Forced to relax (2)

—1,028 Words—

Night draped over them like a second blanket, the dim glow of the TV casting flickering shadows across the tangled sheets. The discarded clothes on the floor were a silent testament to the unexpected turn the evening had taken.

Marco lay on his back, one arm curled around Alex's shoulders, her head resting against his chest. The quiet between them was comfortable, charged with the weight of what had just happened—what they'd just done.

Then Marco, ever incapable of letting silence linger too long, spoke.

"Didn't expect that," he murmured, fingers tracing idle circles on her bare arm.

Alex tilted her head slightly to look up at him. "Expect what?"

"You bein' a virgin. Well—former virgin, I guess."

Alex jolted upright, yanking the blanket around herself as she smacked his chest—hard. "MARCO!"

"Ow! Damn, okay—sorry!" He rubbed the spot, grinning despite himself. "Just sayin'! You're all smart and type-A, figured you'd have, like, a spreadsheet for this kinda thing—"

"Oh my God," Alex groaned, flopping back down and covering her face with a pillow. "You're insufferable."

Marco laughed, tugging the pillow away. "Nah, you love it."

Alex didn't dignify that with a response, but the flush on her cheeks said enough.

They lapsed back into silence, the air between them lighter now. Marco's thumb brushed over her knuckles.

"…You good?" he asked, quieter this time.

Alex exhaled. "Yeah. Just… processing."

"Fair."

A beat. Then, because Marco couldn't help himself:

"For the record? You're a natural—"

"I swear to God—"

He laughed, pulling her closer as she swatted at him again.

Eventually, the teasing faded, replaced by the steady rhythm of their breathing. Alex's eyelids grew heavy, her body curling instinctively into his warmth.

Marco watched her drift off, her lashes fluttering against her cheeks. With a soft smile, he reached for the remote and flicked off the TV, plunging the room into darkness.

"G'night, mami," he whispered, pressing a kiss to her forehead before settling in beside her.

———

Alex woke to the soft glow of morning light filtering through the curtains. For a moment, she was disoriented—this wasn't her room, her bed. Then the memories of last night came flooding back, and her stomach did a slow, nervous flip.

Marco was still asleep beside her, his back turned, the sheets tangled around his waist. The steady rise and fall of his breathing was the only sound in the quiet room.

Alex exhaled, staring at the ceiling.

What the hell do I do now?

Her mind raced.

Her phone was still at home.

She had no idea what time it was.

And—oh God—she and Marco had actually…

She squeezed her eyes shut. Okay. Breathe.

Carefully, she reached over to Marco's nightstand, where his phone lay face-down. She grabbed it, flipping it over to check the time—9:47 AM.

She also couldn't help but notice the 10 unread messages on his lock screen. She didn't snoop—wouldn't snoop—but her curiosity prickled. Who was texting him this early?

She set the phone back down and sank into the pillows, chewing her lip.

Should she stay? Would it be weird if she just… left? Was there some kind of rule about this?

Her thoughts spiraled—until a warm hand slid around her waist, pulling her back against a solid chest.

"Mornin'," Marco mumbled into her shoulder, his voice rough with sleep.

Alex tensed for half a second before relaxing into his touch.

Then—oh God—he pressed a lazy kiss to the back of her shoulder, his stubble scratching lightly against her skin.

"You think loud," he murmured, nuzzling into her hair. "Relax."

Alex let out a breath she didn't realize she'd been holding.

Right. Relax.

Easier said than done.

But as Marco's arms tightened around her, his breathing already slowing like he might doze off again.

They eventually untangled themselves from the sheets and the warmth of each other. Alex pulled on her oversized T-shirt, shorts, and underwear, while Marco tugged on a pair of sweatpants, his usual effortless swagger already back in place despite the early hour.

The morning routine was quiet—brushing teeth side by side in the bathroom, Marco making exaggerated faces in the mirror just to make her roll her eyes, Alex stealing his toothpaste because he somehow still used the bubblegum-flavored kind from childhood.

Back in his room, Marco shoved his feet into his sneakers, then rummaged through his closet before emerging with a pair of socks and an old, slightly scuffed pair of sneakers.

"Here," he said, tossing them to her. "From my 'short king' phase. They should fit."

Alex raised an eyebrow but pulled them on. They did fit.

"You just have spare shoes lying around for kidnapped girls?"

"Nah, just for you," he said, grinning. Then, after a beat, his tone shifted—just slightly. "…You regret it?"

Alex paused, lacing up the sneakers.

"No," she said finally, meeting his gaze.

Marco let out a breath she didn't realize he'd been holding. "Good. 'Cause I was kinda freakin' out that you'd wake up and be like, 'Wow, worst mistake of my life,' and then I'd have to, like, fake my death and move to Peru."

Alex snorted. "Dramatic."

"Yeah, well." He shrugged, but the relief in his eyes was real. "Didn't wanna ruin this."

"You didn't," she said softly.

———

The car ride was easy—windows down, music low, the kind of comfortable silence that didn't need filling.

"So," Marco said, drumming his fingers on the wheel. "We doin' this again, or…?"

Alex smirked. "Depends. You gonna kidnap me every time?"

"Only if you're being boring."

"Noted."

They lapsed back into quiet, but it was different now—lighter, like something had settled between them.

When they pulled up to her house, Marco killed the engine. Alex hesitated, then leaned over and kissed him—quick, but sure.

"Good luck on your test," he murmured against her lips.

"Thanks," she said, pulling away. "Don't miss me too much."

"No promises."

She rolled her eyes but was smiling as she climbed out.

Inside, Alex took a deep breath. The house was quiet—her parents at work, Haley and Luke nowhere to be seen.

Right. Test tomorrow.

She grabbed her books, sat at her desk, and flipped them open.