making his best attempt to stifle a yawn.
“A bad dream, is all. Don’t worry; go back to sleep,” I whispered.
“What time is it?” Jensen moved his arm up and laced his fingers with mine, pulling me even closer.
“Two in the morning,” I told him once I glanced over at the illuminated clock on my bedside table.
“Good, we have at least six good hours left to sleep. It feels like we just went to bed.” I smiled at his comment and leaned in deeper. The two of us had been playing this game of loving each other as much as possible before he had to leave, thinking that if we overfilled the cup, so to speak, that would help with the little problem we’d soon have called “long distance.”
Jensen had been almost marathon-like the last few days, although I wasn’t complaining aside of the typical soreness that came from having sex so frequently. In fact, I wanted Jensen just as much, and when we were together I couldn’t get enough of him.
“What was your dream about?” Jensen pulled me out of my thoughts, which was likely to his benefit since I was beginning to feel going back to sleep may not be what I wanted.
“I don’t know. I just feel a little alone and sad. Besides, it doesn’t matter since you’re here and that always makes me feel better.”
Jensen kissed my shoulder lightly; his breath tickling my neck and causing me to shiver. “Are you cold?” He snuggled closer to me.
“No. I’m very cozy.
“Mmmm.” He kissed my shoulder again, evoking the same response throughout my body.
“I can’t help it, it’s what you do to me,” I whispered with a smile as he nuzzled into my hair and inhaled. I could feel his erection growing as it lightly pressed into my lower back.
“I know. You have no idea how exciting you are.”
"Actually, I do; I can feel you," I teased, feeling his smile on my skin as he kissed me. I rolled over to face him and he brought his lips to mine. There was no harm in letting him think it was his idea to stay awake and continue the previous night’s activities.
It was about eleven in the morning as I shut the door to Alicia’s new, electric blue, two-door Prelude that she had bought the day before. She was picking me up to register and get our pictures taken at school. Jensen had gone home about two hours earlier and gave me time to give my hair extra attention. Clothes didn’t matter that much since they made all the girls put on matching frock tops for the senior pictures, but I wanted to dress nicely anyway for my own individual photos, which would be taken afterward.
“I can’t believe you bought your car already!” I said as I looked all around and touched the new upholstery of her Honda Prelude.
“When you know, you know,” Alicia confirmed about her new car. “I got the color as a tribute to Jensen’s old Jeep. And to tell you the truth, I actually helped him pick his Jeep out, color and all. It’s my favorite.” She carefully accelerated out of my driveway and we passed her house a moment later where there were more cars than usual in the driveway.
“Glad to see the guys made it over. Jensen needs to be surrounded by testosterone once in a while.”
“Yeah, I think I caught him admiring a pair of my mom’s heels the other day,” Alicia smirked.
“You did not, and don’t even go there!" I argued as Alicia let out a cackle. She seemed extremely excited to be registering and taking her senior pictures, more so than I was. “So, they say you’re not supposed to wear your hair in some elaborate hairstyle for senior pictures if it’s not how you usually style it,” I said, changing the subject and looking at the curls that I had put in my hair after Jensen left. They bounced along my shoulders and just a little down my back.
“Who says that?”
“The photography studio had that in their brochure, but I’ve heard that before somewhere. I don’t know for sure. I think they want us to look more natural.” I twirled one curled strand around my finger while looking in the mirror implanted on the passenger sun visor. Seeing that nothing was out of place, I flipped the visor back up. “Anyway, I think it’s nonsense.”
“I love that hairstyle on you, I really do. There’s just something about people with long, dark hair wearing lazy curls. I’m sure my brother would agree.” She glanced sideways, giving me a smirk for a second and then went back to the road.
“Did he say something?”
“Just that he likes when you do your hair with curls. I spent hours on mine this morning, so he asked if I knew what you were doing with yours.”
Not wanting to hurt Alicia’s feelings, I didn’t mention that her hair looked pretty much the same as it always did with just a bit more bounce. We continued on to the school and talked about those stupid smock things worn for pictures. Alicia laughed and told me how she once thought that everyone had to buy the same ugly dress in either black or maroon for pictures. Her sister Jessica had to set her straight. As if knowing what I was thinking, Alicia told me that we’d have to take our shirts off to put a smock on but there’s a room for that. And yes, I could keep my bra on.
As we drove on, Alicia had her lips pressed together as she navigated through slower moving cars. We didn’t talk again until after she found a parking space along the front of the school and parked.
“Alright,” Alicia asked as she took the key out of the ignition, “you’re going to wait for me in the commons area, right? I don’t think it will take more than an hour for me to register.”
“Yup, I’ll be there hangin'.”
If Alicia wasn’t very talkative in the car, she was the complete opposite on the way into the school. That’s just how Alicia was. One minute she was quiet, the next you couldn’t shut her up if you tried, but that’s what I loved about her. She had ahold of my arm as we walked, chattering the entire way about senior year and how excited she was.
Finally, when she realized I wasn’t saying anything, she stopped her rambling to inquire, “You’re so quiet, aren’t you excited?”
“I guess it’s because I’m not a senior, remember? Plus, I have to say goodbye to Jensen in a few days.”
“Oh, pshh. I have to say goodbye to James, too.”
“Yeah, but at least you get another week with him. By the way, he is coming over later to watch movies, isn’t he?”
“No, we have other plans.” Alicia’s eyes had a glint of secrecy.
Alicia and I never spoke about sex in a serious manner, but I was pretty sure she and James were that serious and had been since just after graduation. I don't think she had ever spent the night with him as Jensen did with me, but that may have been because he still lived at home, although they did go camping a few times.
“Mia, are you listening?”
I jerked my head toward Alicia, who was looking at me as if waiting for an answer. I had no idea what she said and she knew it. Throwing her hands up and looking to the sky like
