Stars Aligned

Chapter 5

I awoke to a cold atmosphere. The heaters didn't stay on like they usually did in the Houses which caused me to shiver quite a bit. I reached to the other end of my bed to reach for the radio to hear the weather report when I saw a slumped Sebastian sleeping right next to me. He was tucked under the covers and his breathing was deep and slow; a perfect indicator to tell me he was still fast asleep. Oh my gods, he's in my bed! I didn't understand why he didn't get up and leave after the movie finished. I didn't remember him leaving, I mean, he probably got tired and fell asleep here. I tiptoed to my closet and picked out some thick sweatpants and a cropped school sweatshirt, one which I cut poorly my 1st year and wore only around the House. I didn't shut the door to the bathroom to avoid making any unnecessary noise. I slipped out of yesterday's jeans and t-shirt right into my bum clothes and tiptoed back to my room. I checked that he was still sleeping so I reached for my cellphone which was on my work desk. It was pretty early, around nine-thirty, and I saw that I had five message notifications from Yallannie. Hey! I'm in New York! Damn, I missed this place Text me back when you arrive to Geneva! LMK if it's cold there, its FREEZING here! Natty? I started typing back to her as soon as I finished reading them: Hey, I forgot to tell you, I didn't get to go home this Holiday. What do you mean, you didn't get to go home?? I stayed at the school. The whole family decided to take a vacation without including me. My gods, I'm sorry. Wait, why didn't you tell me? What are you gonna do? I was going to but I kept forgetting and that kid Arya was there and I didn't want to tell some stranger of my misfortune. I'll be alright, I mean Sebastian stayed over last night and we watched a movie. WAIT WHAT? MY PARENTS HAD A MOVIE NIGHT? TOGETHER? HOW DID HE SAY GOODBYE?He didn't say goodbyeHe said more like goodnight. He's a gentleman, I know. No, I mean, he never said goodbye WAIT DON'T TELL ME He stayed the night, Lannie. NO YES!! He's sleeping in my freaking bed as we speak. You didn't taint the place, did you?NOBet you would. You make me sound like a slut. I'm just looking out for my parents. By the wayIf you guys have a little too much fun this Holiday, don't be afraid to tell me any of the dirty deets. You have my word, mom. I gtg. Stay safe. And that was the whole conversation. I couldn't believe Sebastian slept in my bed, underneath my covers. Did we sleep close? Did I manage to lay in his arms? I did recall sleeping soundly. I didn't believe I slept that well since I was home in Geneva. I decided to stop fighting the fact that he was there, so I climbed back to bed. I had my phone in my hands, just to check social media. As I scrolled through Twitter, I felt Sebastian roll on his side. I glanced at him; he looked so precious with his eyes closed, his long eyelashes at ease. His lips were parted but he breathed through his nose. I smiled at the fact that he didn't snore; I hated snoring more than anything in this life. I remember I always heard my father snore in my parents' bedroom, and it annoyed me more than anything. I always had to make sure my door was shut tight to avoid hearing those noises. I believe I spent half an hour reading through my phone, so I decided to set the electronic aside and slumped back to sleep. I rolled onto my side, the one not facing Sebastian and placed my hand underneath my pillow for comfort. As my breathing began to steady, I felt an arm drape around my waist. My eyes widened, but I didn't shake it off. I relaxed myself, I should just play along. As an experiment, I placed my hand between his; fingers intertwined. I didn't feel him jerking away, however, after a moment, I felt his fingers gripping tighter to my hand. I sighed and smiled. I shut my eyes and swiftly but surely, I drifted to sleep holding his precious hand. I awoke with a gasp, making Sebastian jerk awake. He didn't move, but I heard his low morning voice in my ear. "What happened? Are you okay?" I glanced at our hands; it was still in the same position as I last remembered leaving them. "I'm fine," I answered quietly. A few moments passed and I thought he drifted back to sleep. "Why'd you stay the night?" I wondered aloud. "Because I didn't want to leave you." I heard him whisper in my ear. I then felt his lips on my cheek. Fear began to course through my body. I turned on my other side to face him. He looked gorgeous; his hair was messed up and his nose was pink from the cold. "Did anything ha—" I began. "No, no. I would've remembered." Sebastian interrupted me. I blushed at the comment. "Then why did you kiss my cheek?" He gave me a look. "I always kiss your cheek." "Yeah, but that's when you walk me home." "Would you like to walk outside so I may kiss your cheek again? It's rather cold out." he teased. "I would like to kiss your cheek in rather different scenarios, if you'd allow me to." I smiled. Of course, he liked me. "You may kiss me whenever you'd like." A smirk appeared on his delightful face. "In different areas?" "What do you mean?" "You'll see soon enough." I got flustered. He always gets me flustered. I checked for the time on my phone and nearly gasped at the time. "Sebastian, we slept through the whole morning." He looked surprised as well, furrowing his brows and staring blankly at my phone screen. "Oh, well," he began. "Looks like we'll have to wait till lunch." I remembered that I had some protein bars my mother sends me every month. "I have this," I said reaching for the box inside my bedside table. "One of these and you'll be full for hours." He examined it and took one. "I'll eat it after I brush my teeth when I come back." "You're coming back?" I asked, inching closer to him on my bed. We were very close now, in any moment he could've kissed me if he wanted to. "I wouldn't wanna miss a thing." He assured me. He said he had to get going so he could change out of last nights clothes and clean himself up. As I was making the bed, I heard him say goodbye and he walked out the door. I was just about to reach for my phone to turn on some music when I heard my door open once again. I turned on my heel to only see Sebastian return. "Fuck it," he dropped his stuff and rushed towards me, pulling me into his arms. His lips locked on mine and I felt his arms move around my back. They finally settled onto the small of my back which caused it to arch. With that, I pressed my body closer to his and his arms gripped me tighter. My hands were tangled in his messed up hair and my lips remained in sync with his. His lips were soft and brushed against mine with such delicacy and ease, I couldn't get enough. He broke away and breathed, "I've always wanted to do that." "Do it some more," I gasped. He pressed his lips back onto mine and we remained kissing next to my unmade bed for what felt like a century. I broke away from his lips and began kissing his chin and trailed it to his jawline. When I reached his ear, I began biting on the lobe very delicately and with that a low groan escaped his lips. I smiled at his reaction and continued to do it. I felt his hand move down my thigh and onto my calf. He lifted my leg and pulled it around him; an indicator for me to do the same action with my other leg. I jumped on him and his muscular arms secured my balance. His lips broke away from mine as he placed them on my neck, trailing kisses all the way down to my chest. His kisses were delicate yet lingering; I craned my neck back and a little moan escaped my lips. Sebastian whispered for me to hush, then placed his lips back onto mine. He moved back towards my bed, plopping himself down with me on top. His hands moved towards my shoulders; his fingers drumming lightly on my shoulder blades; I giggled at the sensation. I lifted myself from our hold and examined his face. His smile stretched from ear to ear and his cheeks were rosy. His hair was still messy from last night and his lips were raw from kissing. "You know, Natalie, I can get used to this." He laughed, tucking my front hairs behind my ear. His hand cupped my cheek and I kissed his fingers. "Well, before you do," I leaned close to his ear, "You're gonna have to brush your teeth first." He kissed my lips once again and then laughed, "Clean freak." He was right at the door, stalling his leave. I promised he could come back after I fixed my room. Practically pushing him out the door, he joked, "You know, you can stay at Virgo House whenever you'd like. No one would be able to hear you scream." I laughed at his innuendo. He kissed me one more time and left the door. But what does it mean? A thousand ideas coursed through my mind. Did he just want a hookup? Was he actually in love with me? I lied down on my bed and closed my eyes. I thought of endless romantic scenarios in which Sebastian played the hopeless romantic and I played the bitter fool. I decided to stop wasting my time dreaming and more focusing on my humanities interests. I washed myself and changed my clothes to something more appropriate. I reached into my closet and found my old smock from home and my wooden painting easel. I grabbed a canvas from Lannie's closet and placed it on the easel. Out of a brown picnic basket, I grabbed a few brushes and a mixing palette, along with some acrylics. Mixing some colors together, I dipped a brush into the liquid and placed it on the canvas. A few strokes here and there and I felt myself get lost in the movements of the brush. I had my earbuds in my ears, the Fray blasting from my playlist. Although my room was lovely, I grew uneasy in my stomach because nothing could compare to the sensation of painting outside in my native country, the views of the Swiss Alps as clear as day. I remembered listening to the French music that my mother adored and the one which I never understood. I felt utterly nostalgic and all of a sudden, I felt tears stream down my face. I had to repeat my mantra in looking at the glass half full; if I went home, I never would've hooked up with Sebastian. If I went home, I never would've held his hand. If I went home, I never would've heard his morning voice or slept through breakfast with him. But, I longed to go home. I longed to see my family, I longed to see my old room; sleep in my old bed; write on my old desk. I abandoned my task and fixed my puffy eyes. I washed my face and put some makeup on; fixed my hair and checked my teeth. I put on a warm jacket and stepped out to the cold world. I sat under Sebastian's apple tree, and tried blanking my mind. I called home, but no one answered. I buried my head in my hands and the tears started to roll down my face. My throat felt hot and it was hard to swallow the lump at the back of my throat. I started to cry so hard my body started to shake violently. I didn't know how to stop, but I wondered why my parents didn't want to take me with them. Did they not love me anymore? Did they send me to school in northern Europe to be rid of me? I felt arms pull me close. "Hey," I heard Sebastian's voice. "What's the matter? Talk to me, Natalie, what's wrong?" I started to calm down as I felt him rock me in his arms. "I—my family—I think they don't care about me anymore." He wiped a tear from my mascara-ruined eyes. "Why on earth would you say that?" "Do you know why I stayed here?" I sniffled. "My sister is somewhere and my parents are in Israel. And they didn't want to bring me along. I might have not been in Geneva, but I might as well been with my family." "My parent sucks too." Sebastian buried his head in my neck. He kissed my cheek. "Oh yeah? What's your story?" "Let's see..." He pressed his cheek onto my head. His arms remained locked around my body, and he continued to rock me from side to side. "Heartless old brute for a father, mother—deceased. My lone wolf of an uncle practically raised me." "What happened to your mom, if you don't mind my asking?"Sebastian chuckled. "A stupid mistake. I never knew her, though. She died shortly after giving birth to me." "I'm sorry." I whispered. I looked out into the deserted campus. "I just want a loving family. One who cares about where I am and if I'm home safely or if I have a boyfriend or even if I'm failing a class." "Give me your phone for a second." Sebastian ordered. He unlocked the front screen and began tapping on the screen, his eyes narrowed as if he really focused one something. He placed the screen between my hands. "This here," he said, "That's your family." It was a picture of all my friends in school; Yallannie and Laura in the front, with Polina smiling awkwardly in the back and a grumpy Juan in the corner. I laughed and wiped some more tears from my eyes. "I don't know, they always make fun of me." "I make fun of you." "No you don't. At least, not to my face." "Not to your face, but my friends and I tease about you all the time." "Hey!" I elbowed him playfully in the stomach. "Seriously, I see the way you guys take care of each other. Sounds like family to me." I looked down at my hands. I did love my friends, more than anything and I will always be there for them. Sebastian changed his position by scooting in front of me. He took my hands and placed them in his. "Let me be your family. Let me be the one you think of when you imagine home." With that, three powerful words formed at the back of my head. It almost rolled off my tongue and I had to swallow them up to prevent awkwardness. I placed my hand behind Sebastian's neck and pulled him close to me, pressing my lips against his. I haven't known him too long, but in retrospect, I fell in love with him, I fell in love with his whole being, and if he was my family, then I would live my life devoting myself to be his.