Afterlight ✔️

chapter thirty

— Jay Bieber

I woke up to the sound of birds chirping outside. I had to do a double take in order to see where I was. It was still mostly dark out, except for the faint glimpse of the sun, which was beginning to rise. To the right of me was a beauty, resting her head on my chest, her arms wrapped tightly around me. I smiled softly to myself, gently caressing her cheek. Despite where we were, despite what she was wearing, despite the faint lines of makeup present under her eyes, she looked stunning. I sighed to myself. Since when did I become so soft and emotional?

I watched her intakes of breath, steady with the faint chirping of the birds. Annoying little fucks. The moist air had occupied the environment inside of the car, causing me to let the windows up.

I was confused as hell about how we got into this situation. I sniffed my shirt, smelling the familiar aroma of marijuana. I didn't remember falling asleep here, I didn't remember numerous things that happened last night, for that matter. But I guess I had smoked with Chloe, just a few hours ago. Finding out it was going to be her last time with me, I had to do everything I possibly could with her, in such a short amount of time. I needed to be with her, just until we could see each other again.

I started to slowly remember bits of last night. I chuckled, remembering her coughing fit after taking her first hit. So innocent. Who would have thought someone like me would end up with someone like her? Someone so pure and beautiful I wasn't worthy for.

I didn't know how much she'd miss me, but I knew in my heart, I sure was going to miss her. Possibly a little too much. Maybe she would go along with the rest of her life just fine, back home in California, find herself some stable guy. Where she belonged. Me, however? I couldn't imagine not spending everyday with this insanely astonishing girl. Life without her would be terrible, unbearable almost, which scared the shit out of me. The thought of me needing her more than she needed me, and the thought about the possibility of her just taking off, leaving me behind, I wasn't used to this feeling. This stinging pain in my heart; what was it?

I peered at my dashboard of the car to see it was about 5:30AM. I sighed to myself, knowing she had to leave in a few hours. Regardless, I wasn't letting her go without a fight. She meant way too much to me for me to just let her walk out like none of this meant anything to me. I couldn't let her leave me behind, not after we were starting dating just recently.

Taking a deep breath, I gazed over at Chloe, taking in her beauty. I loved to watch her sleep. It was one of the most beautiful things anyone could ever possibly experience. There, I was being soft again. In all honesty, though, how the hell did I get so lucky? Why would someone like her, ever want anything to do with someone like me? I never imagined she would, but I couldn't be more grateful. I took all of her immaculate beauty in, glancing at the clock once more, realizing I had to get her back to the hotel before Brad shit himself when he woke up and she wasn't in her in the room.

Being in this car all night was an escape – a break from the outside world.

But now, it was back to the realness of the situation we were in, or reality could catch up with us, fast.

"Babe?" I caressed her cheek softly. She didn't answer. I began to shake her with my left hand slightly. "Chloe, wake up." She didn't move. I grinned, thinking of a different way to wake her. I began to peck moist kisses all over her face and neck. I flicked my tongue in random places, watching her squirm around in her seat.