Echoes of Wonderland

Change of hearts

Red's POV:

Tuesday morning

The next morning, I wake up to a strange but comforting warmth surrounding me. As my eyes flutter open, I realize with a jolt that I'm spooning with Chloe. Her hair is spread across the pillow, and I'm curled up against her back, our legs tangled together. I blink in disbelief. This wasn't exactly how I pictured waking up, but it's... nice. I can't remember when we fell asleep like this, but it feels unexpectedly cozy.

Chloe stirs, her soft voice breaking the silence.

- Morning, sleepyhead. - she murmurs, her voice still heavy with sleep.

Her words are muffled but cheerful, and I can't help but smile at how casually she addresses the situation. I'm caught off guard, my heart pounding a little faster.

- Morning, - I manage to reply, my voice barely above a whisper. I try to disentangle myself gently, but it's clear that neither of us is in any hurry to move.

As I shift, I feel a rush of warmth and confusion. I don't want to make things awkward, but it's hard to ignore the fluttering in my stomach.
I stretch out, trying to shake off the lingering fatigue from last night. I realize I can't put off the inevitable any longer. Chloe's been unusually quiet, which means it's time to break the news. I sit up and rub my eyes, and taking a deep breath, I start to speak, my voice tinged with a mix of embarrassment and uncertainty.

- Hey, Chloe. I need to tell you something.

Chloe slowly turns around to face me, her eyes still half-closed, and a smile playing on her lips.

- What's up? - she asks, her tone soft and curious.

- Well, it turns out we're not going to school today, - I start, trying to sound casual despite my nerves. - I'm suspended for that fight yesterday, and you're excused because of your concussion.

Chloe's eyes widen as she processes this.

- Suspended? Red, why didn't you tell me? - Her voice shifts from surprise to concern.
- I wasn't sure how to bring it up, - I admit, rubbing the back of my neck awkwardly. - I didn't want you to get mad or worry.

- You should have told me right away, - Chloe says, her voice firm but not unkind. - We need to stay focused on our mission, not get into trouble.

- I know, I'm sorry. I guess I thought it was better to keep it from you, - I say, looking down, feeling a pang of guilt.

- Well, now we need to figure out what to do today. - Chloe's expression softens. - We've got some time to kill, so let's use it wisely.

- Yeah, let's make the most of it. We could go over our plan and make sure we're on track, - I suggest, feeling a bit relieved that Chloe's taking this in stride.

- Sounds like a plan, - Chloe says with a reassuring smile, her gaze lingering on me.

As we start to untangle ourselves from the bed and prepare for the day, I can't help but feel a mixture of happiness and anxiety. This accidental closeness was surprisingly comforting, but I'm also worried about how it might affect our friendship. I glance at Chloe, her face still flushed with sleep, and I can't shake the feeling that, despite everything, maybe this is just another step in our journey together.

Chloe's POV

It was nice, waking up to find myself entwined with Red, made my heart race with a mixture of surprise and warmth. The softness of her breath against my cheek and the comforting weight of her arm around me felt so right, yet so unexpected. The lines between friendship and something more seemed to blur as I lay there, savoring the closeness. My mind is a whirl of emotions, confusion about how this happened, anxiety about what it might mean for us, and a surprising sense of contentment. Despite the lingering worry about our mission and the trouble we're in, I can't deny the butterflies fluttering in my stomach. The way Red's presence makes me feel safe and cherished is something I hadn't anticipated, but now that I've experienced it, it's hard to imagine my days without her. There's an undeniable pull between us that I'm not sure how to navigate, but one thing is clear: whatever comes next, I want to face it with her by my side.