Two lives.

37. come home

June 4th
9:44 AM

“Man, what?!” Caylus’s loud laughter echoed through the room, jolting me awake. My heart raced as my brain scrambled to catch up. Where was I? What was happening?

I blinked slowly, rubbing my eyes as the room came into focus. I was sitting up in Ekko’s bed, the blankets tangled around me. Ekko, on the other hand, was still fast asleep, shirtless, sprawled out on his stomach with a pillow hugged tightly against his chest. His face was peaceful, his dreads sticking up in different directions.

Then there was Caylus, standing in the doorway with the biggest, most shit-eating grin I’d ever seen. I groaned, already knowing where this was headed.

“And what did y’all do last night?” Caylus teased, his voice dripping with mock scandal as he raised an eyebrow and leaned against the doorframe. The smirk on his face was practically radiating pure chaos.

I buried my face in my hands, letting out an exaggerated groan. “Caylus, oh my god, it’s too early for your nonsense.” My voice was muffled but heavy with exasperation.

He laughed even louder, pointing a finger at me like he’d just uncovered the world’s juiciest secret. “Nah, nah, I know y’all weren’t just cuddling. Look at you, all cozy in his bed. And Ekko’s knocked out like he just ran a marathon.”

“Shut up!” I hissed, throwing one of Ekko’s pillows at him. He dodged it easily, cackling as he stepped further into the room.

Ekko stirred slightly at the noise but didn’t wake up, only burying his face deeper into the pillow he was holding.

“Relax, Bear,” Caylus said, using the nickname everyone seemed to have adopted for me. “I’m just saying, this is sus.” He made air quotes and wagged his eyebrows dramatically.

I rolled my eyes so hard they practically hurt. “Nothing happened, Caylus. I fell asleep here, that’s it.”

“Uh-huh,” he said, clearly not convinced, but still grinning. “So, what, you were just chilling in his bed because it’s comfier than yours?”

I grabbed another pillow and chucked it at him, this time hitting my target. “Get out before you wake him up!”

Caylus backed toward the door, still laughing but holding his hands up in mock surrender. “Alright, alright, I’m going. But this isn’t over, Bear.”

As he slipped out of the room, I sighed and flopped back onto the bed, staring at the ceiling.

From beside me, Ekko let out a sleepy mumble, his voice barely audible. “What’s Caylus yelling about now?”

I froze for a second, glancing over at him. His eyes were still closed, his voice thick with sleep.

“Nothing,” I whispered, shaking my head even though he probably couldn’t see me. “Go back to sleep.”

He grunted softly, shifting to get more comfortable.

I sighed again, a small smile tugging at the corner of my lips. Caylus was annoying, but at least he’d made the morning a little less awkward.

I laid in bed for a while longer, staring blankly at the ceiling as my mind wandered. I was still tired but couldn’t sleep now. The soft hum of the early morning filled the room, broken only by the occasional rustle of sheets as Ekko shifted beside me.

Eventually, I sighed and sat up, the cool air brushing against my skin as I swung my legs over the side of the bed. I moved slowly, careful not to make too much noise as I crept toward the corner where my clothes were in a small pile.