Rhys's thumb hovered over the send button, his eyes scanning the message he'd just typed. Heading over to the condo now. He'd sent it hours ago, expecting a quick reply, a confirmation that she was awake and ready for his company. But his phone remained stubbornly silent. The last message he'd received from Heather was a brief update sent from the exam venue, informing him that she was heading home with her classmates.
A frown creased his forehead. Is she asleep? he wondered, his gaze fixed on the blank screen. The silence was unusual, especially after such a demanding day. He knew how much the exam meant to her, how much pressure she was under.
"Someone's eager," a teasing voice broke through his thoughts. Henry, his groupmate, was leaning against the practice room door, a knowing smirk playing on his lips. "I didn't think I'd see the day you'd stare at your phone waiting for a message from Heather." He chuckled, the sound echoing through the room.
Emmett, lounging on a nearby couch, joined in the teasing. "Yeah, Rhys. Don't think we haven't noticed you checking your phone every five minutes." He exchanged a mischievous glance with Jess, who was perched on the armrest of a chair.
"Looks like you've got it bad," Jess added, clapping Emmett's hand in a playful high-five.
Rhys simply smiled, a hint of amusement in his eyes. He slipped his phone into his pocket, deciding to ignore their playful jabs. He knew they were teasing him out of affection, but he was also eager to get to Heather. He'd just have to wait until they were done with the meeting about their upcoming album release, which was scheduled in a few weeks.
The meeting dragged on, the details of their new album release meticulously discussed and finalized. Rhys's mind kept drifting back to Heather, wondering if she was alright, if she had eaten dinner. Finally, around 11 PM, the meeting concluded, and Rhys wasted no time in heading to his car.
The drive to the condominium was quick, the late-night traffic minimal. He parked in the underground garage and took the elevator to Heather's floor. As he unlocked the door to her unit, a wave of quiet concern washed over him. The apartment was dark, the only light coming from the faint glow of the city outside the windows.
He entered her bedroom, his eyes adjusting to the dim light. The sight that greeted him made him sigh with a mixture of exasperation and affection. Heather's worn clinical uniform lay scattered on the floor, a testament to the day's grueling ordeal. He shook his head, a small smile playing on his lips, and picked up the clothes, carefully placing them in the laundry basket.
He turned his attention to the bed, where Heather lay sprawled across the mattress, clad only in her undergarments. This girl never changes, he thought, his heart warming at the familiar sight. He sat on the edge of the bed, the mattress dipping under his weight, and gently shook her arm.
"Heather, wake up," he said softly, his voice laced with concern. "Have you had dinner?"
Heather groaned, her eyes fluttering open for a moment before closing again. "Let me sleep some more…" she mumbled, swatting his hand away. She pulled a pillow close, hugging it tightly, and rolled onto her side.
A few seconds later, she shifted uncomfortably, the underwire of her bra digging into her skin. Without fully waking, she reached behind her back and unhooked the bra, tossing it onto the floor.
Rhys, caught off guard by the sudden movement, immediately looked away, his face flushing crimson. He coughed, trying to regain his composure, and stood up, heading to Heather's dresser. He rummaged through the drawers, finding a loose, oversized shirt. He returned to the bed, and with his eyes tightly closed, carefully slipped the shirt over Heather's sleeping form.
He then went to the bathroom, splashing cold water on his face, trying to calm his racing heart. Just breathe, he told himself, taking a deep breath. She's asleep. It's fine.
After a few minutes, he felt his composure returning. He stepped out of the bathroom, removing his own shirt and pants, leaving only his boxers on. He then slipped into bed beside Heather, pulling her close and hugging her from behind. The warmth of her body against his was comforting, and he closed his eyes, finally allowing himself to relax. He'd make sure she ate something in the morning.
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The insistent buzz of her alarm clock pierced the lingering haze of sleep, dragging Heather back to consciousness. Still groggy, she instinctively reached for her phone, her hand groping across the rumpled sheets. Not finding it, she cracked open her right eye, a sliver of light revealing the phone's illuminated screen on the bedside table.
She stretched, her fingers reaching for the device, but she stopped mid-reach, an unexpected resistance halting her movement. She opened both eyes, her gaze falling upon Rhys's arms, wrapped snugly around her waist.
A soft smile touched her lips. He looked peaceful, his dark hair slightly disheveled, his breathing deep and even. She tried to gently loosen his hold, but his grip tightened instinctively, a silent protest against her movement. "Rhys," she whispered, gently tapping his arm. "I need to get my phone."
A low groan rumbled in his chest, and his arms loosened slightly, allowing her to reach for the phone. She silenced the alarm, the time displayed on the screen: 3:05 AM. Too early, she thought, a wave of exhaustion washing over her. But I need to get up. I have to review.
Carefully, she peeled Rhys's arms away, placing them gently on the bed before sliding out of the warm cocoon of the covers. The cool air sent a shiver down her spine. She gathered her hair into a messy bun, securing it with a hair tie, and slipped out of the bedroom, heading towards the bathroom. A splash of cold water on her face helped to chase away the last vestiges of sleep.
She made her way to the study table, the scattered notes and textbooks a stark reminder of the day ahead. She settled into her chair, opening her review materials, and began to delve into the remaining subjects.
The warmth beside him had vanished, leaving a sudden chill in the bed. Rhys stirred, his eyelids fluttering open. He reached out instinctively, his hand searching for Heather's familiar warmth, but found only cool, empty sheets. A frown creased his forehead. He sat up, his eyes scanning the room, but Heather was nowhere to be seen.
A flicker of concern sparked within him. He glanced at the bedside table, his phone lying face up. He picked it up, the screen illuminating his face, revealing the time: 5:45 AM. He swung his legs out of bed, a sense of urgency propelling him forward. He padded softly towards the bedroom door, finding it slightly ajar, a sliver of light spilling into the room.
He stepped into the hallway, his eyes following the faint glow emanating from the study area. There, bathed in the soft light of the desk lamp, sat Heather, her brow furrowed in concentration, her eyes fixed on the open textbook before her.
The soft creak of the bedroom door opening broke her concentration. She glanced up, finding Rhys standing in the doorway, his eyes still heavy with sleep. "Heather?" he mumbled, his voice thick with sleep.
She looked up, her eyes widening slightly as she registered his presence. "You're awake already?" she asked, swiveling her chair to face him. "You can sleep some more."
Rhys walked towards her, his bare feet padding softly on the cool floor. He knelt in front of her, wrapping his arms around her waist, settling comfortably between her legs. "No, that's okay," he said, his voice muffled against her stomach. "I'll make us breakfast. Just let me stay like this for a sec."
Heather gently patted his head, a wave of affection washing over her. Just then, her stomach let out a loud growl, the sound echoing in the quiet apartment. Rhys chuckled, lifting his head to look at her. "Looks like someone's hungry," he teased, his eyes twinkling.
Heather blushed, a sheepish grin spreading across her face. "Yeah, I am," she admitted, pinching his cheeks playfully. "I woke up early to review, so I'm starving."
"Alright, alright," Rhys said, standing up. "I'll go prepare breakfast."
"Just make something simple," Heather called out as he headed towards the kitchen. "I'll take a quick shower."
"Sure thing," Rhys replied, his voice echoing from the kitchen.
Heather took a quick, invigorating shower, the warm water washing away the remaining sleepiness. She dressed in her clinical uniform, her movements efficient and practiced, and styled her hair into a neat bun.
As she entered the dining room, the tantalizing aroma of bacon, eggs, and fried rice filled the air. Rhys had set the table, their plates filled with a delicious breakfast, glasses of orange juice waiting beside them.
"Smells good," Heather said, taking a seat. "Thank you for the meal, Rhys."
"You're welcome," he replied, his smile warm and genuine.
They ate in comfortable silence, the shared meal a quiet moment of connection before the day's challenges. After breakfast, they headed straight to the exam venue, the car ride filled with a mix of nervous anticipation and quiet encouragement.
After the exams, Heather checked her phone and saw a message from Rhys: "I'm here to pick you up. Same place where I dropped you off."
"Uhm… Guys, sorry, I can't come with you today," Heather said to her classmates, a hint of nervousness in her voice. "Someone came to pick me up."
"Your aunt?" one of her classmates asked.
"Your boyfriend?" another girl inquired, her eyes sparkling with curiosity.
"If it's your boyfriend, you should introduce us!" another chimed in.
"Yeah!" the group echoed, their voices filled with playful teasing.
"No, not my boyfriend," Heather said quickly, her cheeks flushing. "My best friend. I'll introduce you guys next time!" She offered a quick wave and hurried away, her footsteps echoing down the hallway, a mixture of relief and embarrassment washing over her. She knew she'd have to explain herself later, but for now, she was eager to see Rhys.