SHATTERED

forty-four

saylor

when i woke up the next morning, i sat up and stretched my arms out. immediately, i noticed that alex was no longer in their bed. their cover and sheets were thrown back from where they got out of bed, but didn't make the bed.

i glanced around, and i spotted them on the balcony. they had put on a pair of dark cargo pants and a band tee. they were on the phone with someone. they looked stressed and maybe even a little upset. as they spoke, they would glance down every so often and pull their shirt away from their self.

as i watched them for a moment, i remembered last night and how they had snapped at me for no reason. i let out a huff as i turned away.

all i did was ask if they were okay, because they seemed upset. there was no reason for them to snap at me like that.

i got up, and i walked to the bathroom to do my morning routine. after i was done, i walked back to my bed. i made the bed, but decided to sit on it and scroll through my phone for a bit.

after a while, alex walked back into the hotel room. "'morning," they greeted in a mumble.

i didn't reply or even look at them. they walked around the room, doing whatever.

"i'm about to go get breakfast at this place that jj showed me when i was here back in december, if you wanna, uh... you know," they offered awkwardly.

when i still didn't acknowledge them, they let out a deep sigh. the next thing i knew, they walked over, and they leaned over the bed, right in front of me. they grabbed my phone, and they set it on the bed. i let out an annoyed huff, and i turned away from them.

"look at me," they spoke softly as they lifted a hand, grabbed my chin between their index finger and thumb, and gently forced me to look at them.

i glanced down at their hand, which was still holding my chin. their other hand was flat on the mattress, beside my leg, to prop their self up. when i glanced back up at them, i noticed how close we were. similar to last night, i could faintly feel their minty breath fan out across my face, and i could smell the same cologne on them. their eyes were on mine. i could feel myself getting flustered from the close proximity, as well as the way they were looking at me.

"i didn't mean to, like, snap at you last night. i just," they stopped, and they let out a deep exhale. "i was dealing with some shit, and i shouldn't have taken that out on you. i'm sorry, angel. now, come get breakfast with me?" they raised a brow and tilted their head.

my eyes widened as i listened to them. i was surprised that they actually opened up, even if it was in the slightest amount. i was even more surprised that they actually apologized. to add onto all of that, when they called me angel, it still had the mocking tone to it, but it wasn't there nearly as much as it usually was.

and they actually wanted me to go out for breakfast with them.

"i was just checking on you," i pointed out and spoke just as soft as they did. my eyes scanned their face as i spoke.

"i know. i didn't mean it, alright?" they told me. we were silent for a moment. "are we good?"

i noticed the way their eyes searched mine as they waited for an answer. "yeah," i gave a small nod.

"good," a small smirk pulled at the corners of their lips. their thumb rubbed my chin briefly, and i watched as their eyes flitted down for only a second before they met my eyes again. "now, come have breakfast with me," they demanded, instead of asking, this time.

getting over my flustered state from their thumb rubbing my chin and our close proximity, i raised a brow. "and who said i wanted to go have breakfast with you?" i questioned in a teasing tone.