the girl with all of the choices

t h i r t y - f i v e

6633 words

december thirty-first- one year

I woke up feeling Draco's warm breath against the back of my neck. His arm was wrapped around my waist, aimlessly drawing designs onto my bare stomach as he slept.

Mum and Dad had gone out to dinner last night for their anniversary, so naturally, we took advantage of their absence.

I rolled over to face him gently, not wanting to wake him. Tonight would be a late night with the party, so I wanted him to get as much sleep as he could. I took some time to study his face on the pillow next to me as he slept.

Whenever we would fall asleep somewhere back at school, his face would always be scrunched into a scowl during his slumbers. But now, for the first time since the holiday started, he wasn't scowling in his sleep. His face was relaxed, for the most part, the only dissent coming from a few troubled lines on his forehead. He was content. The only other time I had ever seen him so content was when we were on top of the Old Astronomy Tower after the Yule Ball, staring up at the stars.

I carefully ran my fingers over the creases on his forehead, marvelling as they disappeared at my touch. He moved ever so slightly, so I quickly pulled my hand back. He settled, and I seized the opportunity to just watch him as he slept.

He really was beautiful. His pale skin was complimented by the sunlight streaming in through the window. His lips were bright pink, slightly swollen from the night before. He had the faintest hint of freckles on his cheeks, but they were so light in colour that they were barely noticeable. His eyes. They were perfect. We had been together for a whole year, and staring into them still managed to give me butterflies. The blue tones that came out in certain lights were absolutely breathtaking, but their grey outer appearance always reminded me of the stars. I hadn't even realized they were open, staring into mine.

"Like what you see?" he teased.

I felt my face flush and tore my eyes off of him, rolling onto my back so they could look at the ceiling instead.

He leaned over and kissed my neck, right below my ear, before making his way up to my check, eventually placing his fingers on my chin to direct my lips into his.

"Well good morning to you, too," I taunted.

"Woah, hold on. You started this. You were the one staring-"

"I was not staring-"

"Then what were you doing?"

"I was watching you sleep."

He chuckled. "That does not help your case, Addison. That is way creepier than just staring-"

"It was not creepy," I argued. "It was sweet-"

"Sweetly terrifying-"

"What do you want me to say then?" I asked in defeat.

"Nothing," he said, reconnecting his lips with mine. "Good morning."

"Good morning," I giggled back. I looked over to check the time. 9:30. "I have to leave soon."

"Why?" he asked.

"I have to meet with that University counsellor lady. Dad really wants me to go so Mum offered to go with me," I said quietly. "But I still don't want to. Plus, what are you going to do? I feel terrible leaving you here with my Dad."

"Don't worry about me," he said, wrapping his arms tighter around me. "I have plenty to keep me occupied. I don't want you and your parents to fight if you don't have to."