All My Stars

16

Natsumi's phone ringing wakes me up the following day. She sighs harshly, untangling her legs from mine ever so slightly, and leans over me to get to the phone. 

"Yes?" Although my eyes were closed, I could tell from the gruffness in her voice that she was annoyed.

" It's six in the fucking morning" Natsumi kept her voice low, the warmth of her pressing into my side as she still hovered above me. She didn't say anything for a long time, listening to the person on the other line speak before saying okay and hanging up, She draped herself over me, burying her face in my neck.

"What's wrong?" 

"My brother, I have to go back home for a while" I rubbed her back slowly, trying to soothe her.

"Well, how long is a while?"

" I don't know, a couple of days, maybe even a week or two" the prospect of her being gone so long woke me up completely and I sat up slightly, alarmed at the news.

She rolled off of me, getting out of bed to start packing everything she would need. 

"That's..." I couldn't continue but I didn't have to, she understood.

" I know, I'm sorry" She kissed my temple briefly.

I wanted to ask to go with her but I couldn't miss that much school, between my lectures and upcoming projects, I needed all the time I could get.

"Will you call me when you're free?" I requested, needing to hear from her to stay sane.

" Of course I will" She sat beside me, grabbing my hand and bringing it into her lap.

"Okay" I tried to relax back into our bed but I couldn't, watching her pack hopelessly.

"Are you leaving now?"

"Not this very second but soon, yeah" 

"I'll be back before you know it" She promises with a tiny smile.

"Hardly likely" I didn't mean to say it but the surprise on her face makes it worth it.

Natsumi's smile grows slowly before spreading like a flower in bloom.

" Oh yeah? you gonna miss me?" 

I roll back over into the bed, pushing my face into a pillow before answering.

" You know I will" My breath left me unexpectedly as she laid on me, hugging me and peppering my skin with kisses, leaving goosebumps in her wake.

" I'll miss you too. I'll be back as soon as I can, okay?

"Okay" Natsumi wrestles with me briefly to get the pillow that I'm using as cover away before she succeeds, staring down at me with so much warmth that I have to close my eyes briefly.

" I promise" She says lowly.

" You do?"

She nods.