I woke up much later than usual on Sunday morning. Last night I hadn't bothered to set an alarm, figuring that I deserved to sleep in. I took the day off from work, so I had all day to lounge around the house.
Plus... I could feel today was going to be a good day.
I checked my phone, still in bed, and saw a lovely message from Aiden. Despite his busy work schedule, he still made time to send me long texts once in a while. They almost felt like diary entries as he detailed what he'd done for however long he hadn't messaged me. It always made my day.
I got up and got dressed into my usual: a t-shirt and jean shorts. I left my hair loose and decided to wear contacts today instead of my glasses. I hated contacts, but I liked how I looked without glasses sometimes, for a change. And today, I wanted a change.
River was on the couch, playing his PS4, when I came out of the bathroom after getting ready for the day.
"Good morning," he called, not looking away from his video game.
"Good morning!" I replied. I went over to the fridge and got some cereal for breakfast. It was already 11 a.m. Did I really sleep that long?
---River's POV---
I glanced over at Holly. She was wearing cute jean shorts today with flowers on the pockets. And then she turned around, and I noticed she didn't have her glasses on. Contacts? With or without glasses, she was pretty.
I turned back to my game, not wanting my thoughts to continue past that.
I was feeling a lot better. I got a nice amount of sleep, and now, I was shooting zombies. What could be a better Sunday morning?
Holly ate cereal at the table as I continued my zombie rampage. I heard her put her bowl away and start washing the dishes.
"I was going to do those," I said, suddenly dropping the controller and hurrying over.
"It's okay, you're busy freeing the land of zombies," she said with a grin.
"No, really," I said. I stood next to her at the sink. "I can help."
"Fine," she said with a sigh, handing me the bowl she had in her hands. "There's not much to do."
"I'll still help."
BANG BANG BANG.
I jumped slightly. Holly whipped around.
"Was that...?"
BANG BANG BANG.
"Holly Bear! I know you're awake because you answered my texts! Open up!"
Holly faced me with wide eyes as though she'd been caught red-handed.
"My friend," Holly breathed. "What do we do?"
"Oh, it's unlocked," I heard her friend say from outside the door.
The door handle turned. The door creaked.
"Your door was unlocked! I hope you don't mind that I—"
A girl wearing all black with red streaks in her hair came through the door. Following her was a guy dressed in a flannel shirt, freckles darting across his face.
The girl stopped. Her jaw dropped as her eyes met mine.
"Alice? James?!" said Holly. She ran to her friend as I stood at the sink. "You know I love you guys and would normally let you in, but WHY DIDN'T YOU WAIT?!"
"Happy birthday!" said James, revealing a cake from behind his back. The candle had burnt out.
"We were surprising you..." said Alice, still staring right at me.
YOU ARE READING
The Space Between Us
RomanceHolly Turner hopes her senior year of college will go the same as the others: uneventful and under the radar. Nothing could have prepared her for the most popular guy on campus, River Alves, becoming her roommate. River may be more than he appears...