The Exchange Student

The Morning After

"Good morning," Beatrice said light-heartedly.

She thought about leaving, maybe it would make Ava uncomfortable if she woke up while she was still here. After all, she just offered to sleep here, not to stay in the morning.

Her words didn't elicit a reaction from Ava. Instead, the silence just became louder. Well not exactly, Ava was definitely awake. She was wiggling in the bed, and Beatrice could clearly hear the sounds caused by the friction of the sheets.

She was having a nightmare.

Beatrice got up, to reach the bed frame. The concern grew, as Ava was starting to make noises of her own. She joined her side in order to get a closer look. To observe her.

Beatrice could see the light reflecting on the thin layer of sweat on Ava's forehead, - beautiful, soft silky skin that didn't leave Beatrice indifferent. Ava who was seriously starting to make some more abrupt movements. But she didn't seem scared. On the contrary, her expression was bright, light, and overall so peaceful.

Beatrice knelt beside her, carefully placing a hand on Ava's shoulder, to try and steady her, and to wake her up, without frightening her.

It took her a few seconds, and repeating her name a couple times to end Ava's deep slumber.

Ava gasped, opened her eyes, and instinctively grabbed Beatrice's hand all in a span of an incredibly small moment.

For a second, Ava was lost, but she quickly intercepted Beatrice's wide eyes, staring right back at her. She was panting, and loosened the tight grip she had on Beatrice's hand, but without letting it go.

"Everything okay ?" Beatrice asked.

Ava nodded, she looked at her hand, tangled in Beatrice's, before awkwardly removing it, as her cheeks turned in a light shade of pink. When she tried to open her mouth to reply, nothing but air ame out of it.

She was even more lost than when Beatrice initially woke up, and she also seemed sad, kind of angry for waking up. Like she was having the sort of dream she wished never ended. If she were alone, she would have gone back to sleep and prayed for her brain to resume the dream.

Oh. She wasn't having a nightmare.

Quite the opposite actually, considering the blood colouring her cheeks and the barely audible sighs she was making a couple seconds ago.

"I didn't mean to interrupt." Beatrice said, probably feeling the same embarassment Ava was. She got up on her feet, and took a few steps back, processing what had just happened.

"Beatrice, I-I'm so sorry..." She buried her face in one of her hands and used the other to push herself up, to sit on the bed.

She was wearing the same top as yesterday, the black crop top. Which was showing her stomach. Which made Beatrice lose her mind. She instantly looked away, and was now awkwardly staring at the ground, not knowing what to say. Safe to assume that if the roles were reversed, Beatrice would have moved back to London, or she would have even gone back in time and gone to the United States.

She shook her head to chase her train of thoughts. How not feminist of her to think like that. Truly, there was nothing to be ashamed of, and she certainly didn't want Ava to feel this way.

"I should leave, Ava-"

"I'm sorry, can I start again ?" She cleared the hand off her face, and turned to Beatrice. "Wait, is that my hoodie ?" The embarrassment quickly faded from her face, and was replaced by a huge grin.

When Beatrice raised her head, carefully avoiding to glance at her stomach, she was met with adorable puppy eyes.

"Yes, I was a little cold, I figured I could borrow this, I can give it back to you if you want." She managed to say the whole sentence without stuttering, but God was it hard to not check her out.