Page 1 of Rewriting the Story

Prologue

Then — Senior Year

First Time by Hozier

Wakingupnexttomy boyfriend on a sunny Sunday morning and hearing the birds chirp outside is my favorite feeling in the world.

Well, second to his arms around me, his head nestled in the crook of my neck like it is now.

I never thought I’d wake up feeling as much happiness as I have the past few weeks. Henry and I have been staying over at one another’s apartments while we’re back on campus, and I never knew waking up next to someone could be sotherapeutic.

My sleep schedule has always been chaotic, almost non-existent, but thanks to Henry and the routine we have going, I’ve been getting more sleep than I have in pretty much my entire life. Most nights, Henry and I eat dinner together while we play music in the background, and then he either writes while I sit beside him on the couch reading, our legs intertwined, or we study together. It’s only been a month, and this semester seems to be flying by faster than we expected.

I feel like I just got him, and soon enough, graduation is going to be around the corner. We’re going to have to decide what our lives are going to look like outside of this place surrounded by our friends.

“Mills, your heart is beating so fast right now,” he says as he stirs awake, his hand coming to my face as he adjusts how he’s sitting. “What has you all up in arms so early in the morning?”

“Nothing now that you’re awake,” I say. “Everything is fine, Hen.”

He cranes his neck up at me, not saying a word as he waits for me to explain.

“Graduation,” is all I need to say; we’ve had this conversation before.

“I thought I told you not to worry about that right now,” he reminds me. “We’ll figure it out when the time comes. Let's just enjoy this time together while we have it.”

“I know, I know,” I say as I sit up.

“Well, if you know, then why do you keep worrying about it?”

I roll my eyes. I can’t help it.

“Exactly. You know I’m right, and now you’re going full silent treatment because you loathe when I’m right.”

“I do not.”I totally do. Another head tilt, and I break underneath his stare. “Fine, but I get to pick the playlist this morning while we make breakfast.”

“Anything you want, Mills,” he says as he presses a kiss to my forehead. “As long as you’re here with me, that’s all I need. You know that.”

I can’t help my smile. I still don’t understand how all this adorable relationship shit doesn't make me nauseous like it used to when I watched my friends fall in love.

For some reason, when it’s him complimenting me or saying any of the other thousand adorable things he’s always doing, my body just gets…warm. It’s the weirdest thing.

And I don’t hate it. Where Henry is concerned, everything he does is perfect. He gets my humor like nobody else. He doesn't mind my stupid quips. He lovesme.

“On second thought,” I say as he starts to get up, “maybe we should just stay in bed all morning and forget about the outside world.”

He laughs, the sound filtering through my ears as if I just turned on my favorite song.

“That’s the same thing you said last night when I wanted to study.”

I shrug. “Well, what we ended up doing was better, unless you don’t like—”

“Amelia Ellis,” he says before pinning me to the mattress. “Get that thought out of your mind.”

“I’m just saying…” I trail off, suddenly only able to focus on the fact that he’s shirtless and our breathing matches. He presses a long, languid kiss to my lips before he pulls back and we’re both out of breath.

“I love you,” he tells me. “But let’s get some coffee in you before you threaten to stab my eyes out.”

That earns him another eye roll. “Whatever you say.”

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