Checkmate

48. Normality?

We didn't sleep much that night. We spent the time reliving memories of stolen kisses and afternoon trysts in the hut. Every touch and kiss was as gentle as a feather on a soft summer breeze, and his eyes were full of nothing but adoration and love as we experienced each other three times over. It wasn't until the early morning we finally collapsed in each other's arms and gave into sleep, me in the shirt he had been wearing as he pulled on his underwear.

As dawn broke across the sky, sending beams of rich orange light through the window of Felix's room, we both awoke, the two of us taking a moment to recall the night before. Morning kisses with Felix were something I never got to experience, but they were magical, delicate, and warm.

After a minute or two in his embrace, a common feeling alerted me to need the bathroom. A quick kiss and a muttered apology later, I was in the small room, the door firmly closed behind me.

Looking at myself in the mirror after washing my hands made me pause. Gone was the bite, the tinge of green around my irises, the dam behind my eyes. My blotched and pale skin was rosy, full of colour, and my body felt lighter, as if a weight had been lifted.

Yes, I loved Pan. But he had left me, gone, true love or not.

I finally had a chance to spend my life with Felix, and for the first time, I looked at myself in the mirror and saw what I had always yearned for. Happiness.

Exiting the bathroom, I saw the bed made and my clothes folded neatly atop the covers. Instead, I chose to remain in Felix's shirt as I followed a rather familiar scent into the kitchen.

At the sight of me leaning against the door frame, Felix released a breathy laugh and flipped the bacon before turning the fire down and turning his attention to me fully. "Now there is a sight I could get used to." He gestured for me to join him, pulling me into his side to wrap my arms around his middle. He pressed a kiss to my forehead and held me tighter. "How did you sleep?"

"Well, I didn't dream."

He tilted his head to look down at me as I looked up. "Is that a good thing?"

I bit my lip and gave him a weak smile as I scrunched my nose. "No dreams mean no nightmares, so that's good." He hummed and nodded knowingly before leaning over slightly to turn the quietly sizzling sausages. "Since when did you become a chef?"

"Well." He effortlessly leaned down and lifted me to sit upon the counter, resulting in me releasing a squeal and a giggle that caused him to grin once more. "Someone thought it in their best interest to spoil those boys I've had to take care of for two months." I felt the blush rise on my cheeks as Felix moved nearer to put his body flush with mine. "And before you open that pretty little mouth to apologise, don't."

"I wasn't going to."

Felix nodded and hummed before he leaned in to press his lips to mine, the affection soft but quick as he pulled away to draw his attention back to the breakfast. "As much as it pains me to say this, my dear." He began, turning his gaze briefly to me to glance at me up and down. "There are going to be ten boys at that door in less than five minutes, so you might want to-"

Before he could finish his sentence, I had clicked my fingers and changed into my school uniform, his shirt magically appearing under my pillow in my bedroom. "I should probably also tell Neal that I am alright after my sleepover last night too."

"I beat you to that one, I'm afraid," the boy said, pulling his phone from his back pocket. "I told him we had fallen asleep over our books, but you will be going to school on time and with the boys." A loud commotion at the door drew our attention forward as the boys tumbled in, the lot of them pausing at the sight of me sat on Felix's kitchen counter. "Speak of the devils," Felix muttered under his breath, causing me to release a brief chuckle.