But these are days we dream about,

when the sunlight paints us gold.

***

"Lexie, hey Lexie."

I groan softly, digging myself deeper in bed as I try to fight off the voice that is calling for me to wake up.

Suddenly I'm thrown to the side, the blankets violently ripped away from me.

"Get up Lexie."

I open my eyes to see Atlas there, standing over me.

"Atlas, it's," I gasp looking at the clock next to me, "It's almost 5:30 in the morning Atlas."

"I know. Now get up."

I stare at him a few seconds more before sighing and getting out of the bed.

He sits down, crossing his arms as I stand there, confused.

I hold out my arms, "Now what?"

He gives me a disbelieving face, "Get dressed."

I sigh and repress my groan, picking at random a black and white stripped dress with a red belt to match.

I emerge from the bathroom to find Atlas shaking his head, "No, put on pants. Something you can climb in." I press my lips together, not knowing if this much violence has ever been stored within my body before.

Following his words though, I take out a light green shirt and a pair of black and white polka dot capri pants.

Atlas raises an eyebrow at my outfit, "Are those pajama bottoms?" I throw my hands in the air.

"I won't change for a third time."

His eyebrows raise in surprise but he doesn't say anything more as he grabs my hand and leads me out the room.

I look at our laced fingers, a heat wave traveling up my arm from the contact.

The house is silent.

Anybody with half a brain would be asleep now.

Atlas leads me outside, opening the passenger door to his truck for me.

"Is this the date? It's already started?" I look down at my outfit, wondering if I should have changed for a third time.

"Yes."

I glance at the house as we drive away. So much for changing.

We drive in silence for almost ten minutes before Atlas turns off the main road, and onto a small dirt one.

Slowly he comes to a stop.

"Come on," he holds his hand out, helping me to the ground as he closes the door behind.

And then we walk.

I say a silent thank you to Jay for putting some small muscle on me within the short week I was with him.

However after a few minutes of climbing up hill, I'm breathing hard, trying to remember Jay's words of 'in through the nose- out through the mouth.'

Atlas glances back at me and sighs.

"We won't make it at this rate."

I look up in confusion, but before I can say anything he grabs me, tossing me over to let me hang onto his back.

"Wha-, Atlas!"

He ignores my cries and presses onwards, up and up the trail, no sign of heavy breathing or exhaustion with my added weight.

"Geeze, I'm going to pretend all this weight is muscle you gained this week."

Without thinking I smack the back of his head soundly.

"Did you just hit me?"

I gasp at my own actions, staring at my bold hand. "Um..."

I feel Atlas's frame shake as he laughs.

"I swear Lexie."

I feel a smile tug at my lips.

It's uncomfortable the way I'm pushing myself up, away from him. So instead I don't fight it.

I lean against him, letting my chin rest against his shoulder, and my arms encircle his neck.

He takes a deep, shuddering breath, "I swear Lexie."

I try to ignore the feel of skin against skin. I hate the feel of skin against skin. But something about the way Atlas's skin feels. Something about his smell. Everything really about his body- it's designed in a way to lure me in and make me feel safe.

After several more minutes of walking, Atlas slows, the top within sight.

And that's when I realize what he's doing.

"Oh...," I gasp in wonder at the rising sun that's before us. The colors of winter morning blue, pale green, various shades of yellow and pink. All together. All gloriously together.

Atlas gently sets me down, pulling out a case from his pocket. I didn't notice he was carrying it before, but now I see as he opens it, that it contains a small camera.

"What are you doing?"

I'm curious about what Atlas has planned. What his mind has come up with for this day that he is excited about.

Because he is excited.

I can tell, through the hum of his body and the way his eyes eagerly look at me, flickering back and forth from the sunrise to the camera.

He is excited.

"I'm going to take a picture," to confirm his words he raises the small camera, snapping the small button down to capture the shot.

"And then I'll print them. And you can use them later as ideas for your paintings."

I stand there stunned.

"You mean....you're going to let me....paint the pictures?"

He turns to me, a full smile on his face. I want to take the camera from him and snap that. I want to capture that smile.

Without thinking again, my hand reaches for the object and I raise it to my eye, taking in and focusing his features, before seizing his smile.

It falters as he looks at me, "Why did you do that?"

I shrug and hand the camera back to him, "I want to paint you also."

I like being honest with him.

I like revealing my thoughts to him.

His face turns dark as he sits down on the outlook. I sit next to him, watching the colors become more vibrant with the sun.

"You don't have to paint me."

"But it's all I can think about."

He looks to me then. The way the light hits his hair, creating a halo effect- it takes my breath away, and I find myself wanting to take another photo. Find myself thinking that the male sitting next to me is more glorious than the sun.

"You said I was beautiful."

I nod, leaning in to get more of his scent. His scent of pine wood and honey.

"I think you are beautiful also."

The words leave me breathless as he leans in, closer and closer, his eyes focused on mine. I shiver as his hand cups the back of my neck.

"Beautiful," he whispers, his breath falling upon me. And then it's his lips that are falling upon mine. I gasp from the contact.

Blinding.

It's all I can explain.

It's a light that is so clear, so pure, so blasting and consuming- I don't have time to think of the darkness inside me. Don't have time to think of my fear.

I have no room for thought as his lips capture me. Hold me.

He pulls away, his eyes wide and I realize I'm clinging to his arms, using them like they are my anchor.

"Don't be afraid Lexie."

His words break something unknown in me. Break a barrier I did not even realize I was holding and before I can speak he is on me again, his lips filling up my own. My heart. My mind. My soul.

They break off, and trail down. Like a sunset. Down like the sun dipping into the earth. Following the path of my skin as he places feather light kisses along my neck. My pulse. My collar.

I can't breathe.

I'm to absorb, to consumed in him.

I gasp as his lips leave my skin. I'm still clinging to him. Still holding onto him.

His eyes are soft. Warm.

Not the hard edge I've seen this week. Not the ice blue I've dealt with throughout these days.

Instead they've melted, revealing a warmth of blue fire underneath.

"Come on," he stands, bringing me with him, "There are more places for us to see. And I plan to kiss you at each one."