Chapter 35

                                    

                                          
Jackson POV:
The sunlight streaming through her window hit me first, and then her elbow, as she twisted in her sleep and jabbed me right in the ribs. I blinked, groggy, realizing my arm was still slung over her waist. Her soft curls were a mess across the pillow, her lips slightly parted as she breathed evenly. For a second, I just watched her, not even caring about the time. She looked peaceful, perfect even.
But then my eyes flicked to the clock.
"Shit," I muttered.
It was 9:47. We were so late.
"Amara," I said, nudging her shoulder. Nothing. "Hey, wake up."
She groaned, burying her face in the pillow. "What time is it?" she mumbled.
"Almost ten," I said, leaning back, already knowing her reaction was going to be funny.
Her eyes shot open, and she bolted upright, hair flying everywhere. "What? Are you serious?"
I couldn't hold back a grin. "Deadass."
"Why didn't you wake me up earlier?!" she said, scrambling to grab her phone.
"I literally just woke up," I said with a shrug.
She glared at me like I just ruined her whole life. "We're late! So late!"
She threw the blanket off and hopped out of bed, heading straight for her dresser. My eyes wandered because, well, how could they not?
"Quit staring," she snapped, catching me in the act.
"Can't help it," I said, leaning back on my elbows. "Seen it all already, haven't I?"
She grabbed a t-shirt and whipped it at my face. "Get out so I can change."
I just smirked. "Amara, it's not like I haven't explored every inch of that body already."
Her jaw dropped, and she threw another shirt at me. "Jackson! Out!"
"Alright, alright," I said, chuckling as I got up. "You're too fun to mess with, you know that?"
"Out!" she said again, shoving me toward the door.
I laughed, stepping out but not before tossing my shirt over my shoulder. "Don't take too long. We're already late.
A few minutes later, I was sitting on the bed scrolling through my phone when she walked back in, fresh-faced with her toothbrush in hand. She went straight to the mirror, brushing her teeth while glaring at me through the reflection.
"Still mad?" I asked, grinning.
She rinsed and spit before answering. "Mad? You let me oversleep by two hours!"
"I call it prioritizing your beauty rest," I said, leaning back.
She ignored me, tying her curls up into a messy bun and grabbing her bag. "Let's go. We're going to have to run to even make it for the last half of school."
"You're dramatic," I said, standing up and grabbing my jacket.
"And you're lazy," she shot back, heading toward the door.
"Still cute though," I said, catching up to her.
"Your ego is way too high".
Amara pov:
The second I stepped into the classroom, I could feel the eyes on me. Late, again. Great. Jackson was right behind me, of course, looking as unbothered as ever, like we hadn't just almost slept through half of first period.