Unexpected

“Sera?” A voice calls my name as I wake up groggy and puffy eyed. I turn around roughly and quickly to see Sid hovering over me, his eyes worried. I rub the sleep out of my eyes and run my hands through my hair. Fuck, I totally forgot to cover it before bed. Whatever.

“What? What’s wrong?” My voice is gruff with sleep and I cringe at the sound of it. I cover my mouth to conceal any potential morning breath I may have.

“Nothing, I think.” Sid examines my face. He gently cups my face in his hand, his palm smothering my right cheek. “Were you crying last night?” I close my eyes and breathe slowly before opening them again.

“Maybe…Maybe not,” I shrug. “Why does it matter?”

“It matters because I’m your boyfriend and I love you. If I made you cry last night…” His face is sad when his voice trails off. My heart stings a bit seeing him like this—not enough to forgive him. I shrug the feeling off and sit up. Sidney helps prop the pillows behind my back.
“Uh, I made breakfast,” Sidney mutters. “If it’s any consolation. Then maybe we can stay in today? We can do whatever you want.” I take a deep breath, thinking about how mad I am and if I want to keep dragging it on.

“Sure,” I sigh, “we can do that. Where’s the food?” Sidney smiles and kisses my forehead before rushing out of the room. Chuckling sadly, I get out of bed slowly and stretch the sleep out of my tight limbs. Padding over to the bathroom, I pee and brush my teeth before taking my meds. I think about doing my makeup but what’s the point if I’m not going anywhere. I give in though, only doing my eyebrows and putting on a tiny bit of lipstick.

“Here you go princess,” Sid announces when he returns with the breakfast tray. I roll my eyes at the “princess.”

“I’m not a princess,” I huff as I get into the bed. He grins as he presents me with a plate of blueberry waffles.

“You kind of are, Sera.” Shaking my head, I butter my pancakes and drizzle a little maple syrup on top. Cutting into the small stack of pancakes, I raise the small square into my mouth and hum with satisfaction.

“Good, huh?” Sidney asks, his face waiting for my approval. I shrug and continue to eat.

“Yeah, I guess,” my voice is smug. The look on his face is priceless—shocked as if he could make sub-par pancakes. “I’m kidding they’re really good.” Sidney breathes a sigh of relief.

“I was gonna say…” he mutters as he settles on the bed next to me. We eat in silence for a bit before I clear my throat.

“I think I’ll be heading home soon,” I say carefully. Sidney puts down his glass of orange juice on the side table. I’m not on vacation like he is and to be honest, I want to go home. I miss work and I miss the city and after last night, I want to be in my own space with people I know.

“It feels like we just got here,” Sidney mumbles. “But you do have work to go back to,” he grabs my left hand in his, rubbing the back of it with his thumbs. I sigh and push my plate aside, irritated for no reason.

“Yup and I miss it to be quite honest.”

“Does this also have to do with last night?” I can hear the slight pain in his voice and I close my eyes, afraid to look at his face knowing that it will break me.

“Kind of,” I say sadly. “I just don’t fit in around here for obvious reasons. I need to go back to where I belong; where I feel comfortable. Here,” I motion to the grand room vaguely, “I feel like I’m playing house. Last night made me feel even more out of place.” Sidney turns my face to look at him. His face is shocked and twisted in some sort of discomfort from my words.

“You do belong here, Sera. I want you here and I never, ever want you to feel like you don’t fit in or don’t belong.”

“Well, it certainly didn’t feel that way last night. Or even the first time I met your parents,” I shrug him off me and get out of bed, walking into the closet. I grab a pair of leggings and a light blue cotton button down that is a little big for me. It’s comfortable and cute. Sid is not far behind me as I strip and put on my clothes.

“What do you mean by that?” He questions. I see him leaning against the frame in the mirror; his arms crossed his thick chest. I sigh as I tug the tight black leggings over my curvy legs and apparently now even curvier butt.

“I mean,” I start before pulling the buttons shirt over my head. “That even when I met them, I could see the disappoint me. I wasn’t some itty-bitty blonde girl with flawless skin. When we ran into your ex at brunch, your mother was so ecstatic to see her again so much so she invited her to your birthday party. And when we were at your dumb party, she was by your side as you blew out your candles and that everyone didn’t bother to introduce me so I was wandering around like an idiot! Only Jack talked to me and made sure I was okay.” At this point I’m on the verge of tears; my throat is hot and locked in my throat. My fists are clenched as I stand my ground and face Sidney. I cannot read the look on his face.

“None of that is true, Seraphina,” he states and I snort. I try to walk past him but he grabs my elbow, gently but firmly pulling me back in the closet to face him. “We’re not going to hash this out like children. You can’t just run when things get difficult.” I refuse to look at him. That method has worked out so far in my life… sort of.

“Yes, my mother was surprised I varied from my norm of girls but when she met you and talked to you… she adores you. She thinks you are the best girl I’ve brought home. My dad is tough to please but I can tell even he can’t help but like you. You don’t cower under his demanding demeanor and you’re stubborn and a fighter which he admires about you. Lord knows Taylor loves you," Sidney admits with a small chuckle. At brunch, I cannot speak for my mother but I will say she is just a nice woman and that’s all that was there.”

“And about yesterday,” I mutter under my breath. Sidney pulls me flush with him, my heart going crazy and making it very hard to stay angry. He cups my face gently, looking at me lovingly.

“Yesterday was absolutely inexcusable. I am so sorry and embarrassed by my behavior. I should have been there for you and show you off to everyone.”

“Yeah, it almost seemed like you were ashamed of us,” my voice breaks as I fight the tears that are threatening to fall down my face.

“Seraphina,” Sidney starts, his own face covered in sadness. “I could never be ashamed of us." He pulls me tight to his chest, rubbing the back of my head gently as I contemplate the next step in this relationship.

Notes