Miss O'Connell | B.E

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Divine's eyes scrunched at the harsh light cutting across her face. She groaned, turning under the covers and bringing her hands up to rub her eyes. Letting out a whine, she stretched her legs, her arms following. The heat of the winter light melted into her skin, and the muscle in her body ached as she stretched. For a second, she wondered why there was pain in her body, but then the memories of last night with Billie rushed back.

A shadow suddenly loomed over her, interrupting the light, and Divine cracked her eyelids open. Her heart leapt when she saw Billie's face hovering above her, now hyperaware of where she was—and what had happened. Quickly sitting up, she leaned against the velvet headboard, the silk sheets pooling at her waist as she took in the sight royal of the room.

Billie giggled, clearly amused by Divine's disoriented state. She had woken hours earlier, still wrapped in Divine's arms, before carefully slipping out to shower and change into casual clothes for the weekend.

"Guess who slept from two a.m. until eleven," Billie sang, cupping Divine's cheeks playfully.

Divine's eyes widened as the realization hit her. She had actually fallen asleep. She turned to the old clock on the bedside table, as if to check if it were true.

"Me?" she asked, furrowing her brow as she absorbed the sight of Billie, her beauty almost too much in this moment of utter confusion. The way her blue eyes sparkled in the sunlight and how her freckles had deepened from the sunkissed morning was mesmerizing.

Billie laughed, her hands resting on Divine's thighs over the blanket as she leaned in to press a soft kiss on her lips. "Yes, you, dummy."

Divine's thoughts slowly caught up, and a grin tugged at the corners of her lips. "I actually fell asleep..." she murmured, disbelief in her voice. She hadn't had a full night's rest, uninterrupted, since her mother passed. Even when Mrs. Kim had tried soothing her night terrors and tantrums as a child, nothing seemed to help, and god knows her father couldn't try, nor would he. But Billie... Billie had managed to give her nine hours of peaceful slumber by just, well, existing.

The thought struck her deeply, her chest swelling with something tender. How was it that Billie, without even trying, could do what barely anyone could? Just her presence had calmed Divine's night terrors. Just the thought of her in her arms.

Billie nodded in response, wrapping her arms around Divine's neck. Divine, now fully awake, pulled her onto her lap, noticing Billie's fully dressed body against her own. Billie must have woken hours earlier.

Divine brought her hands gently down to hold Billie's frame, her awe of all still present. Billie wore a loose gray button-up with black pants, the baggy clothes making her look even more adorable on her petite frame.

Billie chuckled and brushed Divine's exploring hands away. "Don't get carried away, sleepyhead," she teased, leaning in to kiss her again, before nuzzling into her neck.

Divine, more alert now, glanced around the room, noting the open curtains that had slapped the sunlight onto her face earlier. She gently stroked Billie's hair and rasped, "Why'd you open the curtains?"

Billie's heart fluttered at the sound of Divine's morning voice. "I thought it was time you got up," she whispered, her voice soft. "If you sleep all day, you won't be able to sleep with me tonight."

Divine smiled at the thought, her heart warming at the idea of holding Billie again later.

"I'm glad you got some rest," Billie murmured, her arms tightening around Divine's waist.