REMINISCENT

CHAPTER FIFTEEN: Finally, the beach party! (FINAL EDIT)

A/N: so that's originally how i started spelling Chanel's name but along the way i decided to stick to the brand way of spelling i don't know why.. enjoy

Song for the chapter: "Lean on" by Major Lazer & Dj Snake

Ashley's POV
BEEP. BEEP. BEE—

"Ughhh." I smacked my alarm off and dragged myself out of bed, shuffling into the bathroom like a zombie.

I twisted the hot water on, steam already beginning to fill the room, then stumbled back to my bed and flopped onto it face-first.

"Ouff!" a muffled voice groaned beneath me.

My brows furrowed. What the...?

I patted the mattress, confused. Hard. Warm. Breathing.

My frown deepened. Why did my bed feel... alive?

My wandering hand roamed upward until my fingers brushed through hair. Thick. Soft. Silky.

This is definitely a body.

Instead of panicking like any sane person, I smiled sleepily, eyes still closed. Whoever they were... they were cozy.

My fingers tangled in the stranger's hair as I yawned.

The "mattress" shifted and groaned beneath me, a hand suddenly wrapping around my wrist to still me.

I giggled softly under my breath. Whoever they were, they were warm. Comfortable. Maybe I'd just... sleep a little longer...

"Oh my gosh," someone whispered sharply.

Another voice squealed, far too excited: "They look so cute together. Aww. Now I really wish she was the girl!"

The voice made the body beneath me stir, adjusting us into a snug hold. Strong arms wrapped around me, pulling me closer, and I felt the soft brush of a nose against my hair as they... sniffed me?

My foggy brain didn't even care. Heat. Comfort. Sleep. That was all that mattered.

I burrowed deeper against him, absentmindedly massaging his scalp in lazy circles.

A low groan vibrated through his chest. His hand caught my wrist again, firm this time, stopping me.

And then—

Click.

The sharp sound of a camera shutter sliced through the quiet, followed by groans and facepalms.

I slowly pried open my eyes so i could adjust to the light. I was greeted by a bare tanned chest. Warm. Very much male.

Please don't be Aiden please don't be Aiden... annnddd, it's ''Aiden'' i breathed aloud at the exact moment he blinked down at me, equally stunned ''Ashley?'' He said

CLICK.

We both snapped our heads towards the source of the sound: our smirking friends clustered near the edge of the bed, phones in hand, witnessing and documenting the whole thing

"shit" we muttered in unison with tinted cheeks. i jumped off him and dashed to the bathroom slamming the door behind me as laughter erupted outside.

....

It's only my second class of the day, and I'm already in a terrible mood. Not surprising, right?
But here's the kicker—you'd think I'd be glowing, floating through the halls, maybe humming some ridiculous love song under my breath. Because technically, I should be happy.

Except I'm not.

Because I haven't stopped blushing since the incident.

I'm not even being dramatic—it's ridiculous. Every time I close my eyes, I'm back there, and my cheeks burn all over again. And to make it worse? My best friend hasn't stopped wearing that smug little grin, like she's got front-row seats to my embarrassment.