Chapter 1

HER MUSIC IS ALREADY PLAYING, feet pad along the carpet as she dances to her favorite playlist. I should get up and join her… nah… I should just watch.

The rising sun casts streams of light over her as she swishes her hips and turns. Her arms reach toward the ceiling, perfectly displaying the two black outlined stars on the front of her shoulder. Her eyes are closed, her long dark hair spilling over her shoulders and down her back. She has a cup of tea in her hand, the one with the Eiffel tower on it and Paris written across it. Pumpkin spice fills the air as she carries her cup back and forth. Her eyes open and smiles when she sees me.

“Morning.” She plops down onto the bed and offers me a cookie.

“Isn’t it too early for sweets?” I ask, as she waves the cookie back and forth in front of me.

“Nope.” Her smile widens “not when you have tea.” She sips her tea. Her reddish-brown lipstick leaves a perfect print of her lips on the rim of the cup.

“You’ve already got your make up on?” I grab my phone and check the time. “It’s only six.” I drop my head back onto the pillow.

“I know.” She nods, “The sun’s up.”

“Sun’s up so you’re up.” I roll my eyes. She always says that. I wrap my arm around her waist and slide her across the bed, just to hold her against me. She giggles, holding her cup steady as she eats her cookie, and everything is perfect. She is perfect.

“I love you, Lana.” I breathe in her scent and press my face into her back. She’s not floral like perfume. She just smells like Lana.

“I love you, Theo.” She sips her tea, and her fuzzy pajamas are soft against my face.

God, I love this girl. I hold her tighter. I don’t want to let her go when she taps my arm and wiggles to escape my grasp.

“Up, let’s go.” She spanks me.

“Too early for that.” I mumble, pulling the pillow over my head and leaving just enough room to watch her walk out.

“I’ll leave without you.”

“I’m up!” I close my eyes just for one… more… minute...

***

“Theo!” She snaps, ripping the blanket away from me. “Come on, let’s go.”

“Where?”

She’s already dressed. She dresses like a hipster. Her sweater is striped with black, grey, white, and yellow. Her jeans hug her curves perfectly, leading down to her heeled boots. She’s wearing her favorite black fedora, the one with the smaller brim. She extends a similar fedora to me.

“Match with me today.” She’s smiling. Matching is kind of cheesy, but if it makes her happy, I’ll do it. I’ll do anything to keep her happy.

“Did you pick my clothes out before or after yours?” I eye her from the blankets.

“Come find out.” She sets the hat down and tugs on my arm. “Let’s go.” She pulls on my arm. I sigh but help her drag me out of bed.

The smell of coffee is all I care about as I stir the instant grounds into my own mug. Lana is perched on the make-shift window seat in the corner as she sips on her second cup of tea. I take a seat at the table. It’s too early to be staring directly into the sun, but she loves it. It’s like she’s afraid of missing even a second of the sun.

Her eyes are closed when I look back at her. She’s feeling the sun on her skin, the warmth of the cup in her hand. She appreciates those things. I just appreciate her.

“What time are Alex and Shaina meeting us at the Café?” Lana doesn’t open her eyes, just angles her face the slightest bit towards me.

“Ten.” Her chest rises and falls as she breathes deeply.

“That sounds like we can fit an hour or two nap in before we go.” I suggest, drinking my own morning addiction.

“Or… We could go and explore the area around the Café and then meet up with them.” Her face never loses its relaxed expression.

“Or…we could explore afterward,” I suggest.

“You can take a nap.”

“Just me?” I love her curious nature, but she can be difficult to keep up with.

“I can explore on my own for a bit and meet up with you at the Café with Alex and Shaina.” There’s not a trace of annoyance on her face or in her voice right now. That’s another thing I love about her, she never holds a grudge.

“Fine.” I sigh. “I’ll come with you, but you owe me a donut.”

“I’ve got just enough for a donut.” She smiles, her eyes gliding open to look at me. Her eyes are this super dark brown. They almost look like the same color as her lipstick when the light shines directly on them.

“Alright then, I’m bought.” I take another drink, she goes back to watching the sun rise, and we don’t talk. I love that we don’t need to talk.

***

“Here here here!” Lana jumps onto the edge of a fountain and hands me her phone “Take a picture of me!” She’s always so excited. I raise the phone as she poses.

“You’re awfully excited about a fountain.” I laugh.

“It’s not just a fountain.” She smiles wide with her mouth open and her leg up, and I take another picture.

“The sun hits here so perfectly.” She raises her arms to the sky, and she spins. She never falls—

how does she never fall?

I take another picture because I want to look at them when I don’t have her next to me.

“Over here!” Lana jumps off the fountain’s edge and sits on a bench. She crosses her legs and holds her arms out in an exaggerated shrug, and I take another picture.

“Sit.” She orders, patting the seat beside her. I do, she wraps her arms around me, and I turn the camera on us. Hanging on my neck and shoulders, she sticks her tongue out and holds out a peace sign. I take another picture. She smiles at me, and I take another picture. I kiss her, and I take another picture. I love the way her lips feel against mine.

“It’s almost time.” She says against my lips. I pull her into my lap and take another picture.

“They can wait.” I manage not to break our kiss.

“It’s rude to keep people waiting.” She kisses me back and hops off my lap. She’s standing there, and she’s got that look on her face that says she’s feeling impatient.

“Life’s too short for waiting.” She grabs my hand, pulls me up, and we run down the street to the café. I love the way her hand feels around mine.