Helpless (Book 1)

Chapter Twenty-Eight

I BLINK MY eyes open, squinting at the brightness shining through the window above my desk. I frown, confused for a moment and groan, tilting my head left and right, resting a hand on my temple in hopes it would help this headache I feel coming on. Unfortunately, it doesn't work.

 I shift a little in my bed, cracking on eye open while keeping the other closed. I prop myself up on the bed with my elbow dipping into the mattress. I frown, furrowing my brows together with confusion written all over my face. My lips are pressed together as I scan the bedroom, wincing at the stiffness in my neck and in my upper back. I hear soft snores coming from next to me. I whip my head over my left and grin slightly, laughing quietly while shaking my head at the same time. 

 John Laurens curls up beside me, his blue eyes closed, his legs stretched out, one on the bed while the other dangles off the edge of it. The blankets draped overhis back up to his neck. He has one arm underneath his rosy cheek while the other also dangles off the edge of the bed. He snores quietly, softly. His honey blonde hair flowing all around him, long and silky, glistening against the sunlight. His lips are parted slightly. I tilt my head, smiling softly as I watch him sleep next to me. He looks so relaxed, so peaceful. I brush back a few loose strands of blonde hair out of his face and tuck it behind his ear, causing him to stir a little but he soon falls back into his peaceful slumber. 

 My small smile shifts into a frown as I shift into a straighter upright position on the bed against the pillows behind me. I draw my knees up to my chest, glancing at the time on the digital clock on my nightstand. The glowing red numbers reads: 6:45 AM. It's still early outside, still quiet. The sun hasn't exactly come up yet, not fully anyways. The dark sky turns into a dark blue now. Birds flying across the sky, above the skyscrapers. Cars zoom down the interstates, a few pedestrians chatter quietly below us. I glance back at Laurens, my small smile returning.

 I'm his boyfriend now. I let out a giggle. 

 I'm his boyfriend. 

 John Laurens is my boyfriend. 

 I'm his boyfriend. 

 "Morning," Laurens husky voice says, filling the quietness in the room. He grunts as he sits himself up next to me, wrapping a strong, muscular arm around my small, narrow shoulders, pulling me close to his side. 

I rest my head on his shoulder, tracing small circles on his shoulder this time instead of his chest. Laurens smiles and presses a kiss to my forehead, causing me to smile as well. 

 "Morning," I say quietly, still staring at his bare, muscular shoulder. He frowns, raking his fingers through my auburn curls. 

"You alright, Alex?" 

 I frown, pausing for a second, before looking back up at Laurens. "How...how am I going to explain this to George and Martha?"

 He frowns. "What do you mean?" 

 I sit up a bit straighter, still leaning against him though. "I mean...they don't know you're here. How...how am I supposed to explain your presence when we head downstairs for breakfast?" 

 "Um...you can say something like I needed tutoring last night and we got lost track of time and I ended up staying the night or we had a huge project due at the endof the week and we tried to cram everything in so we wouldn't have to worry about it later and we lost track of time and well, I ended up staying over and you didn't want me to sleep on the couch and you insisted on me sleeping with you and well—" He pauses when he realizes I'm just staring at him, my hands rested on top of each other on his shoulder, my chin on top of my hands as I watch his lips move, watch him speak. His voice bring scomfort to me, making me feel safe and calm and loved. I smile up at him, my lips pressed together. Laurens tilts his head, arching an eyebrow.