A Reward

Meredith.

The shrill ring of my phone tore through the quiet in my room, dragging me violently out of the deep, dreamless sleep I'd barely sunk into.

I groaned softly, rolling onto my side, my hand fumbling across the nightstand until I found the device. My eyes squinted against the glow of the screen.

Dennis.

I answered without thinking. "Hello…?"

"Were you sleeping?" came Dennis's familiar, smooth voice. There was a smile tucked between the syllables.

"Yes," I mumbled, my voice thick with sleep.

"Oh," he said with mock guilt, "My apologies for waking you. I just wanted to remind you that your favourite driving instructor will be ready for you in half an hour."

I groaned, flopping onto my back. "I'm too tired for lessons today. I want to sleep some more."