Bad News Never Had Good Timing
(John Mayer: Heart of Life)
Levi looked about 3 years younger when he was asleep. His face looked smoother, his hair flopped forward and his whole body was more relaxed than his usual casual demeanor. Even asleep it looked like there was just the slightest hint of smile leftover on his little, pink mouth. The last thing she remembered from the night before was his lips on hers. He was the sweetest thing Cath had ever seen.
She slid out from under his arm and stood up. At some point in the night, he must have taken off his boxers because he was on his stomach with his entire backside exposed. Cath dug through their piles of clothes to find her phone to get a picture. She never noticed how perfect his butt is. It was pale in comparison to the rest of his tanned skin and looked really smooth. God, I'm being creepy. Well kind of, I mean, he's always taking pictures of me when I'm asleep. Not totally naked though. She got a couple pictures of his face up close as well.
"Please, no flash photography." Levi smirked and opened an eye halfway. Click.
"I think that might be the cutest picture I have of you," She giggled.
"Oh yeah?" He took her phone and started making faces. Click. Click. Click, "How about now?"
"Ooh, Levi, are you taking nudes for me?" Cath kissed his cheek, "Scandalous."
"What will the neighbors think?" Levi gasped in mock distress.
"You know what I think, Levi?" She ran a finger down his spine.
He let out a moan and buried his face into a pillow, "Hmm?"
"I think I'd really like some breakfast."
"Lame... but me too."
Cath took a Blueberry Bliss bar from the box on the shelf and threw one onto his back. They sat in silence as they nibbled. She looked down to the floor next to her feet at the eight leather bound books that had sent her into a panic the night before. Her heart started pounding as she picked up the first book, propping herself up and flipping to the first page. As she began to read, Levi's lips curled upwards and his eyes darted up to look at her through heavy, dusty brown lashes.
"Don't look so cute or I won't be able to read." Cath giggled, "Simon Snow and the Mage's Heir."
Levi bit his lip and buried his face into her side. She ran her fingers through his hair as she read. Every so often she'd pause to check if he had fallen asleep but he never did. His head would lift up a little with an eyebrow cocked, then fall back when she continued. They stopped reading after they finished the third chapter.
Levi kissed her stomach and rested his chin on her belly button, "Let's just never leave this treehouse."
"Okay." Cath slid down so they were face-to-face. He pressed his forehead to hers, "Levi?"
"Yes, Sweetheart?" His hand moved to her hip.
"Why are you naked?"
"Why aren't you naked?" He didn't miss a beat, but he blushed, "I think I got hot last night."
"You're really cute." Cath thought out loud.
"You're beautiful."
She frowned, "God, I hate it when you do that."
"What, remind you of how beautiful you are?" Levi pulled her into him, "Because I think you forget sometimes."
"You're insufferable and adorable."
Cath kissed his chin and frowned at her phone vibrating somewhere beneath the blankets. They fumbled around in the bedding until they found it. She rolled her eyes at her sister. The texts read:
you haven't talked to me in foreverrrrrr.
how is it out there?
have you hit it yet?
OMG, you totally have right?
Text me 3
Levi read them over her shoulder and laughed, "You gonna hit this, Cather? You want to hit this."
"I actually despise both of you."
Cath texted back:
NO.
loser, why not?
Did you want to tell me something?
No I just wanted to talk to my seeeeeester 3
Love you too... Want to see what Levi got me?
YES! 3333333
She sent Wren a picture of the new Simon Snow books.
OH MY GD, ARE THOS WHAT I THINK THEY AR?
*god *thse *are
**those
I'm actually freaking out
RIGHT? They're perfect 3
GOD. How did he get those?
No. Quit texting me, go bang him.
Bang him now you owe him your eternal soul.
Ok
Cath threw her phone to the side and let it go off without checking it. Levi giggled and shook his head, letting his hair flop into his eyes. She ran her fingers through it before he could, kissing him along his hairline.
"Let's go out of town tonight. We can go to a movie and eat somewhere expensive like fancy city folk" He said, wearing a pleasant smile.
"How about just a movie?"
"I do what I want, Cather." Levi sat up and reached for his boxers.
They ended up shoving an air mattress, pillows and blankets into the bed of his truck and driving three hours to the Neligh drive-in theater. There was a double feature of Brave and The Avengers playing which were both movies that they were excited to see. The night was cool so it was a perfect occasion to curl up in their blankets and cuddle up. They hadn't even bothered to wear nice clothes because the movies didn't start until 6:30, so they didn't get to leave until 11:00
"Levi, do you want me to drive?" Cath asked. She had taken a nap in the cab with a blanket draped over her and her head in his lap.
"That's alright, Sweetheart. We're only an hour out at this point." Levi said, not taking his eyes off the road.
She could tell he was getting tired by his droopy eyelids, but his body was tensed up and he was driving carefully down the dimly lit roads. He was being extra cautious because Cath wasn't wearing a seatbelt, but he knew she wouldn't listen no matter how much he protested.
"Just let me know if you need a break." Cath yawned and nuzzled into his flannel pajama pants.
By the time they made it to the ranch it was almost 2:30am. Levi was fighting to stay awake as they walked as quietly as possible into the house. His bed felt amazing when they fell under the covers together. The two of them slept and made the unspoken plan to sleep in until noon the next day, but the door flew open far too early that morning. Marlisse stormed in looking absolutely furious.
"Where on God's green Earth were you yesterday? I couldn't get a hold of you all night," she seethed.
"What the hell are you doing?" Levi jumped, with his arm thrown defensively over Cath, "Jesus Christ, it's 4:30 in the morning, this lecture can wait!"
"Levi Stewart, you do not get to use that tone of voice with me!" Marlisse had her hand on her hips, "Where were you last night? Where was your phone?"
"It died, I left here on the charg-" He snapped, "I don't owe you an explanation, get out of my room, I'm not 16 anymore. You can't pull this bullshit with me."
"Excuse me, I am your mother," she yelled. "You've shirked all your duties onto everyone else, without even telling us where you'd be, so you can spend time with just another one of your un-Christian whores.
Levi was out of the bed before Cath had a chance to get offended. She sat up against the headboard and watched Levi tower over his mother. He looked huge in comparison, every muscle in his body was tight and his jaw was clenched.
"Are you kidding me?" He crossed his arms, "Get out of my room."
Marlisse began to protest again.
"No, listen to me for once; Cather isn't like that. And even if she was, it would be none of your business."
"We really haven't had sex." Cath spoke up and regretted it immediately.
"I surely can't believe that's true," Marlisse folded her arms.
"This cannot be really happening. Mom, seriously, get out of my room."
"This is my home, I can be in here if I want."
"Mom, get the fuck out of here!"
Marlisse slapped him. He looked like he was fighting back tears when he looked back to Cath to make sure she saw it too. She was confused and tired. Too much had happened all at once and she didn't know what to do. His mother put her hand over her mouth, seemingly shocked at herself.
"I shouldn't have sworn at you. I'm sorry," Levi sighed, sitting on the edge of the bed. "But did you really come up here just to yell at me in front of my girl?"
"No, I... I'm sorry." She shook her head, "there was an incident with your grandmother last night."
"What?"
"We tried calling you all night. She had a stroke." Marlisse started crying, "I may not have gotten along with that woman, but I never wished ill health on her."
Cath crawled over to Levi and hugged him. He was watching his mom with a blank expression. She could feel him shivering every few seconds. No one spoke for several minutes, the entire house was silent. Levi stood up and started to pull on day clothes. He handed Cath one of his shirts to put on over her leggings and gestured for her to follow.
As they walked out of his room, he looked down at his mother and said, "Don't call my girlfriend a whore."
