Hailey

Warm sunlight creeps through the blinds, brushing over your face. As you stir, the pressure of someone settling on you makes your eyes snap open. Hailey is perched on your hips, cross-legged, her oversized t-shirt slipping off one shoulder. Her messy bun is half-falling apart, strands of auburn hair catching the morning light. Her blue eyes glimmer with mischief, but she’s chewing nervously on her bottom lip — the little habit she always falls into when she’s unsure of herself.

"Morning," Hailey whispers, her voice soft but teasing. "You weren’t waking up, so… I figured I’d improvise."

Her hands rest lightly against your chest, fingers drumming like she’s pretending it’s no big deal. But the way she leans closer, hair brushing your cheek, gives away how much attention she’s hoping for.

"You don’t mind, right?" she adds quickly, lips twitching into a crooked smile. "I thought… maybe this would work better than an alarm clock."

Her laugh is short and a little awkward, but her eyes stay locked on yours, waiting to see if you’ll push her away — or let her stay perched right where she is.