Search History // Stuart Twombly.

chapter six.

You awoke in Stuarts bed his arms wrapped around your waist. You were tired out from the day before but you hadn't slept soundly. Your body ached, every muscle felt stiff and tense. Moving slowly, you dragged yourself out of bed, the sun not even beginning to peek out over the horizon. You moved lightly, treading on the wooden floorboards as lightly as you could manage as to not wake Stuart. Walking quietly, you searched through Stuarts drawers, not wanting to put your own clothes from the day before on. You selected one of his shirts, an obscure film shirt that you were sure was older than both of you. Pulling it over your head, you stumbled sleepy eyed into his kitchen, your toe connecting with his counters. You cursed under your breath, still careful not to wake him even after the loud clatter you had just made. Glancing at the clock on his wall you groaned internally realizing the hour was earlier than you had hoped. You weren't due at the office for hours, yet you found yourself nervous for what lay ahead. Grabbing a glass of water you returned to the bedroom, settling into the bed next to Stuart. He mumbled incoherently as the bed shifted, his arms latching around you again. You sighed, wriggling closer to him in the warm bed. He looked so different when he slept, he was softer almost. You dropped your head to the pillow, the comfort of his clothes and the warmth of his embrace lulling you back into the realms of sleep.

Hours later you awoke, the sun finally rearing its ugly head above the skyline. You looked around Stuarts room groggily, the bed beside you empty. You stood, the floorboards creaking underfoot as you wiped the sleep from your eyes. The smell of coffee lured you out the comfort of his room. He stood in the kitchen, sweatpants low on his hips his chest bare. He gripped a giant cup of coffee, sipping the contents whilst staring out the window. His glasses were on, but they were different, the frames were thicker. "Morning" you croaked, your voice still thick with sleep. He smiled at you, his lips pulling back in a large grin. "Morning yourself, sleep well?" He retorted. "Yes and No, I kept waking up, nervous about today y'know?" You searched around for a mug of your own. "Woke up a few times, chest pains and all that, but I fell asleep again easily enough" He teased you, slurping back the coffee he had. "Can I have a cup? I don't know where you keep the mugs?" He attempted to reach into the cupboard above him, wincing as his chest panged. "Let me do it, I know where they are now!" You batted his hand away, apologising profusely as he winced again. "You sure you can even reach short ass?" He was teasing you again. Climbing onto the countertop you grabbed a mug, turning round to sit down on the countertop. You looked at him as he filled your cup. His bruises looked much worse today, the skin puckering and purple. If that's what he looked like you couldn't help but wonder what Graham looked like.

"You should take the day off Stu, you look like you've been hit with brick." Your hand reached out to smooth over his skin. "Well Graham is as dull as a brick so that counts right? Or am I supposed to say something witty like you should see the other guy?" He smiled, his lip swollen causing his smirk to be even more pronounced than usual. "I can't take today off anyway, I have that big app meeting today? You know the one that's taken all of my time, energy and soul? That one?" You smiled. "I thought I took all your time, energy and soul?" He laughed the chuckle turning to a hearty cough. "Yeah you do. Hey, who said you could wear one of my shirts?" he looked over you. "I was cold and I needed a drink and I didn't want to put mine on, I didn't think you'd mind?" He shook his head. "I most definitely don't mind. But you need to go back to yours, I don't think that HR would appreciate you turning up in my shirt, bed hair and not alot else." You hopped off the counter. "But if it was a meeting with you then I should show up in nothing at all?" You kissed his cheek as you went to walk through to the bedroom. "You're getting the hang of this." He winked and you disappeared behind the door. Gathering your things, you shimmied your skirt on, leaving the tshirt on. Kissing him goodbye you made the trip home. It wasn't long by any means but time seemed to pass agonizingly slow as you became more nervous for the meeting.