He woke to early morning light filtering through his window. His phone alarm hadn't gone off yet, but his internal clock was adjusting to the new routine of morning runs.
Sarah was still asleep beside him, her red hair spread across his pillow, her face relaxed. She looked younger like this, vulnerable in a way she never allowed when awake.
Eric propped himself up on one elbow, studying her. Last night had changed things irrevocably. There was no pretending this was just physical, not after everything they'd talked about, everything they'd shared.
'I'm dating Sarah Sterling,' Eric thought, the reality settling in. 'Rafe's sister. My friend. And somehow it feels right.'
He leaned down, pressing soft kisses to her face. Her forehead, her cheeks, the tip of her nose. Sarah stirred but didn't wake, making a small contented sound.
Eric slipped carefully out of bed, gathering his running clothes quietly. He dressed in the bathroom, checked his phone. 5:52 AM. Right on schedule.
The system notification appeared as expected.
‐‐‐
[New Quest Available]
Quest: Physical Foundation III
Objective: Walk, jog, or run a total of 5 kilometers
Rewards:
+10 DP
+30 EXP
+1 strength
+1 stamina
Failure Penalty:
Loss of Debauchery System
Time Limit: 24 hours
Accept Quest?
[Yes] [No]
‐‐‐
Eric accepted without hesitation. The routine was becoming familiar, almost comforting in its consistency.
He returned to the bedroom briefly. Sarah was still asleep, curled under his blanket, looking peaceful. Eric leaned down, pressing one more kiss to her forehead.
"Going for my jog," he whispered, even though she couldn't hear. "Be back soon."
He grabbed his keys, his phone, his earbuds, and headed out into the early morning.
The cool air felt good against his skin as Eric started his warmup walk. His body felt surprisingly good considering last night's activities. The stat increases were working wonders for recovery.
He transitioned from walking to jogging, finding his rhythm quickly. The streets were quiet, Stardale still mostly asleep.
Eric's mind wandered as he ran. Sarah in his bed. The conversation at dinner. Bianca's follow-up appointment tonight. His life was becoming increasingly complicated, threads weaving together in patterns he couldn't quite predict.
'But that's what makes it interesting,' he thought, his pace steady and controlled.
The distance tracker in his vision climbed steadily. 1 kilometer. 2 kilometers. 3 kilometers.
Back in Eric's apartment, Sarah's phone buzzed on the nightstand where she'd left it. The sound pulled her from sleep, her hand fumbling for the device.
Rafe's name on the screen made her eyes snap open fully.
She answered, her voice still rough with sleep. "Hello?"
"Hey, sis." Rafe's cheerful voice came through clearly. "Just checking in. You didn't come home last night. Everything okay?"
Sarah's mind raced. She glanced around Eric's bedroom, at her dress on the floor, at the rumpled sheets that still smelled like sex and Eric's cologne.
"Yeah, everything's fine," she said, sitting up and pulling the blanket around herself. "I just... I slept over at a friend's place. Lost track of time."
"A friend?" Rafe's tone turned suspicious. "What friend? Rachel's out of town, Jen's at that conference—"
"A different friend," Sarah interrupted. "You don't know her. Met her at volleyball practice. We were watching movies and I crashed on her couch."
The lie came easier than she'd expected. Sarah felt a twinge of guilt about deceiving her brother, but telling him the truth right now would create problems she wasn't ready to deal with.
'Eventually I'll tell him,' she promised herself. 'Just not yet. Not until Eric and I figure out what this actually is.'
"Okay," Rafe said, sounding mollified. "Just wanted to make sure you were safe. How did dinner with Eric go last night?"
Sarah's face flushed at the memory. "It went well. We talked. Cleared some things up."
"Good, good. He showed up then? I was worried when you said he was running late."
"He showed up," Sarah confirmed. "We had a good conversation."
They chatted for a few more minutes before Rafe had to go. Sarah ended the call and flopped back onto Eric's bed, staring at the ceiling.
'I just lied to my brother,' she thought. 'About spending the night at Eric's. About sleeping with him.'
But she didn't feel as guilty as she probably should have. Last night had been incredible, everything she'd wanted and more. She wasn't going to apologize for that.
Sarah pulled Eric's blanket closer, breathing in his scent, and smiled.
Meanwhile, Eric was nearing his fourth kilometer when he spotted a familiar figure ahead.
Pink hair catching the morning light. That same sleek black athletic bodysuit that left nothing to imagination. Zara Hughes, taking a break on a bench near the park.
Eric's pace quickened automatically, his heart rate jumping for reasons that had nothing to do with exercise.
She hadn't seen him yet, occupied with her water bottle and her phone. Eric debated running past, playing it cool, but his body had other ideas.
He slowed to a walk as he approached, his breathing elevated but controlled.
"We meet again," Eric said, coming to a stop near her bench.
Zara looked up, recognition and amusement flashing across her face. Those warm brown eyes took him in, noting his improved form, the way he wasn't dying like last time.
"Look at you," she said, her smile genuine. "Survived to run another day. I'm impressed."
"I'm full of surprises," Eric replied, trying for casual despite his racing pulse.
Zara's smile widened, promising possibilities.
And Eric realized his morning had just gotten significantly more interesting.