Perseverance

Chapter Thirty ~ May

When I start to regain consciousness, I'm instantly aware of the chill in the air, the morning air flowing in through the open window. Shivering, I become acutely aware of the weight around my midsection, furrowing my eyebrows before I finally open my eyes.

My gaze instantly falls onto Ellis, his eyes shut, a peaceful look on his face as he sleeps, low and shallow breaths leaving his mouth. His face is gorgeous, not a single blemish, and I take the opportunity to take in every part of it; the tanned skin, dark, long eyelashes, five'o'clock shadow. I'm in awe.

Not that I would ever admit that to him.

We must have passed out last night, my sobbing having taken up a good hour. Ellis held me the entire time, reassuring me that I will never be alone through all this, that he'll help me recover from it.

Ending up on the bed, my head had rested atop his chest, his fingers gently brushing through my hair, something that I always thought I'd hate, yet ended up loving. What's happening to me?

I smile at the sight of him asleep, the picture instantly becoming one of my favorites ever. He has no worries right now, he's in his own world, and he's safe. Just like Savannah, he deserves only the best.

It's in this moment that I realize how hard he's tried from day one. Sure, his methods were never exactly romantic, they never achieved their desired goal, but I know that he didn't know how to be any other way.

We're both players, both eating our way through hearts. To admit that we wanted more was unknown and completely abnormal for us.

But Ellis never wavered in his attempts to be with me. He kept trying, sometimes failing, sometimes making mistakes, but never giving up.

And here we are. The freaking womanizer and the maneater, giving it all up just to be with one another. Who knew?

His eyelids suddenly flutter before they open slightly, pale blue orbs looking at me. "What you looking at, weirdo?" He smirks, turning onto his back and stretching his arms up.

"Just the creep in my bed," I retort with a grin, perching up on my elbow. He turns to look at me, narrowing his eyes.

"You're the one who invited me in."

"Maybe I regret it." I shrug. Ellis reaches over, grabbing hold of my waist and yanking me towards him, pulling me over his body so that I'm straddling him.

"I beg to differ." He scoffs, grinding his morning wood against my core. My breath catches in my throat.

"Beg for whatever." I smirk. "I won't give in."

"Last time you said that I think I fucking won," Ellis reminds me, and I laugh.

"No! You just wore me down!"

"I'll take it." He grins before leaning up, capturing my lips with his own. The kiss starts slow, a delicate peck before we both part our lips, leisurely opening the gates to explore each other further.

Best morning ever.

*~*~*

Slowly grazing the pencil along the page, I outline the skirt I've already finished, trying to decide how to detail the hemline. I bite my lip, crossing my legs as I lift the notebook closer to my eyes, soaking in every line I've drawn, every inch of the skirt so far. Is it good? I don't have a clue anymore.

"How's it going?" Ellis asks from the other bed, him having chosen to use Sav's to watch TV, free from the scatterings of paper all over my own bed.

I tried to convince him to go home, that I would be okay on my own. He had disappeared, for all of half an hour, before he turned back up with a shopping bag full of a few clothes and a notepad and pencil for me to continue doing 'what I love'.