Free The Rise of the Fat Mogul (The Defenders Saga Book 2) by Adam Oster Page A

involved in rolling over and into the Buddy-shaped dip in his bed.  He prayed his body would keep from making the creaks and cracks all too standard with this procedure.  Once he felt he had attained the appropriate position for slumber, he allowed himself to exhale once, slowly, before closing his eyes in celebration of a job well done. 
    Through his closed eyelids, he became aware that the room was not its normal shade of absolute darkness.  He opened his eyes to see he had forgotten to close the bedroom door and, remembering his sister’s intended early morning, realized keeping it open was not an option, should he have any hope that Zero would not awaken at the sound of her daily preparations. 
    Slowly, he escaped the comfort of his bed and shuffled his feet across the floor.  His eyes had now become adjusted to the dark room, which allowed him to narrowly avoid stubbing his toe on the dresser Zero had apparently decided would better serve in a new location.  He arrived at the door and pulled it shut; twisting the handle before returning the door to the frame so the lock wouldn't click as it closed.
    Without a sound, the door was replaced to its proper location and Buddy cautiously turned the doorknob to its closed position.  He felt the spring in the knob loosen and let out another sigh of relief as he shuffled his feet back across the floor to his bed.  Once again, he held his breath as he crept onto the mattress, rolling slowly across it to return to his comfortable dip.  He closed his eyes for a moment and listened.  Zero's snoring continued as steadily as a metronome.  Buddy released his breath and prepared his mind for sleep.
     
    beep . . . Beep. . . BEEP. . . BEEEP!
    Zero was out of bed before Buddy even recognized the sound as that of Maggie's alarm.  His boisterous friend shouted an excited, “Good morning, Buddy!”
    “Damn!” Buddy thought to himself as he considered rolling over and ignoring his over-eager roommate. 
    “Come on, chum, the new day awaits!”
    “Chill out, Zero,” Buddy spoke grumpily.  “Go back to sleep.”
    “Ah, an early start to the day.  Always something I can get behind.  How was your rest?”
    “I haven't started it yet.  Go back to sleep.”
    “No can do, Buddy, old pal.  The day has begun, there's too much to do.”
    “You don't have anything to do.  Go back to sleep.”
    “Ah, but if the magnificent Margaret has chosen to begin her day at this hour, it can only mean she could be in need of assistance.  As is my payment for the woman who provides me residence and sustenance, I must be available for even the most minor of her needs.”
    “Fine,” Buddy gave in.  “But just do it quietly, okay,” he wished, knowing there was nothing Zero did quietly.
    “Shall you not be accompanying me in my efforts to aid your sister in her time of need?”
    “It's three o'clock in the damned morning, Zero!  Hell, you couldn’t have been asleep for more than an hour even.”
    Zero took a look at his watch.  “I slept for an entire forty-five minutes, chum.  That's more than enough rest.  Get up!”
    “Ugh,” Buddy groaned.
    “Fine, there's no more time to waste on you.  I'll tell your sister that you have chosen to be unhelpful this morning and will be of no use.  Or perhaps she will have some clever idea on a novel form of torture we could utilize in order to end your unending laziness.”
    “Whatever you want to do,” Buddy groaned.  “Just let me sleep.”
    Zero exited the room and slammed the door behind him.
     
    Buddy lay on his back in his bed with his eyes wide open.  Although he was exhausted from the day, he now found it impossible to give in to the call of sleep.  This was due, in large part, to hearing the not-so-muffled conversation going on between Zero and Maggie just outside the door to his bedroom.
    “I'm not certain I understand,” Zero spoke.
    “A comic book convention, you know, where people who like superheroes and stuff