Mat Barzal Imagines

Snow Day

Warnings: Two swear words

You woke up in your boyfriend's arms, and a smile immediately lit up your face.

"Morning, babe," Mat said while gently running his hands through your hair.

"Good morning," you hummed in reply. You turned your head to face him and kissed him on the lips before settling your head back into the crook of his neck.

You generally didn't wake up to find Mat still in bed. Most mornings, he was already either getting ready for practice or on his way to the rink. Today, though, he had a day off. You rolled away from Mat and towards the nightstand, where the clock read 9:30AM. You groaned. Unfortunately, you had cognitive psych in two hours.

"I have to get ready for class soon," you said while rolling back into Mat's waiting arms.

"Okay, but can we just lie here for a moment? I want to hang on to that peaceful feeling for just a little bit longer," Mat said.

You sighed. "Alright," you said, "But only for a moment."

Mat pulled you even closer to him than you were before, and you snuggled into his bare chest.

"Psych is your only class today, right?" Mat asked.

You knew where he was going with this. "Yeah," you looked up at him and raised an eyebrow, waiting for it.

"Can you please, pleaseskip class this one time?" Mat pleaded with you. "Our schedules aren't going to line up like this again for two months," he said, making two months sound like an eternity, "And the snow is starting to pile up outside."

You groaned. "I'd love to, but you know Columbia isn't going to close today."

"Check the website. Maybe they had a change of heart."

You chuckled, but there was a sarcastic note to it. "That's about as likely as pigs being able to fly. They don't give a shit about how hard it is to commute."

"Can't you just stay home today? I'm worried you'll get hurt."

He did have a point. Going to an Ivy League school had its perks, but it also had major downsides. The administration was extremely strict, and they rarely declared snow days. When a major snowstorm hit the city last year, Columbia was the only university in the entire city to remain open, and someone broke their arm after falling on a patch of ice. The year before that, several students nearly got hit by cars while trying to cross Broadway during a blizzard, and the sister school closed its campus for all afternoon classes, effectively forcing Columbia to do the same because students cross-registered in classes at both institutions.

"I am awfully comfortable," you admitted.

"So what do you say to playing hooky for a day? You work so fucking hard, you deserve a break."

Your willpower dissolved then and there. "You're right, I'm staying home."

"Yes!" Mat cheered, pumping one fist in the air. You doubled over laughing.

"Alright, I just have to let my professor know I'm not coming today," you said. You tried to get out of bed, but Mat tightened his grip around your waist.

"Babe," you said, laughing, "I love you, but I have to get out of bed for a minute. I'll be back before you know it." Sometimes, it felt like you were dating a man-child instead of a professional athlete.

He pouted his lips but released his hold on you. You jumped out of bed before he could change his mind and opened your laptop.

You couldn't believe your eyes when you clicked on your inbox.

"Well, it looks like pigs are going to fly today," you said, turning around to face Mat.

He looked confused for a moment, but then he understood. "You're kidding. They cancelled classes?

"Yup," you confirmed, emphasizing the "p," "Looks like Columbia found its heart. Or faced enough pressure from major donors."

"Great! Now let's go back to bed," Mat said before yawning.

You laughed and catapulted yourself onto the bed, landing with a thud right next to Mat.

"Best day ever," you said while lifting up the covers and getting back under them.

"Totally," Mat agreed, and he pressed a kiss to the top of your head before putting his arms back around you. Within minutes, you were both passed out in the bed.