Swimming in Stars | Byron Langley

twenty

"Lex," I heard Joe's voice as he shook my body.

"What?" I groaned.

"You need to get up; we have to get to the airport."

"What time is it?"

"Four," He said, "We have to be there three hours before our flight."

"I'm tired." I said.

"You can sleep on the ride to the airport." He said. "Then you have about ten hours on the plane to sleep."

"Carry me," I groaned.

"I can't," He said.

"Then I'm not getting up," I whined.

"Fine," He said and I heard him shuffle out of my room.

I was almost back asleep when I felt my body get lifted. I groaned as I heard Byron chuckle slightly. I snuggled my body into his chest.

"You're like a big baby," He whispered.

"Shut up," I whispered back.

"Do you want me to carry you or do you want to walk."

"I need to pee." I replied.

"Come on," He said and put my feet against the ground.

I rubbed my eyes and I walked around him, to the bathroom. I pushed the door shut and did my business. I washed my hands and then went back to my room. I grabbed my phone and it's charger. I pulled the small, soft blanket from my bed and pushed my feet into a pair of nike slides.

I walked out of my room to the living room where Joe was on his phone. He looked over at me and nodded with a small smile.

"Yeah, we're heading off in just a minute." Joe paused. "I didn't buy you a plane ticket..."

"Who is it?" I asked.

He held up a finger.

"You bought your own ticket?" He asked with a small laugh. "No one invited you...well that's because Lex's mom has met Byron."

I reached over and pulled the phone from him. I looked down and saw it was Jack.

"I told you no Jack," I said.

"I'm doing this for you," He said quietly, "For you and Byron."

"What?"

"We all know about you and Byron, well everyone except Joe, Josh and Mikey." He said. "If I come along you have someone to distract Joe."

"I hate you," I said.

"I'll see you at the airport," He replied and hung up.

I handed the phone to Joe.

"I guess he's joining us."

"Who is joining?" Byron asked as he walked out.

I looked over and our eyes met. He smiled slightly as I stared at him. I don't know what it was, but seeing him in such a tired state made him slightly more attractive.

"Jack is," Joe said, "We need to go."

"Right," Byron said and broke eye contact.

I shook my head and nodded.

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After we got through security, Byron and I went straight to starbucks. We ordered and he paid, I suck the straw between my lips and began to sip my frappuccino.