Blame Gravity

Chapter 30

I have a date with Mike today.

That's my first thought when I wake up. I really don't want to talk to him. I don't know what happened, but I suddenly don't like him that much anymore. I... I think I should break up with him. I'll think about it this week.

I don't feel like waking up, though. I nuzzle into James' neck. It's so warm here, in his arms. I am never leaving. 

"Good morning, Canmore," he whispers, smiling, and presses a kiss to my forehead. 

I don't smile back. I still haven't opened my eyes fully. "I don't want to go to school," I mutter.

"What happened to your amazing drive and will to prove yourself in the academic field?" he says softly, holding me closer.

I let out a voice somewhere between a hum and a murmur and bury my head in his chest. 

"Are you tired?" he asks, kissing my hair.

I nod, humming. 

It stays silent for a while.

"I guess we could skip school for a day," he suggests in a quiet voice.

Now I open my eyes and look him directly in the eyes. "You'd do that for me?" I ask. "You'd skip an entire day at school and potentially risk your grades that you care so much about?"

He smiles. "Anything for my Canmore." He kisses my forehead. "Besides, we'll just call in sick."

"But isn't that suspicious?" I ask, having closed my eyes again. "If both of us call in sick." I actually don't care. All I want to do is stay in bed with James for the whole day.

"It isn't," he whispers. "They won't suspect a thing. Especially of you."

I nod. "Fine. Let's stay home."

He's smiling, I know it. He grabs his phone but still holds me close with one arm. He types in a number and presses call. 

"Hello, yes," he says in a strained voice. I do my best not to laugh. "Yes, hello." He fake coughs, "I'm very sick," he says. "I'm afraid I won't be able to come to school today." He sneezes, and I leg out a quiet giggle. He looks at me and gestures me to be quiet, smiling. "Yes, alright. Thank you, thank you very much. Alright, goodbye, have a nice day." He puts the phone down and turns back to me. It's about damn time. "See?" He kisses my hair. I'm not sure if I mind the fact that he kisses me so much. It makes me feel all warm and fuzzy. I hate it, but it's nice, I guess.

"Alright, my turn!" I say. I grab my phone and call in sick. James' right, they don't suspect a thing. When I put down the phone and turn back to James, fully, satisfied, I suddenly slap my forehead. 

"Maya," I say. "I have to get her to kindergarten."

James groans and lets go of me. He rubs his eyes, and it stays silent for a moment. Finally, he stands up and puts on a sweater. 

"I'll drive her. You just rest." He kisses my forehead. 

"Thanks," I whisper, too tired to even think through what he said, still trusting him perfectly. I fall back asleep in less than a minute.

When I wake up, I'm in James' arms again. I rub my eyes.

"How long was I asleep?" I whisper sleepily.

He smiles. "Four hours."

"Oh my God," I roll out of his arms and continue rubbing my eyes. "I guess that's no school for today."

He chuckles. 

It stays quiet for a while. I turn toward him and look into his eyes. I play with his hair. We soak up each other's presence, feeling like there's nothing else in the world, our noses and foreheads touching, smiling at each other softly. 

"I've been thinking," he whispers.

"Oh no, that's dangerous territory." 

He lets out a quiet laugh. "You make me feel alive," he whispers after a long silence. "Being around you is the kind of adventure I was talking about when you asked me why I want to travel. It's like the sun is shining just a little brighter; like the world slows whenever I look at you; like I can finally breathe; like you are everything I need to be perfectly happy." 

I fall silent. That is not what I expected when he said that he's been thinking. Did he come up with that all by himself? These are his thoughts? 

I feel that I'm blushing terribly, but I don't take my eyes off him.

"Wow," I whisper, unable to breathe. "I... Thank you." I don't know what to do, so I simply kiss him, hoping the discomfort will go away once our lips touch. 

The kiss deepens, turning more passionate with the second. 

"I want you", I whisper in between kisses. "I want everything you can give me."

"Consider it yours, then," he replies, his voice rough, but still speaking softly.

We try to catch our breaths for a moment, then give up and decide to continue kissing. 

But this is not the usual type of kiss. This is different.

It feels safer, gentler, but still intense. It feels like sunshine on skin, like breathing after being underwater for a long time. I know it won't end in sex this time, and I don't mind that. All I know right now is that I'm with James, and it feels like I was always meant to be here, like I was born to be held in his arms. Everything is Perfect.