Cold Water

TWENTY ONE

             
                     ♡BRANDON♡

   When Athalia knocked on my door and peeked in, I was surprised but also relieved.

   I had been lying awake, my thoughts racing, when she appeared.

  Her presence was a welcome distraction from the restlessness that had kept me up.

  "Hey," she said softly, stepping into the room. "I couldn't sleep. Maybe we could talk for a bit?"

  I nodded, gesturing for her to sit on the bed next to me. "Sure, that sounds good. I've been having trouble sleeping, too."

   We talked for a while about anything and everything–school, our favourite movies, silly anecdotes from our childhoods.

  Her laughter and the warmth of her presence were soothing, and I found myself relaxing more as we spoke.

   It was comforting to share these moments with her, and the conversation seemed to ease the tension I'd been feeling.

  As time passed, I noticed that Athalia's responses became slower, her words more fragmented.

  It wasn't long before she had fallen asleep, her head resting gently on the pillow beside me. I looked at her, her face serene in the soft light of the room.

  I debated on what to do next. Part of me wanted to wake her up and help her back to the guest room, but she looked so peaceful and exhausted.

  The thought of disturbing her felt wrong. On the other hand, I was concerned about her being uncomfortable on my bed.

   After a few moments of internal debate, I decided to let her stay. She had been such a support to me, and it felt natural to reciprocate that kindness by letting her rest.

  I carefully adjusted the blankets around her, making sure she was comfortable. Then, I lay down beside her, trying to be as still as possible.

  I couldn't help but admire her as she slept. The soft glow from the bedside lamp illuminated her features, casting a gentle light on her face.

She's really beautiful.

  There was something serene about the way she looked, her breathing even and calm.

  As I observed her, while in her sleep, she subconsciously snuggles closer to me.

  She wraps her arms around me and buries her face in my chest. Her warmth and the softness of her touch sent a jolt through me, and I froze, unsure of what to do.

  For a moment, I just lay there, feeling the weight of her presence and the rise and fall of her breathing against my chest.

  The situation was intimate and unexpected, and I didn't know how to react. My heart raced, and I felt a bit self-conscious.

  But as the seconds passed, I began to relax. There was something comforting about having her close, and the initial shock of the moment started to fade.

  I could feel the rhythm of her breathing syncing with my own, and the room felt warmer and more peaceful with her beside me.

~~~~~

  I woke up the next morning to the gentle sensation of something tapping my nose.

That was the best sleep I've gotten in a long time.

  Blinking sleepily, I looked down and saw Athalia's face close to mine, her eyes sparkling with mischief. She was tapping my nose with a soft, playful touch.

  "Good morning, sleepyhead," she said with a grin. Her voice was cheerful, and I could see the warmth in her eyes.

  I smiled back, still a little disoriented. "Morning, Athalia."

  As I fully came to my senses, I realized that my arms were wrapped around her, holding her close.

My eyes widened in panic as I noticed the position we were in. I quickly pulled away, my face flushing with embarrassment.

  "Oh no, I'm so sorry." I stammered, trying to disentangle myself. "I didn't mean to–"

  Athalia just laughed, a soft, reassuring sound that helped ease my anxiety.

  "It's okay, Brandon. I don't mind at all. You were just really cosy, that's all."

  I looked at her, still feeling a bit flustered but comforted by her easygoing attitude.

  "I didn't realize I had my arms around you. I hope I didn't make you uncomfortable."

  "Nope," she said, shaking her head with a smile. "Not at all. In fact, it was kind of nice."

  I relaxed a bit, feeling a wave of relief. Athalia's laughter and her nonchalant demeanour helped dissolve the awkwardness, and I found myself smiling again. "Alright, if you say so."

  After our lighthearted start to the day, Athalia and I headed downstairs to make breakfast.

  The house was quiet, the soft morning light filtering through the kitchen windows.

  "Do you have a preference for breakfast?" I asked as we walked into the kitchen.

  Athalia glanced around, her eyes landing on the ingredients I had for a simple breakfast. "How about pancakes? They're always a good choice."
 
  "Pancakes it is." I agreed, feeling a bit more comfortable now that the initial awkwardness had passed.

  We started gathering the ingredients, and I noticed Athalia moving around the kitchen with an easy grace.

  Her presence made the task seem more enjoyable, and we chatted as we cooked.

  "So," she said, cracking eggs into a bowl, "what's the plan for today? Anything you want to do?"

  I thought for a moment as I mixed the pancake batter. "We could go for a walk later or maybe just hang out here. I'm open to suggestions."

  "Sounds good to me," Athalia replied with a grin. "Let's just see where the day takes us."

  As we worked together, I couldn't help but feel a sense of contentment.

  The morning was starting off well, and having Athalia's company made it even better.

  We cooked the pancakes and set the table, and the kitchen soon filled with the delicious aroma of breakfast.

  We sat down to eat, the simple meal turning into a warm, shared experience.

  It felt good to start the day on such a positive note, and I was grateful for Athalia's presence and the easygoing nature of our time together.

♥︎♥︎♥︎♡♡♡♡