A Touch of Sunshine (gxg)

Part 11

It was almost instinctively that my body woke itself up before sunset. In Jillian's room I didn't have any kind of alarm to wake me up as I do at my home.

But I woke up in time for the sunrise. And I knew exactly where I would watch it.

I woke up next to Jillian- and quietly slipped out of the bed. I put a pair of pants on from the night before, as well as the pullover that said "Samaria College" that was on the floor.

I quickly went to the bathroom, splashed water on my face, and brushed my teeth.

Then I made my way to the sports  field, which wasn't a long walk from the dorms. I was going to sit on the bleachers, at the top row, and watch the sun rise.

It was a cold Fall morning, and I didn't have a blanket to cover me like I do at home, but I still wanted to keep up with my tradition of watching the sunrise.

But when I got to the bleachers- I wasn't alone.

Valerie Maddow was sitting at the top, in a hoodie and a pair of gray pants. Her hair was down and loose, and I noticed one thing- she looked tired. I could see the dark circles under her eyes.

"What the fuck are you doing here?" she said when she saw me.

"Watching the sunrise." I said, "I was going to sit at the top- but I'll stay at the bottom."

Valerie sighed. "You can sit with me. The view is better up at the top."

"Are you sure?" I asked Valerie.

"Come sit before I change my mind." she said, and I climbed up to sit at the top. I made sure to not sit too close to her.

"The view will be better up here." I said.

"It's really nice, actually. I come here every morning to watch the sunrise."

Interesting.

I paused before I spoke, but then I said, "I watch the sunrise every morning outside my room at home."

Valerie looked at me. "So why aren't you there?"

"I spent the night on campus."

"I could've guessed that." Valerie said, "I don't think you would be driven here just to watch the sunrise when you probably have a better view from home."

"This one is nice too." I said, looking at the sun starting to peek through.

"Did you spend the night with your cousin?" Valerie asked me.

I was surprised she was even talking to me.

I might as well tell her- she knows about my sexuality.

"No, I spent it with Jillian Breyer." I said back, "Why do you care?"

"I don't." Valerie said, "It was just a question."

We were quiet for a moment, watching the orange and yellow skies of the sun rising. I felt at peace- even next to Valerie, watching the sunrise.

I then looked at her and said, "You seem to like time to yourself."

"That's a keen observation." she said, looking back at me.

"Just something I noticed." I shrugged, "I am the same way. Life can get overwhelming."

Valerie gave me an ice cold look, "Don't act like you know anything about me, Lucy. Don't compare me to you in any way."

"I'm not, I-"

"The sun has risen." Valerie said, getting up. "Have a nice rest of your morning with Jillian. Before whatever you have going on with her falls apart, inevitably."