SHATTERED

forty-two

alex

i let out a low groan as i woke up with a headache. i buried my face into my pillow with a slight pout as i tried to fall back asleep, but it was no use. i let out a deep sigh, and i turned on my side.

immediately, i spotted saylor. she was on the balcony, and she was on the phone, talking to someone. memories from last night started to flood my mind as i looked at her, and my face went pale. i groaned again, and i buried my face back into my pillow after hitting my head against it a few times.

kms.

i laid there for a while, now with an even worse headache. i thought back to the less embarrassing parts from last night.

i moved over to saylor's bed. i placed my hands on the mattress, right in front of her, as i kneeled on the ground. i looked up at her.

"you're annoying; you know that?" i continued to narrow my eyes at her.

"so you say," she teased.

i still looked at her with a mildly annoyed facial expression. she caught me off guard as she reached out and combed my hair back, which was in front of my face. my brows knitted together as she did so. when she curled a piece of hair behind my ear, my mouth opened slightly, and i looked at her in awe. she was so gentle with it, and it felt so... nice.

i watched as her cheeks started to turn pink. she poked her finger into my forehead, and she gently pushed me away. i fell back a bit as my face scrunched up, and she turned away from me.

"we should go to sleep; it's getting late," she mumbled.

"right," i trailed off with furrowed brows.

i slowly stood up. i walked around to the foot of my bed, and i fell onto it, face down. i spread out into a starfish-like position. within no time at all, i fell asleep.

i played over in my mind the part where she combed my hair out of my face. even last night, it shocked me how gentle she was while doing it. she had this faint smile played on her lips as she did it.

i've honestly forgotten how nice it feels to have someone be so caring and gentle with me.

i rolled over onto my back, and i rubbed at my face as i let out an annoyed groan at myself; annoyed that i said what i did last night, and annoyed that i am and have been having thoughts like that.

no fucking way am i catching feelings for saylor... i haven't felt like this about anyone in over eight years now. it's weird.

i don't like it.

i heard the balcony door open. i glanced over to see saylor walking back into the room. she met my eyes, and she gave me a knowing look. i let out a huff as i rolled back over and buried my face into my pillow once more. she let out a quiet giggle.

"how are you feeling?" she asked.

"like shit. go away," i grumbled. "my head is killing me."

"oh, but you're with a pretty girl, so you should be good, right?" she asked. just from the tone of her voice, i could tell that she had a shit eating grin on her face.

"i will literally murder you," i threatened as i kept my face buried into my pillow.

"but then you'll have to do without my giggles," she continued to speak in a teasing tone.

i grabbed the other pillow, and i turned around as i threw it at her. she held her arms up to block it, and she let out a loud laugh as it hit her and fell to the ground.