Chaos beyond the grid

The next morning Pierre woke up, well rested. He felt Kika in his arms and kissed her head – normally this action would wake his girlfriend up but she was completely out of it. He decided to go and see if anyone else was awake. Walking into the kitchen he saw Charles was drinking coffee, he looked awful and Pierre was worried. He could tell just by looking at him that Charles hadn't gotten any sleep.

Pierre: you look like shit.

Charles: Thanks, you snore fucking loud.

Pierre: I do not... not loud enough for you to have heard across the villa.

Charles: mate... never mind.

Charles laughed – realizing Pierre had no idea what had gone on the night before. Pierre didn't like that he didn't know what Charles was thinking, or that he had been accused of snoring that loudly.

Pierre: where is Eleanore?

Charles: she went to the shops to get some food.

Pierre: alone?

Charles: Nonna came by an hour ago.

Pierre was watching his friend closely, and then felt Kikas arms around his waist and kiss his back.

Kika: morning, oh my god, I need coffee after last night.

Pierre: babe, you slept all night. Why do you need coffee? Also, can you have that when you are pregnant?

He instantly regretted asking that question because his girlfriend removed her arms from his waist and stared at him as though he had just killed her favorite pet or something. It was terrifying, and he saw out of the corner of his eye that Charles had grabbed a mug and was pouring a cup for Kika – not willing to risk being on the receiving end of the look.

Charles: here you go Kika, I read online you can have one cup a day – plus I made it fairly mild just in case you wanted some.

Kika: thank you, Charles

Pierre could hear in her tone that it was sweet to Charles, but laced with annoyance at himself.

Pierre: Kika, I am sorry, I just didn't know.

Kika: you could have looked it up, like your friend – who isn't the father.

He watched as she took the mug and walked out to the deck. He turned to Charles, almost begging for help.

Charles: you slept through the night, but Eleanore... she struggled. Kika and I swapped places every 40 minutes or so from 1 am. She is exhausted, we both are. Plus she is pregnant...

Pierre: shit. Is Eleanore ok?

Charles: no... she admitted that Ethan was emotionally abusive during their relationship – which now I think about it, of course he was. I'm a fucking idiot for not realizing before.

Kika: you are not an idiot at all. none of us realized.

Pierre turned to see Kika had come back inside. He watched as she walked into the kitchen and jumped up to sit on the counter, picking the mug of coffee up and holding it as though it was the most precious thing in the world.

Pierre: Charles, why would it have been obvious?

Charles: he was lying to her about their whole relationship and manipulating her – that's abuse. I just didn't realize how bad it must have been until she was crying that I had changed the bed sheets – without being asked -after she had a nightmare and woke up drenched in sweat. And that I wasn't angry at her not wanting sex.