Clementine had become a wild child. Born in America but raised abroad, she now had little regard for the expectations of high society. But her reckless ways eventually catch up with her when she is kicked out of college in New York City and forced t...
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16
She woke up with the sunrise, literally. The sun was blazing into her eyes and she was shocked that she managed to doze off. She turned her eyes upwards and saw Zico, breathing evenly, also sleeping. She was lying on his chest, and didn't want to get up, but the headache she deserved was coming on and she knew she had to get home again soon.
She slowly rose up on her elbows, and marvelled at the sky. The sun peeking through the horizon, rising with every breath they took.
If she was honest with herself, she knew that this was not the smartest thing she has ever done, but it sort of felt like one of the greatest.
Staring at the sky, she thought about how many sunsets she's seen, and how many sunrises she's missed. Whether it was sleeping in or leaving some club already after the sun has risen, she realized how transcendent it could be. To get this close to nature.
She looked back at Zico sleeping beside her, and wondered if she should wake him up.
Before she did though, she paused to soak in the memory of last night.
Of them climbing to the roof, of him taking her dress of, of them...together.
Then she slowly reached out to touch him, shaking him gently awake.
"Zico," she murmured his name and his eyes slowly opened to meet hers. "The sky," she said simply.
She could tell Zico wanted to sleep more but she kept insisting, and he, rubbing his eyes and still somehow looking fantastic in the morning, smiled lazily when he saw what she was referring to.
He put his arm around her and they stayed there, still, not saying much.
By the time the sun got higher, she guessed it was around 6am, which left her without much time to get home before her parents could find out.
Zico himself stretched out, and asked her what her plans were.
"Sleep," she said laughing. This combination of sleep deprivation and him being close always made her feel a little bit high.
"Good idea," he said. He was sitting beside her now, his arms around his knees, somehow looking both peaceful and calm and determined at the same time.
At every separation, which Clementine could feel creeping in, she would always find herself getting washed over by al right anxiety, wondering when she would see him again. Yet, at the same time, there was also an unspoken calm to balance it out, some sort of inner knowledge that they somehow would see each other again.
Finally, Zico broke the silence.
"I have to go see some friends, get my keys." He looked over at her and suggested they get down saying he had to get there early too.
"I'd take you, but I promised them we'd do some things later, and you wouldn't be interested, I don't think." Zico said a little apologetically.
Clementine knew better than to inquire further and nodded.
"But hey, what about tomorrow? How about we meet up and, get a nice lunch see a movie or something," he talked as they descended the same fire escape that they climbed up just hours ago.
"Yeah, that sounds nice," Clementine responded to him.
When they got down to the ground and stood by the building, Zico checked his hand watch.
"Shit, I have to go. Are you gonna have trouble getting home?" He asked her.
Clementine looked around and realized she didn't fully plan this part through.
Not the best thing she has ever thought of, but it was well worth a shot considering how hard it was going to be to get a taxi, and the relatively low 'safety' that this area offered.
She dialled the number, and waited three rings before the voice on the other side picked up.
"Allo?" Ernesto's voice sounded groggy, like she just woke him up, and she probably did considering it was barely past dawn.
"Hey, Ernesto!" Clementine said in a high, slightly awkward voice.
On the other end of the line, there was silence as Ernesto stayed mum for a moment, as if to let it sink what she's done.
"What is it?" He finally asked, slightly annoyed.
"I know, this is kind of off the cuff and everything, but I really need you to pick me up from somewhere right now," Clementine's eyes then found Zico, "and a friend."
"A friend, huh?" Ernesto sighed loudly on the other side. "Where are you?" He asked, and she could hear movement on the other side.
"Where are we?" Clementine half mouthed to Zico, holding the phone to her chest so Ernesto wouldn't hear.
"Santa-Teresa," Zico offered casually.
But when she echoed those words to Ernesto, he repeated "Santa-Teresa?!" As if she was somewhere she shouldn't have been.
And she probably was.
"Okay, I'll be right there." Then Ernesto hung up and Clementine was left all alone in the middle of nowhere, it seemed.
They waited there for ab it, while Zico smoked a cigarette. Clementine didn't understand how he could smoke first thing in the morning, but she did't question that either.
Soon enough, she saw familiar headlights pull up on road were there weren't a whole lot of cars passing through the whole time they were there, and she knew it was Ernesto.
"Okay," Clementine said, facing Zico, "my ride is here."
"Okay," Zico said, "text me when you get home. I'm sorry, I need to leave."
He gave her a quick kiss and they interlaced their fingers, Clementine was desperate to hold on to the magic of that night, even if it was already starting to fade.
Then he disappeared into the morning, just as Ernesto pulled up.
She did't know what he saw, but she knew that this didn't look great. Or maybe it looked exactly like what it was.
Clementine got in the car silently, and as Ernesto looked here and down questionably, she only managed: "Please, just drive."
