It was not yet sunrise when Hamilton rose from bed

It was not yet sunrise when Hamilton rose from bed. He had only slept for less than three hours because after the excitement that came with Bella and Will's arrival just hours before, the five friends stayed up for a couple hours catching up with one another, before they retired to bed. Through the split in the curtains, Hamilton could see the daylight slowly breaking through, a slight yellow light filling the air. The sunset was easier to see from their room than the sunrise, so Hamilton decided that he would wake his fiancee and go up to the roof to see the aurora.

Find me here

Speak to me

I want to feel you

I need to hear you

You are the light

That is leading me

To the place

Where I find peace

Again

He shifted to his side to start her up, and as he gazed her, he was taken in by her quiet beauty and tranquility as she slumbered. Instead of waking her, he simply hovered over her, his head propped up on his elbow, and admired her, smiling at the thought that by Saturday evening, they would be husband and wife.

Husband and wife.

How good it sounded to say that.

You are the strength

That keeps me walking

You are the hope

That keeps me trusting

You are the life

To my soul

You are my purpose

You are everything

After what had happened two years ago, Hamilton wasn't sure that things between them could ever be the same. Luckily, upon his return to New York, the two were able to rekindle their intense, complex, but beautiful relationship. He was apprehensive about proposing to her so soon after his homecoming, yet something inside told him that the timing was right; that they were right.

Hamilton traced her face with his fingers. The feel of her on his fingertips sent shivers down his spine. She always did that to him. Always. It amazed him how much he loved her. How much he felt every time he looked at her. How much she made the world seem right whenever she was around. He loved her. Body. Heart. Soul. All of her. And she loved him. If the world crashed down around them, as long as they had each other, nothing else mattered. afterglow

How can I stand here with you

And not be moved by you

Would you tell me

How could it be

Any better than this

He placed his hand on the side of her face and kissed her on the lips. He smiled as she began to stir, Jake's eyes gradually opening at the sensation of Hamilton's kiss. When she finally awoke, the sight of his endless blue eyes filled her vision. She reached her hand up to his face, smiled, and whispered, "Good morning."

Kissing her once more, he answered ethereally, "Every morning with you is a good morning."

"Why are you up so soon? The sun's not even up yet," her voice still a little groggy.

"Just thinking about how much I love you."

"I love you too."

You calm the storms

You give me rest

You take me in your hands

You won't let me fall

You still my heart

And you take my breath away

Would you take me in

Would you take me deeper now

They looked at each other for a moment, staring deep into each other's eyes. All they could see was each other and the deep love that they shared. This is how it was meant to be. Forever.

Finally, Hamilton got up from the bed and took Jake by the hand. "Let's go watch the sunrise."

Rising up, Jake replied, "I'd love nothing more."

'Cause you're all I want

You are all I need

You are everything

Everything

You're all I want

You're all I need

You're everything

Everything

_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _

Scout lay awake on the sofa. He heard Hamilton and Jake come down the stairs and leave the apartment, but did not bother acknowledging them. He just lay stretched out on the couch, pretending to be in a sound sleep. Truth is, he hadn't slept a wink.

He had that strange morning after feeling. The morning after what? Nothing had happened. Nothing except that he had seen Bella. Not only had seen Bella, but he'd SEEN Bella.

He laughed when he thought of what happened. The frightened look on Bella's face, the shrieks that came from her as she jumped out of the bed. Oh man. If only he could have taken a picture of that moment.

Classic.

He was surprised himself. However, the shock of a stranger in the bed with him wasn't as shocking as who the person was.

They stood there, in their underwear, staring at each other, until Will, Hamilton, and Jake came in. They laughed it off later, but Scout could tell that Bella was quite flustered over the whole thing. The five of them convened in the living room to "talk" but it was more of a four way conversation—without him in it.

He stayed uncharacteristically quiet, speaking only when spoken to.

Jake and Hamilton bombarded Will and Bella with questions, about what they had been up to since the last time they'd seen each other. They listened intently as Will recounted his various experiences that he had during his road trip, the new script he'd just finished, and the short visit he had with his parents on his way from Rawley Academy to the gas station.

Bella's stories were more like anecdotes about the people in New Rawley rather than anything about herself specifically. Though Scout was reticent, he listened to every word she said. He stared at her the entire time, looking away when he thought she caught his stare. He couldn't help it. She was incredible,

luminous, and sublime. Just as he remembered her.

It was two thirty when they decided to get some rest. It wasn't until then that Scout spoke to her and still, it was a brief exchange.

"I'll sleep on the couch. You and Will can share the bed."

"Are you sure? You were there first."

"No, I'm fine. I'd go home, but it's late and I don't want to get into a cab at this hour, all the way uptown."

"Okay. Good night."

"'Night."

He replayed the scene in his head. It wasn't that he couldn't go home. Some small part of him wanted to stay there, just so that he could see her in the morning. 'You are pathetic,' he thought. 'What the hell is happening to you?'

He shot up from the couch and was taken aback when he saw Bella standing not too far away.

"Hi," she greeted him.

"Hi."

They looked at each other uncomfortably, waiting for someone to say something.

"Why are you up so early?" they inquired at the same instant.

Scout reverted, "You know, we really have to stop doing that."

"Doing what?"

"Saying the exact same thing at the exact same time."

"Oh. Well, what ARE you doing up?"

"I uhh…always wake up this early," he lied, hoping Bella wouldn't see straight through him.

"Oh."

"What are you doing up?"

She lied too. "I'm hungry."

Scout retorted jokingly, "That's Ham's line."

Bella giggled and her uneasiness dwindled a bit. A beat later, Jake and Hamilton entered the apartment, a couple of brown paper bags and coffees in their hands. Just then, Will came down the stairs, appearing haggard yet alert.

"And I thought I was the only one up," Will remarked at seeing the other four.

"Ditto," they all answered.

Scout shot Bella a knowing glance and laughed. "All right, let's eat."