You Belong With Me (Raura)

Chapter Three

I snuggled closer to my covers, not wanting to get up. My alarm had gone off about five minutes ago, and my shift at work was going to start in less than an hour. I snoozed my last three alarms just like always, and the time was counting down before I had to leave. I just didn't want to, though. Last night was still repeating in my mind, making me upset over and over again. Fun times, right? Not so much.

"Laura!" Mom yelled from somewhere downstairs. How did she know that I hadn't gotten up yet? Probably because I did this every single day. "You need to get up!"

"In a minute!" I yelled back just like I always did.

"Get up now!"

I groaned and threw my covers off of me. I immediately shivered as the crisp air bit my skin. I usually slept in shorts and a tank top because it was always hot in California. I hated getting out of bed because I ended up freezing until I got into the shower. Because of that, I remained in bed with my covers off of me, relishing in the feeling of my pillows under me.

I breathed slowly. My mind was entering back into dreamland, and unsurprisingly, Ross appeared there. He usually appeared in my dreams a lot because he was my best friend. He walked over to me, saying, "You have to get up, Laura."

"But, Ross," I whined, throwing my head back onto my pillow. I snuggled into it again, sighing softly. "I need to sleep."

I jolted awake when I realized Ross was actually in my room. He stood next to the window, staring at something outside. I was totally not sleepy or even asleep now with him here. My whole body stood at attention because of him, making me fully awake now.

"What in the world are you doing here?" I asked softly, wondering if I was still dreaming or not.

He turned around with his crooked smile, sending shock waves crashing through my heart. He threw something at me, and I barely dodged in time. I was not dreaming. This was real life. I just didn't understand what he was doing here.

"What was that?" 

"Do you always wake up with many questions?" he asks, chuckling. Ross was acting like everything was normal between us, like he didn't ask his girlfriend to come and take my place at the beach. "I'm here to bring you to work. And I threw your uniform at you."

I patted around my bed and felt the soft fabric under my fingers. I groaned again. I definitely didn't want to go to work, especially with him. 

"What is wrong with you?" he asked me.

"I didn't go to sleep until one in the morning," I replied, slipping out of bed. I stumbled around and grabbed some pants and my towel. My drawer for my bras and underwear were empty, so I hunted around for some clean ones on my floor.

"Why didn't you go to sleep earlier?"

I shrugged, not facing him. I didn't want to admit that I spent at least an hour fantasizing about me being in Jaz's place or me thinking about how bad Ross had hurt me. "I watched a movie."

"What movie?"

"No idea. It was a TV movie." I finally found some clean bras and underwear, so I picked them up, stuffing them under my work shirt and pants. "I have to hop in the shower."

"I'll stay here."

I started to exit my room when I popped my head around the corner. He was already laying down on my bed, scrolling through his phone. "Does my mom even know you're here?"

"Of course. Do you think I would sneak in just to see my best friend?"

"It wouldn't be the first time."