Monday morning arrived too early, the alarm shattering the peaceful silence at 6:30 AM.
Luca groaned, reaching blindly to silence it, every part of him protesting the return to routine.
Beside him, Noel was already stirring of course he was shifting from sleep to wakefulness with that efficiency Luca both admired and resented.
"Morning," Noel mumbled, voice rough.
"It's not morning. It's still night."
"It's 6:30."
"Exactly. Night."
"We have to get up."
"Do we though?"
"Yes." But Noel wasn't moving either, still lying there, warm and comfortabl.
They stayed like that for another moment neither quite ready to surrender the last traces of their break.
Finally, Noel sighed and sat up. "Come on. If we don't get up now, we'll be late."
"Would that be so bad?"
"Yes."
"You're very responsible."
"Someone has to be."
Luca watched him get out of bed, stretching, moving toward the bathroom.
Even half-asleep and rumpled, Noel looked unfairly put-together.
