The Forgotten Gilmore

Chapter Eight: Morning Calm

AN: I've decided to use multiple face claims for Riley until i find the perfect one.

Riley blinked awake, his eyes adjusting to the soft morning light filtering through the curtains. For a moment, he didn't register where he was—only that he felt more rested than he had in weeks. He slowly realized his head was resting on something firm but warm. He shifted slightly and noticed the rise and fall of a chest beneath him.

It was then that Riley realized he was leaning on Beau's shoulder.

A rush of confusion hit him, his thoughts still fuzzy with sleep. He glanced up at Beau, who was still asleep, his head tipped back against the couch. Beau's face was relaxed, his lips slightly parted, and his breath came out in a slow, even rhythm. Riley felt a strange flutter in his stomach at the sight, his heartbeat speeding up in a way he hadn't expected.

He took a moment to savor the unexpected comfort of Beau's presence. He hadn't felt this at ease in a long time, and it was almost startling to realize how much he had needed it. For the first time in days, maybe weeks, Riley felt like he had actually slept. Really slept. The kind of deep, uninterrupted sleep that he hadn't had in ages.

He could've stayed like this forever, honestly, but the room was getting brighter, and he didn't want to risk waking Beau like this. Slowly, Riley eased himself upright, careful not to disturb Beau too much. Beau shifted slightly in his sleep but didn't wake. Riley watched him for a moment longer, feeling an inexplicable fondness before he got up quietly, heading to the small kitchen area to make some coffee.

As the coffee brewed, Riley leaned against the counter, still feeling the warmth of Beau's shoulder lingering on his own. He thought about how the two of them had ended up like this—staying up late, talking about everything and nothing, watching movies until they both drifted off. It felt...nice. A lot nicer than Riley would ever admit out loud.

When Beau finally stirred awake, Riley turned around, a small smile on his face. "Morning, sleepyhead."

Beau blinked, rubbing a hand over his eyes as he sat up. "Morning... Did I—did we fall asleep on the couch?"

Riley chuckled, nodding. "Yeah. Guess I finally crashed."

A look of relief crossed Beau's face. "You needed it."

Riley hesitated, then nodded. "Yeah. I did. Thanks... for just being there."

Beau gave him a small, warm smile. "Anytime."

They sat in comfortable silence for a moment, the sound of the coffee brewing filling the room. Riley could feel something between them shifting, a subtle change he couldn't quite put his finger on, but he wasn't ready to think too deeply about it yet.

Instead, he filled two mugs with coffee, passing one to Beau. "Thanks for letting me crash here. I should probably head back to my dorm, though... Need to make up with Alessia."

Beau nodded. "Good idea. She was just worried about you, you know?"

Riley sighed, a slight frown crossing his face. "Yeah, I know. I just... wasn't in the best headspace yesterday."

Beau's expression softened. "Go easy on yourself, Riley. You've got a lot going on."

Riley appreciated the words, the sincerity in Beau's voice. "Yeah... Thanks."

He took one last sip of coffee, feeling a bit steadier than he had in a long time, before setting the mug down. "Alright, I'm gonna go fix things with her."

"Good luck," Beau said with a smile. "And hey... if you ever need another sleepless night buddy, you know where to find me."

Riley grinned, feeling an unexpected warmth in his chest. "I'll keep that in mind."

---

Riley headed back to his dorm, running a hand through his hair as he thought about how he'd approach Alessia. When he got to their door, he took a deep breath before pushing it open.

Alessia was sitting cross-legged on her bed, her laptop open in front of her, and she glanced up as he walked in. There was a moment of tense silence before she broke it with a tentative, "Hey."

"Hey," Riley replied, shutting the door behind him. "Can we talk?"

Alessia nodded, closing her laptop and setting it aside. "Yeah... I'd like that."

He hesitated, searching for the right words. "Look, I'm sorry about yesterday. I shouldn't have snapped at you. You didn't deserve that."

Alessia let out a small sigh, her expression softening. "I'm sorry too. I pushed too hard. I didn't realize... I just... I care about you, Riley. I didn't mean to make things worse."

Riley felt a pang of guilt but also relief. "I know you care. And I care about you too. I guess I just... wasn't ready to talk about it. But that's not an excuse to take it out on you."

Alessia smiled faintly. "So... friends again?"

Riley grinned. "Friends again."

They stood there for a moment, the tension finally easing between them. Riley felt lighter, like a weight had been lifted from his shoulders.

Alessia's smile widened. "Good. Because I was thinking... we still have that movie marathon to finish. And I promise, no more pushing you to talk about things unless you want to."

Riley chuckled, shaking his head. "Deal. But only if you promise to make popcorn this time."

Alessia laughed. "You got it."

They settled onto the couch, and as the opening credits rolled, Riley felt a sense of calm settle over him. Things weren't perfect, but they were better. And for now, that was enough.