Roommate Badboy - Wicked Academy

5

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As the morning light began to filter in through the window, Jason was the first to wake, he woke up peacefully, which was rare for him. He didn't stir suddenly like usual, abrupt jolt. No immediate tension in his shoulders. Just the unfamiliar sensation of warmth.

It was only when he shifted slightly that he realized–

Stella was close.

Too close, barely a paper could have fit between them.

He hadn't remembered her moving during the night, but now, in the soft light of morning, he could feel the warmth of her body near his. Somewhere in the night, she must have turned toward him.

He exhaled slowly, staring at the ceiling, his mind racing even as his body remained still.

This wasn't supposed to happen. He wasn't supposed to wake up feeling...comfortable. Letting his guard down wasn't something he ever allowed himself, yet here he was, feeling an unexpected sense of comfort he couldn't quite understand as he lay next to her.

Jason froze, unsure of what to do. His instincts told him to pull away, to create space, but his body remained still. He couldn't.

He closed his eyes once more, allowing the moment to stretch just a few more seconds. He couldn't quite grasp how he had managed to sleep so well for two nights straight. The last time he had any real rest felt like it had been ages ago. And now things were different. He couldn't deny it, her presence had shifted something inside him.

Her scent lingered in the air, subtle yet unmistakable. It was like fresh pine, with a hint of citrus, and an earthy undertone that seemed to cling to her, filling the space between them.

There was something about her scent that drove him mad, something that made him crave inhaling it deeper. He didn't know if it was the fact that it was her smell or the way it was tied to the sense of peace he was feeling, but either way, it was unsettling in the best way possible.

He had hoped he could lie there and pretend none of this was happening, but with her so close, her scent filling the air, he realized it was no longer possible.

Why am I like this? Jason thought, feeling a knot tighten in his chest. He wasn't used to being affected like this.

His thoughts were interrupted when he felt it–a slight movement. Stella stirred beside him. He felt it before he even saw it, the subtle shift in the air, the change in her breathing. Her fingers twitched slightly, then her chest rose and fell, slow and steady, as she began to wake.

Jason watched her profile without moving, studying the way she woke up, her features softening as her mind gradually surfaced from sleep. It was the kind of moment that felt almost too personal, yet, he couldn't look away.

Stella's mind was just beginning to catch up with the reality of the situation, the hazy fog of sleep dissipating as she became more aware of her surroundings. She didn't rush it, allowing herself to wake slowly. The warmth in the room, the stillness, and most of all, the fact that Jason was so close, almost felt like a weight she couldn't shake. A weight she hadn't realized she'd needed.

Her first conscious thought was about him. She couldn't help it. She had tried to push the thought aside last night, but now, with her senses clearer, she couldn't ignore it.

She found herself wondering why it didn't feel so wrong to be lying next to him. But she didn't have an answer.

And then, as if on cue, the sudden awareness that Jason was awake hit her. The tension between them thickened, and she realized that neither of them had moved since waking up.