Defining Normal | EMBRY CALL

Sunrises

Lex awakes in a pool of her own sweat and a raging headache that feels as if one of those creepy carnival monkeys is clapping its cymbals down upon on her temples. She squeezes her eyelids together tightly, trying to tamp down the nausea that threatens to spill over. When Kim had suggested they have a night in on the Rez, she was picturing movies and popcorn and an early bedtime; she wasn't expecting the liquor, and the liquor definitely wasn't expecting her. Ugh . And Quil - how could she say no to that perfectly disarming smile, that infectious booming laughter that somehow managed to put her at ease? Kim and Quil were a dangerous combination, but it was only fair to admit that she was entirely complicit, at least after the first few drinks. Letting her guard down, actually speaking without excessively thinking beforehand, was thrilling in a so-not-me kind of way. She's envied Kim's confidence countless times over, and so what if all it took was a few gulps of dubious bathtub moonshine to achieve? Lex will definitely have to thank Quil for introducing her to that later. But first, food, if only to settle her ever-turning stomach.

She attempts to stretch, restlessly shifting on the couch, frowning when her body makes contact with another. Did she pass out with Kim last night? Lex opens her eyes, groggily blinking away the sleep that clouds her vision. It's so bright in here, too bright, but when she turns her head, she suddenly wishes she'd kept her eyes shut. Lex blinks once, twice, three times, as if it'll help her make sense of what she's seeing. Because somehow, she's seeing Embry snoozing on the edge of the couch, precariously balanced on the edge of the cushions, and she has half a mind to push him off. Maybe she should do that, pass it off as an accident, he'd never really know -

And then he's looking at her, those big brown eyes boring into hers, and she'd be lying if she said she didn't let out a squeak. He yawns, dragging a broad hand down his face, and she can't help the heat that creeps up from her collar. He's gorgeous, even more so in the warm winter sunlight that's streaming through the living room window, and it's like every speck of sunshine is clinging onto his features, illuminating his beauty in a completely distracting, overpowering, sort of way. His deep umber skin seems to glow in the morning light, a brilliant radiance that's almost calling for her to reach out and touch him, to properly appreciate the richness up close. She's painfully aware that she's staring at him, letting her eyes skim his features for far too long, but the way his eyelashes glint in the sunlight is totally unfair and entirely distracting.

His lips quirk up into a small smile - jesus, Lex, don't look at his mouth - that warms his entire face. "Good morning," he utters, so quiet she could have imagined it, and it's taking all of her composure to not shrivel up under the intensity of his undivided attention. He's still half asleep, but his eyes are roving her face, assessing and working on his usual project to try and figure her out. She could tell him, tell him that everything in her is screaming to kiss him, kiss him and then flee to never be seen again, but it's far too early for that kind of humiliation. Instead, she opens her mouth, expecting to say something friendly, normal, a simple good morning , but then she looks at him and the words fall out.

"You're touching me," she says, dumbly. It's true, sure, but it's quite possibly the single most embarrassing thing she could say. Okay, the second-most embarrassing thing. It's far too early to think about kissing him, even though she absolutely, definitely could right now, and isn't that a terrifying thought.

He lets out a small chuckle, a brief laugh that twitches his nose and crinkles his eyes that sends her brain into a tailspin of how can I make him laugh again? "Yes, I am. Is that okay?" he asks, his voice low and concerned, as if she's about to vault off the couch. She'd be lying if she said she wasn't thinking about it.

Is it okay? She can't let herself get in too deep, she can't fall for him, but there's nothing that says that friends can't cuddle on the couch. If it was Kim she wouldn't be thinking this hard about it; she'd be wrapping her arms around her right back if it came down to it. Yes, it's okay. They're friends, on the couch together, and that's okay.