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Song of the chapter Miracle Love by Matt Corby

Hero pulls my face closer to his to make the kiss stronger and more loving. I feel his smooth lips move against mine in rhythm of connection. I move my hands to his hair and softy massage his head earning a small moan muffled into the kiss. His hands move from gently caressing my cheekbones to him moving his hands to my waist and pulling my hips onto his lap as he moves his back to sit against the window wall, and giving myself some height over him. The kiss breaks for a moment shortly and I open my eyes to see him looking up into me.

He smiles and his forehead moves to leaning on mine and then lets his eyes gaze down to my lips and then slowly places his lips against mine again. I can't help but pull his face closer to mine and swing my arms around his back. I feel his arms firmly wrap themselves around my back, I can feel my whole body relax twelfth at his embrace, my small body feeling completely secure in his arms.

His mouth moves to my neck and starts leaving wet trails down. My laughs interrupt his efforts. He looks at me and smiles with his teeth on full display as well as his dimples.

"What?" He says.

"I'm sorry it's just....I'm ticklish" I say slightly giggling. He only laughs in response and buries his head into the crevice of my neck and leaves a single kiss. I place my head on the top of his and take a deep breath. We say like this for a few moments before I reluctantly lean back and remove myself from his lap. Hero watches me sit back on the opposite side of the lounge. A small smirk creeps up into the side of his smile. I smile looking down at my lap. I get up and move towards the small stereo near the old fire place and put my phone on shuffle then walk into the kitchen to get some fed together. Leaving Hero alone for a moment I think about everything that's been said, by everyone today. I hear Miracle Love come on the stereo and I take my face into my palms and rub away the exhaustion and ay tears that feel like forming. I can't believe what Hero told me. I do believe it, but I don't want to. His strength only makes my heart want him more.

At the thought of Hero, I feel his touch from behind me he moves his head around to pull my hair from out of my face and behind my ear. I straighten myself up and turn around to face him. He notices my exhausted expression and kisses my forehead.

"I'm sorry about tonight" He says as he still has his hand around my cheek. I can feel the sincerity in his voice, although he has nothing to be sorry for.

"Don't be" I say looking into his deep eyes, getting lost in his beauty.  He chuckles slightly.

"I can be sorry if I want to" He says with a certain sass to it making me giggle.

"I'm going to let you sleep, okay?" He says pulling away and walking towards his coat in the lounge room. I almost want him to say he'll stay with me, as that's exactly what I want him to do.

"Okay" I say quietly. He looks at me once more before hesitating saying goodbye, instead he gives me a sympathetic smile and walks out the front door. Leaving me alone with my thoughts and the voice of Matt Corby.

-

I wake up the next morning feeling pretty unswept considering my mind was moving at 100 miles per hour the whole 6 hours I slept. I felt so contempt with Hero and what he'd told me. I truly felt something for him. At this point I can't exactly label it, but I know it's real, and I hope he feels it too.

I rush out of bed after checking the time to be 9:30 and start getting ready for work. I chuck on random clothes that somewhat work together and throw my hair into a messy low bun.

By the time I'm nearly all the way through work, I've had five coffees to stay awake, God who knew so little vodka could make me this...dead. With only 15 minutes to go I put on one last record to get me through time. Hearts don't break around here comes on after the familiar static sound of the turn table adjusting to the record. Ed Sheeran's voice sounds so beautiful as I step back onto the step ladder to stack a box of books on the top shelf. The lyrics and word choice of the song make me think of Hero, how when he is around me I feel my whole world speed up and at the same time slow down. How I feel so complete with him, since my last love I've never felt so understood and perceived, like we function off each other's being. Morrissey's presence next to me interrupts my thoughts.

"There is a boy loitering outside, I think for you darling" He says pointing to the front. I look at him confused then towards the window as I try to make out the figure through the blurred glass. I grab my coat and bag and wave to Morrissey goodbye and walk towards the door. I feel by body getting tingly at the thought of it being Hero waiting for me to finish work.

I walk through the door and can't help but feel a wave of disappointment as I see Joel's eyes meet mine.

"Hi?" I say as more of a question making steps towards him.

"Hello" He says sure of himself, making it harder to read what his expression is right now. I look at him in silence as a response as I'm not really sure what to do.

"I overheard you the the night talking about where you worked, and I was wondering if I could walk you home and...chat?" He says signalling in the direction home then between the both of us with his hands in his pockets.

"Sure, what do you want to chat about though?" I say starting to walk in the direction home, Joel doing the same.

"I-I um couldn't help but notice you and Hero, or maybe you and Lewis" He says questioning himself in the statement. I chuckle in response.

"Neither" I say looking at the ground, wishing one of those were true. We continue to walk as he speaks up again.

"I don't want to be 'that friend' but I just want to say how neither of them is a good idea, for your safety I'm saying. I think you know about all the shitty stuff we are involved in...and well yeah" He says still hands in pockets. I look at the ground confused for a moment, a few moments actually.

"Did I do something for you to say that?" I say stopping near our apartments and looking at him.

"No Maya, I think you're really great actually.." he says looking at me then away.

"I really just think it's dangerous for you, these guys don't mess around. I don't wanna see you getting hurt" he says looking at me with sympathy.

"I can look after myself you know" I say crossing my arms, only earning a laugh in response from Joel.

"I'm sure you can, but just take what I say into consideration maybe" he says turning to walk off with a sympathetic smile. I return a small smile and turn to walk back into my apartment.

"Oh also, Julie wants you to call her" Joel says turning around and passing me a piece of paper with Julie's number on it. I grab it and smile at his as I walk inside my home.

I relax into my pyjamas and call Julie.

"Hello?" She says on the other end of the phone.

"Hey Julie it's Maya" I say.

We both talk for a few hours on the phone back and fourth, no mentioning a single boys name which I like as my brain would probably explode at the mention of Hero or Lewis for the rest of the day. I hang up and get myself ready for bed, I think an early night is well deserved.

I had hoped that I'd hear from Hero today, but maybe he's processing everything that happened, I know I am. I fall asleep within seconds, my thoughts only being him.