I had never cared that I was an early riser but at that moment, watching Haydn sleep peacefully as her chest rose and fell, her loose hair spread around her as she pulled me closer in her sleep- I was convinced being an early riser was a superpower.

"I think I'm in love with you."

Her quiet whisper found its way into my mind as my heart clenched and an idiotic smile made its way onto my face and even though a doubtful voice said I imagined it I didn't care because I knew for a fact that I loved her.

I was hopelessly in love with Haydn Moreno, and I couldn't wait to tell her.

"What's got you grinning like an idiot for?" Haydn murmured after she opened one eye to glance at me before closing them again, snuggling closer to me as I spoke.

"You," I said honestly as I rested my head on my propped-up hand as the other gently traced the features of her face.

"Having flashbacks so soon? We can always just re-enact it." She smirked as I traced her lips, her teeth gently catching my finger as her golden eyes stared at me and I blushed.

"How about we take the performance to the shower?" I suggested and her eyes turned darker as she jumped out of bed and pulled me closer to the edge before she grabbed me and threw me over her shoulder as I laughed.

"HAYDN!" I screamed in laughter. "This is not what I meant!" I smiled as I wrapped my arms around her waist, so I didn't fall as she walked out of her room. I knew I wouldn't fall through, I trusted her, and my view of her ass wasn't too bad either.

"Have I ever told you, you have a great ass?" She asked as she walked into the white and grey bathroom.

"I think you failed to mention it." I huffed as she lightly smacked my ass before gently setting me on my feet, holding me steady as the dizziness wore off. "Good morning by the way." I teased and she grinned.

"Morning." She smiled as she leaned forward and kissed me gently.

"But we haven't brushed our teeth yet," I groaned against her lips, and she pulled me closer by my waist.

"I don't care." She replied as I kissed her back, smiling before we pulled away. "We'll get back to that." She winked before she crouched down and grabbed a spare toothbrush from the cupboard for me to use.

As Haydn and I brushed our teeth together in the mirror I couldn't help but wonder if I was looking at what a future would be like with her, kisses in the morning, showers together and lots of laughter- I wanted all of that with her, badly. Pushing my thoughts of the future out of my mind, I focused on the present and after I rinsed my mouth, I looked at our reflections, waiting for Haydn to do the same.

"I can't believe you're about to see me naked," I murmured as she turned around to look at me.

"What are you talking about? I saw you naked last night." She frowned as she turned on the shower to let it warm up.

"Yeah, but sex naked and normal naked are different." I blushed as I tied up my hair and she rolled her eyes.

"Baby, I l- literally think you're perfect." She fumbled, reassuring me as my heart fell in disappointment- I thought she was going to say something else.

"Of course, you do." I blushed as I rolled my eyes, instantly forgetting what we were talking about as she took off her shirt, leaving her in nothing but a pair of black underwear.

My mouth went dry when I saw her long black hair end just above her chest and she stepped towards me and grasped the bottom of my (her) shirt.

"Can I take this off?" She asked sincerely before I nodded, and she swiftly lifted the shirt above my head and dropped it to the floor. "So, fucking beautiful." She murmured and kissed me gently before she stepped back and took off her underwear before getting in the shower- I followed her.

The water was warm and welcoming but seeing my girlfriend dripping, with wet hair, was one of my new favorite sights. As I watched her reach for the shampoo, I grabbed her wrist and took it instead.

"Turn around," I whispered and as she did, I lathered my hands in her tropical smelling shampoo and massaged my hands into her wet hair.

As I worked my way through her hair, I didn't miss the way her head lulled back as her eyes closed and once, I was done I moved her under the stream of water and rinsed her hair completely before I grabbed her conditioner.

I repeated the process as I combed the conditioner through her hair and I loved how relaxed she became under my touch, her soft sighs music to my ears. I returned the favor as I massaged her scalp before I tied her hair in a top knot to let the conditioner soak in.

"Where's your loofah?" I asked softly, trying not to break the atmosphere as I grabbed the soap. Then, generously lathering the loofah, I gently washed her body, trying not to get distracted by her hidden tattoos or soft curves.

I thought I had been doing a good job until she turned around and I saw the tears in her eyes.

"Hey, hey, hey," I murmured as I put down the loofah and took her face in my hands. "Are you okay?" I asked gently but she shook her head before she hugged me tightly.

We stood like that for a few minutes before Haydn moved back and wiped her eyes, using the soap to wash my body and I helped her rinse her hair before we stepped out and wrapped ourselves in towels. The atmosphere was anything but sexual as she led me back to her room and we got dressed in silence after she gave me a shirt and sweatpants to wear. But, when she sat down on her bed to brush out her wet hair, I gently sat behind her and took her brush to do it for her and thankfully she let me.

"Sorry for getting emotional in the shower." She whispered as I slowly brushed through her damp hair.

"You don't have to apologize," I replied, stopping when she turned to face me.

"No, it's just that no one has taken care of me like that before, not my mother or Luis- I've never experienced that type of caring before." She said, her voice thick with emotion as she tucked her hair behind her ear.

"Haydn, I will always take care of you," I said making sure her golden eyes met my brown ones. "You're safe with me, and you always will be," I reassured her, and I watched her remain shocked for a few seconds before she replied.

"I love you." She whispered sincerely, pouring all her feelings in that three-word sentence and as the words registered in my brain my heart soared. I was so happy I felt like I couldn't breathe, my feet weren't touching the ground- the girl I am in love with loves me back, holy shit.

"Haydn! Are you home?!" A deep voice called up as the front door closed and my expression turned from elation to fear as Haydn, and I scrambled from her bed.

"SHIT! They're not supposed to be back for a few more hours." She whispered and we immediately collected my clothes off the floor before she opened her closet, footsteps growing louder.

"I haven't been back here in a while." I joked breathlessly, hoping to lighten up the mood and felt successful when Haydn cracked a small smile before kissing me on my forehead and closing her closet doors, seconds before her bedroom door opened.

"Hey, Luis," Haydn said casually as I heard him, and someone else, walk-in. "Oh, hi Laura," Haydn said coolly.

A feminine voice, Laura, cleared their voice.

"Haydn, is there anything you want to do for your birthday on Tuesday?" She asked and my jaw physically dropped.

What the fuck, I must be the world's worst girlfriend- first I couldn't say "I love you" back in time and now I didn't even know it was my girlfriend's birthday in a few days.

"No, it's okay. I don't have the best memories of my birthday, so I'd rather just forget about it." Haydn said softly and my heart shattered in my chest.

"Are you sure? Turning nineteen is something to celebrate." Luis spoke but he had barely gotten the words out before Laura cut in.

"No, Luis, she's made her decision- she can't change her mind now." She huffed and I felt my blood start to boil- I really didn't like that woman.

"Is that it?" Haydn asked, a little harshly but I didn't blame her.

"Um, no, actually that's not why we're here," Luis spoke hesitantly as I heard him physically take a deep breath. "I got a call from a lawyer's office today; I need to go down to their office and get a few documents addressed to you."

I frowned.

"Is this about the guy I punched at my last school? Because I thought we dealt with that already." Haydn asked and I heard Luis sigh.

"No, that's not it. I think you should sit down Haydn." Luis spoke solemnly and I heard Haydn sigh as her bed creaked under someone's weight. "It's about your mom-"

"What the fuck does she want now?" Haydn groaned. "She does know I'm too old to sue for custody and she's not gonna get any money from you, right? No, let me guess she got sober for a week and remembered she had a daughter she could ask for money? Nothing new." She ranted and her dad sighed heavily.

"Haydn, there's no easy way to say this, but your mom passed away a week ago." -I felt my body go heavy- "She was hit by a drunk driver and died on the scene. She was on her back from a lawyer's office. He said she was looking into using her protected inheritance to go to a rehab facility because she, um, she realized that she couldn't recognize you." Luis explained in a strained voice, and I held myself back from running out to go comfort, Haydn.

"She's dead?" Haydn asked, her voice breaking halfway, and I closed my eyes against the tears that threatened to fall.

"Yes, she is but she left but a significant amount of money-"

"Money? She didn't have any money." Haydn said a little desperately, probably trying to make sense of everything.

"No, she didn't but her incredibly wealthy parents did, they died before you were born but according to the lawyer, their daughter was only to inherit the money if she was in school or using the money to better herself. She tried, but she couldn't in her lifetime, so that money belongs to you now." Luis explained further, Haydn remaining quiet.

That didn't make sense; I thought she came from a very big, very alive family.

"And I think you use that money for some good and start pulling your weight around here," Laura added but before I could kick down the door and drop kick her Luis spoke up.

"For fuck sakes Laura shut up." He said so threateningly that even I got scared, and he didn't even know I was there.

"She's really dead?" Haydn asked and I could tell by the sound of her voice that she was on the verge of a breakdown.

"I'm so sorry Haydn," Luis murmured and I heard Haydn get off her bed, and I think, walk to the window, but without a visual, I wasn't sure. "Would you like us to stay for a bit?" He asked and I was offended that he would even think about leaving his child during a time like this.

"No, I need space." She said so softly even I had a hard time hearing her.

"Are you sure? Because-" Luis started but Haydn cut him off.

"Please just leave."

"Okay, but if you need us just call." He said defeatedly and I heard retreating footsteps before the door opened, closed and locked behind them.

I waited a few long seconds before I cracked the door open and while the coast was clear I was met with a heartbreaking sight. Haydn was sitting on the floor, slumped against the door with her head in her hands and I dropped my stuff on the floor before I made my way over to her, taking a seat next to her.

"Haydn?" I asked gently, careful not to touch her but when she leaned herself onto my lap I wrapped my arms around her, trying to hold her together as her shoulders shook with sobs.

Instead of saying anything, I just held her tight and reassuringly kissed her head every few minutes- just so she knew I was there. I don't know how long I held her, I would've held her the whole day if she let me, but long after my ass was numb, she suddenly sat up and wiped away her tears.

"Shit, I should take you home." She sniffled as she stood up, taking a deep breath and I stood up too.

"No, it's okay, I want to stay with you," I explained, taking a step towards her but she took a step back.

"No, it's fine. I'm fine now." She convincingly, who she was trying to convince I wasn't sure. "I just need time to process everything and go to the lawyer with Luis to figure out what's going on. I thought her parents were still alive." She murmured sadly as she shook her head and my heart broke for her, but I knew the last thing I should do is push her, so I nodded my head and collected my things before I followed her down to her car.

The ride was more silent than it had ever been and although Haydn was seated next to me, she felt worlds away. It didn't take long for her to pull into my driveway and although I was bummed that our beautiful night together and her confession was now eclipsed by this devastating news, I knew I shouldn't bring it up, not yet.

"Can I call you later please?" I asked softly, and she nodded her head as I opened my door, but before I stepped out, I leaned towards her to kiss her goodbye, only to be met with her cheek. "I'll talk to you later," I whispered, trying not to let it show how much she was affecting me as I got out of the car and closed to door.

I watched with a heavy heart as she left without even saying goodbye.