"You're falling asleep."
"Am not."
"Are so. I think I've even got drool on my shoulder."
Hope sat up quickly, checking Lightning's shoulder before rolling his eyes. "Very funny. And I don't drool."
Light didn't look up from the book in her lap, reading glasses perched on her nose. "The pillows seem to have a different story."
He settled back onto her shoulder, keeping himself busy with checking his email on his phone. "Look. I'm a tried guy. Tired guys maybe drool when they sleep, no big deal."
"I'm a tired girl. I don't drool."
"No, you kick in your sleep. And punch. Which is worse."
She laughed, flipping the page. Hope pulled his phone's camera out, snapping a quick picture before Lightning could look away or cover her face as she's prone to do. "Hope, I look like a garden gnome. My hair's a mess and I haven't even exfoliated."
"It's in a ponytail, it's at its peak," he replied, already posting it to his social media. "And you look best when you're relaxed like this. Like a real goddess."
The rosette lightly shoved his shoulder, face flushing only slightly. "Okay, but I'm still a garden gnome." She shut her book, setting it onto the side table before switching off her lamp.
"Goddess of the garden gnomes, then." Hope said, pulling her close once she was under the covers.
It didn't take long for them to fall asleep, legs tangled together and arms around each other.
this has been a ride
thank you to everyone who's read/favorited/followed this piece! i've definitely enjoyed writing it. (and this won't be the last of hopurai i write. i have at least 3 other ideas and 2 works i need to catch up on.)