The Way I Loved You ✓

18. The Scientist

‘The Scientist’ is a song by British rock band Coldplay. It describes a broken relationship. The music video is famous for its reverse chronology. [Source: Genius Lyrics]

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FFANC: Nathan's first concert was a Coldplay concert.

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Chapter Eighteen: The Scientist

I woke up with something bright over my eyes. I felt enveloped in warmth. This was not something I usually woke up to. I knew something was wrong about the whole situation.

Wrong and hard. Those were muscles, not pillows, that I was hugging, or more like hugged by – my brain slowly registered.

My senses returned one by one, and I felt the legs tangled around mine, the arms around my waist, and the nose brushing the sensitive spot on my neck. There was a warm, soft rush of breath falling on the valley of my chest. It definitely belonged to that one boy whose bedroom I was currently sleeping in.

To put it simply, Nathan Callahan was sleeping soundly, hugging me, burying his face in the crook of my neck.

I swallowed as I opened my eyes. His silky black hair came into my view. It was right beneath my nose. I could smell the fresh scent of his shampoo. My eyes strayed down. I saw his white shirt with holes around the shoulders and the gray sweatpants.

He probably thought he was hugging a side pillow to sleep.

I needed to get away before he woke up. I tried to move.

“Mhm,” Nathan groaned. It reverberated right into my body.

Shit.

I breathed through my mouth, slowly, and counted to ten. Then I tried to move again.

“Ugh,” Nathan said, “Em.”

Em. He knew it was me, not a pillow.

The window was open, and the soft light of dawn was filtering in. I looked at the nightstand and found my phone lying right beside his. I had no memory of keeping it there.

I glanced down at Nathan’s sleeping face. He looked peaceful in his sleep, nothing like the devil he was when he was awake. His lips were in a straight line. The messy strands of his hair were all over his forehead. Something in me wanted to brush them off, but I held it in.

As I stared, his arm tightened around my waist. He pulled me in tighter, with my chest flush against his shoulder, burying his face deeper into my neck.

My heart started thudding so loudly I could hear it in my ear. I placed my shaky hands on his shoulder, “Nathan.”

He didn't respond.

“Nathan, wake up, please. I need to go home.”

I had texted mom last night. She hadn't replied by the time I fell asleep. God knew what storm was waiting for me at home.

I shook Nathan in panic, “Nathan!”

“God,” he mumbled, “What's wrong with you?”

Said the guy who was hugging me to death in his sleep.

“Nothing is wrong with me. Everything is wrong with you,” I said under my breath.

“Mhm,” he muttered into my skin, “I know. Why else would I dream of you?”

What?

He thought this was a dream.

It was further confirmed when I felt something soft brushing the front of my neck. It was his lips.