holy ground ★ conrad fisher (1)

9 to 5 ★ dolly parton

twelve | 1x02

AURORA LOVED WAKING UP TO the sound of the ocean and the sun coming through her window. It made her feel like a princess, sitting in her bed and stretching her arms over her head as she dramatically yawned.

If it was early enough in the morning, the sounds of the seashore would not be drowned out by people talking, or cars driving past their neighborhoods, and if she had remembered to pull back her curtains before she went to bed, the light from her window would shine directly on her bed.

She smiled as she started to wake up, keeping her eyes closed but focused on the sounds around her. She then took note of the arm around her waist and the breathing against her neck.

Wait a minute? What?

Rory's eyes shot open, as she pushed herself up on the pool floaty. She looked to her side, where Conrad was still asleep, only having stirred slightly when she had startled herself awake.

The events of last night played in her head and she sighed, pushing her hair back before laying back down.

Conrad scooted over closer to her again and attempted to pull her back in as he slept, making her laugh softly.

The sound woke him up, but he only groaned against her shoulder, instead of opening his eyes.

"Go back to bed, Connie." Rory raised her hand to ruffle his hair, and he hugged her tighter. She grabbed her phone as she continued to play with his hair and checked the time. It was almost 8 am.

There was a message from her mom, asking where she was, followed by a text to the family group chat about her dad's arrival in what would now be an hour. 

Rory sighed and switched her phone off. Spending time with Conrad last night had rid her mind of her worries for a few hours, but it was all back now, and she would have to face it eventually.

She looked over at him again and tapped his forehead to wake him up but Conrad just buried his head deeper in between Rory's neck and shoulder.

She could feel his hot breath against the side of her neck, and it was causing her heartbeat to speed up.

She wondered if it heartbeat was loud enough to wake him up.

"Conrad, we have to get back to the house." She whispered, and he grumbled, continuing to hold her in place.

She let him rest for a few more minutes, watching the bright blue sky over them before she felt him move next to her. Conrad opened his eyes reluctantly, pulling away from Rory just enough to look at her watching the sky over them.

"Sleep well?" She asked, looking down at him and he replied with a grin.

"The best."

"Can you get off me now?" She laughed, and he hugged her tighter in response before letting go and turning over to grab his phone too.

"My dad gets here in about an hour." Rory started, and they sat up and started folding blankets. "We should get back before then."

"When is the tea thing you and Belly have?" He asked, and Rory smiled to herself at the tone of his sleepy voice.

"Around one. But I'll leave around noon, Paige wants me to come in early to set up some shots."

"Do you want me to drive you?" He continued, getting off the floaty, making it deflate a little, and Rory's side made her bounce in place. He smiled at the sound of her giggling slightly, before turning back to her.