When Sky woke up, it was morning.

She yawned and stretched, lingering in the blissful state of half-sleep, half-awake. The sheets were heavenly soft, her body warm and satisfied. Hawk's scent surrounded her, she breathed it in with every inhale—

That made her stir and her eyes opened.

The first realization was, that she was breathing through her nose. For the first time since the accident (as she liked to call it) she woke up so that her mouth wasn't dry and hurting from breathing through it all night. Instead, the air was now flowing into her lungs through her nose rather freely, and with that came the sense of smell.

The second realization had everything to do with that.

The sheets smelled of sex and sweat, of Hawk's sporty aftershave. Sky sat up and glanced around - the room was empty. Only Hawk's scent remained.

She ran a hand through her messy mane of curls as the sleepiness was slowly leaving her system. Her arm under the cast was itching, she was sweaty and she realized she hadn't showered since last morning. It made her feel gross - after all, she'd spent all day in the heat under the sun at the car wash event, and then—

Her cheeks flushed as the things she had done with Hawk on this bed last night came back to her.

She remembered how his long fingers had felt between her legs, then his lips, and—

— and they had made love.

Her heartbeat reacted to that memory and suddenly she felt hot all over. She could still feel the soreness between her thighs where he had entered her - but the memories made a heat rise inside of her belly nevertheless.

His absence felt like a blow. More than anything, she would have wanted to wake up with him in her bed, to feel his warmth, his arms around her body, his heartbeat next to her ear when she laid her head on his chest.

The need to have him near was a physical pain. It tore her chest as if the air lacked oxygen. The way she yearned for him was almost ridiculous.

Maybe she hadn't planned to sleep with him this soon after getting back together, but it had happened and she didn't regret it. Her fears and her hesitation were nothing but a memory, the pain of their break up not even that. Looking back to those things now, it felt like watching a movie, like all that had happened to someone else, a long time ago. She had been granted a second chance - one that she sure as Hell didn't deserve - but here it was nevertheless and she was going to live like there was no fear. She was going to love like there was no tomorrow. And then, when her time really was up, she would go gladly, with no regrets.

And Kat would be there waiting for her.

She brought a hand to her chest, pressed it over her heart which was beating heavily, pumping the undeserved life through her veins. She was alive, alive, alive, and she remembered Kat's hand in hers, fingers entwining when they threw themselves over the edge of the roof and fell.

The pain of her loss was by no means gone. Sometimes it still pierced her chest like a dagger, taking her breath away, but it was different than it had been before. It wasn't this all-consuming torture anymore - it was grief, it was loss but it also came with hope.

Kat had jumped from the roof with her and saved her life. Sky wasn't going to throw it away.

I'm gonna live for her. I'm gonna do everything she never got to do, and then when I see her again, I'll tell her all about it.

It was then that she noticed something on her nightstand - a small, gift-wrapped box.

Her heart jumped and she couldn't help a small smile as she reached to pick up the gift. It was no doubt from Hawk - who else could have left it here? Her smile widened as she observed the beautiful package - it was wrapped in glittery pink paper, with a large bow on top.

From the size and the light weight of the present, Sky could tell it was jewelry. Swiftly she opened the string and the paper, revealing a small, white box. When she opened the lid, a delighted breath escaped her lips.

A golden pendant, shaped like a phoenix, rested in the padded box. Its wings were spread, the long tail feathers curved under the bird's delicate body as if it was frozen in mid-motion the moment it rose on its wings.

It was absolutely beautiful.

Sky picked it up from the chain, and let the bird dangle in the air as if it was indeed flying. Her eyes teared up.

A phoenix. So he sees it too - that I walked through fire and survived.

She wanted to put it on right away, but since her other arm was still in a cast, it wasn't so simple - she'd have to ask Dad to help, and that had to wait until she'd showered and dressed, so she just gently laid the phoenix back into the box and picked her phone from the nightstand instead.

: thanks for the gift

The reply came immediately.

: u like it?

: I love it

It's beautiful

: ☺️

I'm glad

I saw it and thought about u so had to get it for u

Sky smiled as she typed the response.

: you don't have to keep

buying me stuff u know

: i know

I want to

I want u to know how much I love u

: ❤️

I love you too

u want to have tacos today?

His question made Sky grin. The tacos. He had wanted to take her out yesterday, to a Mexican restaurant nearby. Tacos had been the thing they had eaten on their first date, and the fact that Hawk wanted to repeat that, was just cute and romantic. Too bad that Sky had other plans for today, so the tacos would have to wait.

: sorry, I'm busy today

: it's Sunday

What are u busy with?

Sky rolled her eyes. As if she couldn't have plans that didn't involve Hawk.

I'm meeting Demetri

about some school stuff

and after that I'm gonna check on Miguel

he needs cheering up

Sky noticed how Hawk started writing a reply, but it took a long time for it to appear on her screen. Sky could only imagine it was because he kept deleting what he had written, no doubt because she had said she was meeting Demetri. She could practically see how Hawk seethed at the mention of Demetri's name, and how he tried to form an answer that wouldn't make Sky mad. But Sky wasn't about to let that shit get to her - Demetri was her friend and Hawk had agreed to her terms. She was allowed to meet her friends, no matter how much it annoyed Hawk.

Besides, after last night he really had no reason to be insecure about their relationship.

When the reply finally came, it was short and simple and said nothing about Demetri.

: or you could come to my place?

: or not

I told u I had plans

: tomorrow then?

mom has a book club 😏

: 🤭

maybe

: I'd love to see u wear that phoenix

: maybe I'll wear that

and nothing else 😏

: ohmygod Sky

I'm having breakfast here

Sky giggled at the mental image of Hawk at the breakfast table, probably with his Mom, trying to eat his toast while thinking about Sky naked. It made her feel naughty in all the right ways, and the heat rushed through her system as she again thought about all the things they had done last night.

Tomorrow. She was definitely going to see him tomorrow.

🤗

👀