Chapter 7 - Where you belong

Nex: Why are you struggling so much?

Celeste: Just like that 😌

Nex: Okay cool, let's go now.

Celeste: Here, hold these for me.

Nex: Wait—you handed me ALL the bags?! Seriously?!

Celeste (grinning): Well, if you're gonna walk with me, you might as well carry my stuff too 😎

(But just as Celeste finishes her sentence, she sees stars and wobbles like a cartoon character)

Celeste faints dramatically and lands straight on top of Nex.

Nex (panicking): What the—?! This is not funny, okay! I don't like this kind of joke!

Nex: Wait... she really fainted? Uh oh. Uh ohhh.

A Few Hours Later...

Celeste (groggy): Where am I... MOM?? Where's MOM??!

Nex (confused): Uh... hi? You're in the hospital.

Celeste: Oof. I remember little bits... like something breaking... 🧠💥

Nex: Apparently it was a heatstroke or something. You fainted right onto me like it was a trust fall gone wrong.

(Suddenly the mouse clicks—literally)

Celeste turns and sees that Nex had placed his laptop mouse on her chest.

Celeste (furious): EXCUSE ME?! Why the heck is your mouse on my chest?! 😡

Nex (panicking again): I was working while sitting beside your hospital bed! Multitasking, okay?!

Celeste: And you couldn't find anywhere else to put it?! 

Nex: I jus, "Why not use her chest as a mousepad?" 😂

Celeste: You're unbelievable. So you brought your laptop... to my hospital bed?!

Nex: Yeah, had to submit an office leave request online. No break for the weak!

Celeste: You literally used me as a desk 😑

Nex: ...Flat surface, don't blame me 😅

Celeste: WHAT DO YOU MEAN "FLAT SURFACE"!?!

Nex: Nothing! I meant...

Celeste: And why were you lying in the patient bed with me?!

Nex: Because my arms were tired! Holding your hand all night was not easy!

(Nurse enters)

Nurse: Okay, lovebirds. Time to discharge you both—Angel ward is that way ❤️

Nex: Yes ma'am! Finally, peace!

Next – Come on Celeste, you've rested enough.

Celeste – I even ate something… I think it was in a dream.

Celeste walks out and gets into the taxi.

Total silence. Like someone hit the mute button on both.

Normally, Celeste is a talking tornado, but today? Knocked out in the taxi like someone pressed "sleep mode."

Next (thinking) – "Finally. A peaceful ride that doesn't need subtitles."

They reach home. Celeste? Still asleep.

Next – "She must be awake now."

Celeste (half-asleep) – "We are home. Good."

Next – "Yeah... GPS says so too."

She walks in… and promptly falls asleep at the gate like a stray cat who chose that spot.

Next – "She's literally asleep on the welcome mat."

But she looked so innocent… like a giant sleepy baby.

And since it was nighttime and kinda creepy outside…

Next – "Great, now I have to carry her."

He lifts her –

Next – "She looks light… but this is gym-level weight."

Puts her on the sofa, sighs, and goes to sleep in the other room.

Midnight.

Celeste appears like a haunted whisper.

Celeste – "Nex…"

Next – "What happened? You hungry again or scared?"

Celeste – "I want to sleep with you."

Next – "Cool, I'll scoot over."

They lie down.

Celeste (softly) – "I don't know… whenever I'm with you, I feel… a little like I belong somewhere."

Too bad, Next was already in dreamland, snoring like he heard nothing.

Next morning.

Celeste wakes up and sees Next sleeping on the floor like a fallen pillow.

Celeste – "Why is this man sleeping on cold, empty floor?"

She stares at him. For like, a full minute.

Celeste (thinking) – "What am I even doing? Is this ? Or just really confusing sleepover rules?"

to be continue...