How To Stay Afloat (BxB)

Chapter 49: conflicting feelings

I wake in the middle of the night, still hearing Noah's laugh echo in my ears. I try to catch my breath and sit up a little.

That was a dream. That was just a dream. What was the dream even about?

I look around and get startled when I notice the arms wrapped tightly around me.

Austin's arms. Thank god.

I grab my phone and check the time. 5 in the morning. I already slept for 8 hours straight and still have 2 more hours left.

In the light of the phone I notice scratches on my forearms. Did I do that?

I hear a groan from next to me and look at Austin's sleeping face. I smile and turn around so I can hug Austin back and close my eyes with my face buried in his chest.

_____

I get woken up by my alarm clock and then a hand being slapped in my face.

"Ouch." I complain and open my eyes.

Austin groans and tells me to turn off the noise. I shuffle over and turn my alarm off.

"We have to get up." I announce.

Another groan.

"Come on." I say and shake Austin, who's rolled up in the blanket.

"Rise and shine." Caleb shouts, bursting into my room. I can't believe he's really moving back in. He leans against the doorframe, smirking. "Your first day at school being clean, aren't you excited?" He asks me cheerfully.

I roll my eyes and rub my face. "I can't guarantee to stay clean if I have to endure seeing your face every day from now on." I say.

He laughs. "I'm driving home today, don't worry."

"Finally." I say jokingly.

"Get used to it." He teases and then leaves.

"Can I please kill your brother?" Austin asks me, his face buried in the pillow. "How often did he wake us up like this already?"

"Like once or twice. You slept more than enough, stop complaining." I say.

"You don't even know how much I slept. You were asleep yourself." He argues.

I pull the blanket off him and then sit down on his ass, drumming on his back. "Get up." I demand.

"That's abuse. Sleep deprivation is a form of torture. You're torturing me." Austin claims, making me laugh.

I eventually get him to stand up, too.

When I go to the bathroom I'm surprised by Carla. "Good morning!" She says happily.

"Oh, you slept over?" I ask her confused.

"Yep. I got so tired from watching those lame movies and kept falling asleep, so I asked my aunt if I could stay." She explains.

"Right? Lord of the rings is fucking boring." I say.

She rolls her eyes and nods.

When we get downstairs dad's already at work and my mom is doing the laundry.

The four of us sit down by the table to eat breakfast together, just like we did on saturday.

"Do you think Harry is gonna come to school today, too?" I ask Carla and Austin.

"Fuck Harry. It would be better if he changed schools." Caleb says.

Carla gasps. "Caleb. Don't say that." She says angrily.