Even If You Cross My Mind » CAMREN

Chapter 14 - Moondust

[Lauren POV]

It was around 6:15 AM and the sun had barely started to come home from the other side of the world; just a sliver of deep orange light flooding the sky with a vibrant promise. My hotel room was pretty frigid, but I liked it that way; the contrast between the chilly air and my warm down comforter made for the most incredible early-morning slow wake you could ever dream up.

My green eyes fluttered open and I noticed the cool tones softly illuminating the room; I could tell it was early by the faint blue glow of everything and how still the outside world sounded. I awoke laying on my side with Camila laying right behind me, holding me. She was still fast asleep; a few loose strands of her chocolate brown hair fell over her face and her legs were tangled with mine. She was pressed against me warmly with her slender arm draped around my waist as we were both completely engulfed in pristine white sheets cooly brushing against our naked bodies. I let out a happy sigh as I grazed my fingertips down her limp forearm, lacing my fingers between hers and gently holding her hand against my stomach.

Camila and I didn't sleep over every night by any means. 1) it would've been way too obvious, 2) we still wanted to spend time with the girls and not completely isolate ourselves from the group (Dinah would call us out anytime we got too exclusive, so... you know, respect), and 3) sometimes I just needed my space. This dynamic helped keep things fresh and interesting, and we appreciated our alone that much more.

Over the weeks, we did sort of find ourselves in a comfortable and careful situation where we'd spend the night together if the coast was clear. Nine times out of ten, that just meant that we all had a couple days off from work and our team wasn't breathing down our necks. It worked out pretty great and allowed us to devote our full attention to work while also having separate, sacred time to devote to each other.

A light, breathy moan escaped Camila's lips as she pressed her body closer behind me, gripping my hand. This involuntary instinct of hers made my heart flutter; it felt as if she couldn't possibly feel close enough to me, even in her sleep.

Slowly and carefully, I maneuvered my body around to face the petite girl beside me. With eyes still closed, she moved only slightly from the disturbance. Her hand was now lazily resting on my hip. My green eyes, still hooded by heavy lids, affectionately scanned her face; I loved memorizing the way her eyelashes fell along her tired eyes, the way her lips slightly parted when she was in a deep, peaceful sleep - even the slow, steady rhythm of her breathing. When we were younger and I'd see her asleep on the sofa or on her bed in the same exact way, I remember trying really hard to fight off feelings of wanting to be right there next to her. I took a moment to appreciate how nice it was not having to grapple with that frustration anymore.

As my line of vision drifted over her body, I had a sudden, spontaneous burst of inspiration and managed to cautiously slither my way out from under Camila's embrace. As I scooted my way out of bed, I slowly got up and grabbed my sketch book and some charcoal from my nightstand drawer. Still naked, I walked over to open one of my balcony doors to let some soft, natural light spill into the room. The sunlight kissed Camila's body as I wrapped myself in a fleece blanket, planting myself on a chair next to the bed.

It was true to my nature to try and do something like this right now. I only ever got creatively inspired to write or draw in the early hours of the morning or the obscene depths of the night. Apparently, some of the greatest creative spirits in history were most inspired between the hours 11pm and 5am - when the whole world is asleep, when light is absent, when silence takes over. I read that somewhere. Always made me feel a little less psycho.

I cracked my sketchbook open to a bare page and used my knee for support as I began lightly tracing a soft outline of Camila's body. The brunette was laying on her side - one of her legs was bent upwards towards her abdomen and both her arms were slightly reaching towards the headboard. She looked like she had just gracefully fallen that way, like lunging into a dream - but my God, she looked so serene and comfortable. I didn't want to wake her, so I stayed dead silent.