The Morning After
713 Words
CHAPTER 11
Leanne woke up to warmth.
Warmth… and voices.
“…She’s still asleep?”
“She drooled on me.”
“I did not.”
Silence.
Then Chris gasped dramatically.
“SHE’S AWAKE.”
Leanne’s eyes flew open immediately.
And the first thing she realized—
Was that her head was still resting on Chris’s shoulder.
The second thing she realized—
Carl, Ren, and Kai were all staring at them.
Leanne immediately sat up so fast she nearly fell off the bench.
Chris grabbed her arm instantly before she could.
“Careful.”
Too late.
Her face was already burning.
“Oh my gosh.”
Chris grinned proudly.
“You used me as a pillow.”
“I fell asleep!”
“And drooled emotionally.”
“I DID NOT.”
Ren adjusted his glasses quietly.
“…You absolutely did.”
“REN.”
Kai snorted softly while looking away.
Meanwhile Carl looked dangerously amused.
Leanne covered her face instantly.
“I’m transferring schools.”
Chris burst into laughter beside her.
“No you’re not.”
“Yes I am.”
“Nope.”
“Watch me.”
Chris leaned closer slightly with a teasing smile.
“You looked cute sleeping though.”
Leanne froze.
Then immediately shoved his face away.
“Stop talking.”
Chris laughed even harder.
Why was he enjoying her suffering this much?!
Then suddenly—
Kai looked toward the brightening sky.
“…It’s almost morning.”
Leanne blinked.
Morning?
They stayed outside that long?!
Chris stretched dramatically.
“The festival consumed our souls.”
“It consumed our sleep schedules,” Carl corrected calmly.
Ren sighed quietly.
“I have classes in three hours.”
“That sounds like a future problem.”
“You are the future problem,” Kai muttered.
Leanne smiled helplessly while standing from the bench carefully.
Her legs felt weirdly numb.
Probably because she accidentally slept sitting upright for who knows how long.
Chris immediately noticed.
“You okay?”
“Pins and needles.”
“Oh.”
Then suddenly—
Without warning—
Chris crouched slightly in front of her.
Leanne blinked.
“…What are you doing?”
“Get on.”
Silence.
Kai nearly choked.
Ren slowly lowered his book.
Carl looked concerned already.
Leanne stared at Chris in disbelief.
“…Excuse me?”
“You can barely walk.”
“I absolutely can.”
The moment she took a step—
Her legs almost gave up instantly.
Chris looked triumphant.
“Aha.”
“That was one time.”
“Lea.”
“What?”
“Get on before you fall dramatically.”
Leanne’s face immediately became warm again.
“Chris, people will see.”
“It’s literally sunrise. Everyone’s dead.”
“…That doesn’t make it better.”
Chris looked back at her and grinned.
“Are you shy?”
“No.”
“You’re blushing.”
“I hate you.”
“Get on.”
Leanne stared at him for another second.
Then quietly—
Very reluctantly—
She climbed onto his back.
And immediately regretted everything.
Because Chris laughed softly afterward.
“There we go.”
Why is his back so warm?!
Chris adjusted his hold on her legs carefully before standing normally.
Like carrying her weighed absolutely nothing.
Meanwhile the other three boys stared silently.
Kai looked weirdly annoyed.
Ren looked thoughtful.
Carl looked… complicated.
Then Chris started walking casually through the quiet academy pathways with Leanne on his back.
And somehow—
He looked completely comfortable carrying her.
Like it felt natural.
Leanne buried her face against his shoulder from embarrassment.
“This is humiliating.”
“You’re welcome.”
“That’s not what I said.”
Chris laughed again.
The soft morning sunlight slowly filtered through the trees around them while lanterns still swayed gently from the festival night.
Everything felt strangely peaceful.
Then quietly—
Chris spoke again.
“…I had fun today.”
Leanne blinked slightly.
“…Yeah.”
“I’m glad you came.”
The words sounded soft.
Honest.
And somehow—
Leanne’s heartbeat became stupid again.
Then Chris smiled slightly while continuing to walk forward.
“We should do things like this more often.”
And for some reason—
Leanne found herself smiling against his shoulder too.
- Writer
