#back now

This takes place in my college AU, 6 months later than were we are now!

Arlo had her head on Auggie’s chest, listening to him breathing in and out. Auggie looked down at her, and the hole in her hand. Since meeting her in the kitchen, the hole had never seemed to bug him, like it had bugged everyone else she had ever met. Ever the inquiring mind, Auggie had asked once what had happened. Arlo had given it in the briefest of terms. For now though, she lay with her head on his chest, listening to his breathing. 

“Arlo.” He said, “Please.” She sat up and looked at him, eyes wide and sad. “I have to go.” She leaned down and kissed him, softly on the mouth, then his cheek. “You are extremely distracting,” He said, smiling. She smiled right back at him. The sunrise cut across his eyes, making them shine emerald green, more so than they already were. Arlo also had an early-morning class today, so it wasn’t unnatural for her to be up at this hour. It wasn’t unnatural anyway, she thought, lifting her nightgown over her head. 

“Are you excited?” She asked absent-mindedly. She had never really thought of her back as beautiful before, but Auggie staring at it, dry-mouthed, was one of the finest sights she had ever seen. She turned her head over her back, and he remembered himself. 

“Very. I can’t wait to go back and tell them all the fancy words I’ve learnt. Like…” He struggled for a word he didn’t know. Arlo was still shirtless, silently enjoying the attention Auggie was giving her. “...Hm.”

“Hm?" She repeated, slipping on her undergarments and shirt. She knew she was running Auggie’s few, but something in that was exciting to her. Having some power, even if she, realistically, had none. “Something wrong?”

“Nah.” He said, “Just wondering how I got so lucky.” Arlo smiled and gave him her hand, which he took and kissed gently. “Seriously, what did I do to deserve you?” She smiled and looked down. 

“You’ll drive safe, right?” She asked. “Don’t do anything reckless? And you’ll come back.” She said. The last part wasn’t a question, it was more of a statement. You’ll come back. You won’t leave me. You’ll be back. 

“Course. Charlie and Howard would kill me if I didn’t.” He said, laughing. At the look on Arlo’s face, he knew this ran deeper. Her fear of abandonment was like a well-worn jacket, and she wore it well, most of the time. This time she just stared at him, the fear evident on her face. “Arlo, I swear. I’m gonna come back. I’ll call you when I get there, yeah?” She laughed, “And every day while I’m there.” Arlo nodded, content with the plan. She pulled on a skirt for the day. “Want me to walk you to class before I go?”

“Dressed like that?” She asked, looking at him. He wasn’t wearing a shirt. 

“I thought you liked me without a shirt on?” 

“I do, but I like it.” She leaned over and kissed his head. Auggie hadn’t known Arlo had a jealous streak in her, but he grinned. 

“I’ll put a shirt on.”

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