for me to fall asleep holding her through the night. Its funny too, because I didn't have any crazy sex dreams either. Just the feeling of lightness and of my old family home, if I could remember correctly after I awoke. But then again, I wasn't really sure if I was awake afterall.

The room was dank with only a low yellow morning light hinting through the leaking curtains. It couldn't have been a dream though... looking at my cell clock, I'd never be dreaming about 6:22 in the morning. But the spill over of light rested on a deeply gratifying sight. Ria, deep asleep and resting her fingers on my arm. I imagined it couldn't have gone better, and I quickly found that to be true.

*KNOCK KNOCK* the alarming sound echoed from the apartment's front door. Rachael's hangover quickly followed her up as her aching head looked around. I got up with concern, grabbing Rachael's arm. I preemptively told her to keep quiet, reading her body language I could tell her next sentence would be "What the Fuck!?"

I firmly told her to shut up and stay still, before she could argue the knocking became more aggressive as the sound of Ria's father, Abbas, began shouting through the door.

"Ria! Open up, I know you hide in there!" *KNOCK KNOCK KNOCK*

Ria's eyes meekly opened, the right side of her face scrunching from the direct light hitting her. "Papa? Oh no.." She began to scurry for clothes as the trouble she must be in had just dawned on her.

"Shit.. Rachael -" I hurried to her, "You gotta tell Abbas you had Ria spend the night."

Her face snitched that she still had liquor coursing through her, a groggy "Whaat? Michael what happ-"

"I'll explain everything after, I promise" I lied.

"Just-"

"Thats it, I kick this door down!!" The angry father threatened.

"No, No its OK!" Rachael stepped up and shouted into the living room. She climbed into her old PJs and sauntered over to the front door. I turned to Ria who was grabbing the last of her things, without a word she stretched up on her tip-toes and we kissed deeply, her hands dropping her purse as they gripped tightly.

As the door lock alerted us all that it is quitting its day job, I promised to my significant other, "Listen, I'll come to you no matter what ok? I love you Ria." in a rush. She mouthed it back as I separated away and bolted behind the bedroom door.

The large Pakistani man charged into the newly opened front door. Rachael tried to settle him, "Listen Mr. --"

"No, you do not speak. Your stink is of ****! Ria! Come to me NOW!" He demanded. The petite student stripped one of her bracelets off and dropped it to the floor before running out, "Papa, I'm sorry, I -"

"You will talk when I have asked you a question, do you understand?? Downstairs with you, now." His eyes then turned to Rachael, who really just wanted a glass of water at this point.

"- You will stay away from my daughter, cheap whore! All of you, none come near, none to speak to my Ria again!" He exhaled around the room, only ending with a spitting imitating before storming out.

The thick Pakistani dialect echoed through the apartment hallways as he yelled at his daughter down the stairs.

And just like that, as soon as it had began the sudden chaos had now returned to a pure morning silence. Rachael leaned into the fridge and I came out into the living room frustrated, angry, and scared if I'm being honest.