Ethan woke to the smell of burnt toast and arguments about breakfast.
"WHO LEFT THE TOASTER ON?!"
Luis. Definitely Luis.
He blinked at the soft morning light spilling into the room. The air smelled faintly of... weed, vanilla, and laundry detergent. Haley.
She was sprawled against his side, hair messy, mascara smudged just enough to look intentional, still wearing his black shirt. One of her legs was tangled with his, and her hand rested lightly on his chest.
Ethan didn't move. He didn't breathe. He just stared, like the universe had dropped a miracle next to him and dared him to touch it.
"Why are you staring at me like a creep?" Haley mumbled, voice husky.
"I—I thought you were asleep," he said, panicked.
"I was," she said, eyes still closed, snuggling deeper. "But you were staring so hard you probably set off a cosmic alarm."
Ethan flushed. "Sorry."
She cracked one eye open, smirking. "I didn't say stop."
Before he could think of a response, Max's voice thundered down the hall.
"ETHAN. HALEY. IF YOU TWO ARE DECENT, PANCAKES. IF YOU'RE NOT DECENT... WAIT TEN MINUTES AND THEN PANCAKES."
Haley groaned into his shoulder. "Why is he so loud?"
"Because he thinks he's funny," Ethan murmured.
"I am funny!" Max shouted.
Ethan buried his face in the pillow. "Literally psychic."
Haley stretched, hair falling over her shoulders, and Ethan forgot how to function for a second.
"So..." she began, brushing a strand of hair back. "Last night."
Ethan swallowed. "Yeah?"
"It was... pretty damn nice," she said, giving him a crooked smile.
He let out a breath he didn't know he'd been holding. "Yeah. It was."
She leaned over, pressing a soft morning kiss to his lips. Quick. Warm. Sweet. Dangerous in the best way.
BANG.
The door flew open.
Luis stood there, spatula in hand, holding a burnt pancake like a trophy.
"How do you burn a pancake on medium heat? What's wrong with me—OH. MY BAD. DIDN'T KNOW Y'ALL WERE—"
Ethan nearly fell off the bed. "LUIS. GET. OUT."
Haley yanked the blanket over her legs, laughing uncontrollably.
Luis backed out like he was escaping a crime scene. "Just wanted to share my pain."
Max's voice bellowed from the kitchen. "STOP TRAUMATIZING GUESTS, LUIS!"
Haley wiped tears from her eyes. "Your friends are unhinged."
"You're just now figuring that out?" Ethan muttered, pulling a hoodie over his head.
She tugged at the hem of his shirt—still on her. "I'm stealing this."
"You—no, that's my favorite one!"
"It smells like you," she shrugged. "Finders keepers."
Ethan's phone buzzed. Dad.
Three missed calls. Three texts. Where are you. Don't agree with you being with her. Call me NOW.
YOU ARE READING
Whispering Pages
Non-FictionAfter the tragic death of his mother, Ethan, a rebellious teenager, finds himself battling deep depression. Now living with his father Tom , an aggressive drunk, his life is filled with tension and pain. As Ethan tries to navigate his grief and fin...
