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8. Early Birds

My growling stomach pulls me out of a deep slumber, I haven't slept this well in months. Moving to get out of bed and get a snack, I realized that my left arm was immobilized under Paige's neck.

Paige.

Turning my head to look at the clock, it was 3:45, we must have fallen asleep watching that movie. As much as I wanted to close my eyes and go back to sleep beside her, my stomach growled incessantly, begging for a food more substantial than popcorn.

Slowly, I pulled my arm out from under her and watched her snuggle into my pillow, moving underneath the blankets. I was surprised at how normal this felt. I wanted to wake up next to her like this every morning.

Walking out of my bedroom and into the kitchen, I pulled a banana out of the fruit bowl on the counter and peeled it open.

"You opened it the wrong way." A groggy voice came from the hall and I found Paige standing there in one of my bigger t-shirts, rubbing her eyes and yawning simultaneously.

"I didn't mean to wake you, I just needed something to eat." I said before taking another bite from the banana in my hand.

"Light sleeper." She explained, walking over to the fruit bowl and picking an apple out of it for herself.

"Do you remember when we used to lay out every blanket in your house on the ground and sleep on the floor over there?" She smiled, pointing her chin to the living room.

"Yes, I can't figure out why we thought that would be more comfortable than my bed." I laughed out of my nose, watching her take a bite out of the red apple.

She padded over the couch, my t-shirt swinging at the middle of her thighs.

"Well, we're out of popcorn, so that's good." I sat down next to her on the couch, smirking as I mentioned popcorn.

"Ah, but you forget that the grocery store is just down the road." Winking at me, Paige took another bite from her apple, a loud crunch came from it.

Who would have thought Paige and I would be joking around with each other on my couch at 4am? I sure didn't.

"Landon?" Paige said beside me, setting her apple core down on the coffee table.

"Yes, Paige?" Looking down, I saw her clear blue eyes that were sank into dark circles.

Her eyes searched mine, looking back and forth between them, trying to find something.

"It's nothing, nevermind." She mumbled, picking her apple core back up and twirling the stem between her thumb and forefinger.

Taking the apple out of her hand and setting it back down, I lightly pulled her chin so her face was right in front of mine.

"Paige?" I questioned, now searching in her eyes for some type of emotion.

"I just wanted to ask you what this," she motioned with her hand between us, "was. But I didn't want to come off as obsessive or anything, you know, so I just-"

I could tell that she was about to start rambling, and when she started that, there was no stopping her. I pressed my lips to hers to keep her from going on any further. I felt relief flow through her and her hands snaked through my hair.

Moving my lips in sync with hers, I started to think about this was. We weren't dating because I hadn't taken her out on a proper date. What would the kids at school think? Are we even 'together'?

Paige started pulling back and I groaned, not wanting the kiss to end.

"I can't believe I didn't think about doing that years ago." She laughed, still playing with my hair.