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One after another, their alarm clocks disturbed their slumber.
Five times a week, sometimes more, the alarm on their phones dragged them away from blissful comfort.
Those alarms reminded Niccolo and Sasha that they were responsible adults. Two responsible adults with time-consuming careers that reinforced those clockwork hours.
A routine that came and went. Repeatedly.
Of course, those time-consuming careers allowed them to live independently from their families. They were able to support each other and fill their dingy little apartment with mismatched furniture. Sure, the nearby train tracks brought the constant sounds of horns, but they tuned it out after several months. Sometimes the air conditioning stopped working or the laundry room downstairs was out of service, but they survived. Spiders and the occasional cockroaches were flushed down the toilet and Niccolo always praised Sasha as his knight in shining armor. It was their first place together and they deemed it was home for the time being.
Successfully, living paycheck to paycheck with sacrifices, the couple was independent and mostly content.
But those struggles and dulled routines became a breaking point for a certain individual.
Sasha’s alarm was the first one to rudely pierce the air. Sluggishly stretching her arm out, the brunette slid her finger across the screen to silence it. She didn’t need to look at her phone to determine the location of the button. With a heavy sigh, she tightly curled on her side and brought the blanket over her shoulder. Sasha pinched her brows and kept her eyes sealed shut to avoid the morning light. Annoyed by the disturbance, she didn’t dare move another inch in hopes she could drift again.
Niccolo’s alarm came next and staying true to his routine, he rolled to the edge. The brisk morning air struck his frame as the sheets fell away. The blonde grumbled under his breath from the sensation. He rubbed at his eyes and tiredly made his way out of the bedroom when he felt ready enough. Blindly addicted to the clockwork cycle, Niccolo turned on the coffee pot as the train rumbled by. Other than the sound of its horn and the coffee dribbling into the pot, the apartment was otherwise silent. He indulged in the peaceful silence while that nagging feeling of being alone grew.
“Sasha, it’s time to get up,” Niccolo murmured once he returned to the bedroom. Walking alongside their shared bed, he ran his hand along her shoulder to shake her awake. With his eyes widening more with alertness, Niccolo tried peeking at her hidden face. He noted his girlfriend’s furrowed brows and messy hair strewn across the abused pillow. The man lingered and silently wished her annoyed brows would ease into something more restful. He even felt envious that Sasha continued to absorb the warmth beneath the blankets.
Hardly putting in any effort to speak, her words slurred together. “I’m awake…”
“I just wanted to make sure. I have that good coffee brewing, so it’ll wake you up even more. Would you like me to pull out your clothes?” He politely asked. Earning some form of a mutter, Niccolo took it as her answer. He affectionately ran his hand along her covered arm as he walked away.
Sasha listened to Niccolo’s steps grow distant after a short while. They were soft and padded with socks to avoid the cold floor. She couldn’t help but admire the dedication that had been structured into him. Niccolo was a determined man, intelligent, and well-respected. Both at home and in public, he was admired through and through thanks to the rigid routine of ticking time.
Sucking in a slow breath, Sasha inhaled the heavy scent of earthy undertones that wafted through their apartment. Her ears focused on the train’s horn which grew distant until the buzz of morning traffic overpowered it. Even the noisy neighbors above caught her attention as they began to thump around. None of the busy sounds or even that intoxicating scent lulled Sasha away from the comfort of thick sheets, warmth, and the lingering scent of peach with rich greenery.
But that signature smell of her partner grew more stale the longer she stayed in bed.
A pestering yet welcoming thought rooted itself in Sasha’s mind as the minutes ticked by.
Niccolo walked into their shared bathroom once again. He glanced toward his hidden girlfriend while his arms worked his nightshirt off. His tone, never once raising or showing annoyance, stayed persistently soft while he dressed for the day. “Sasha, you need to get up or you’ll be late.”
“I don’t think I feel good.”
The blonde immediately froze at her words. With his pants loose on his hips and most of the buttons on his shirt not popped into place, Niccolo made his way toward the bed. His upper body curled forward and he rested a caring hand over her forehead. It was his turn to furrow his brows when Sasha suddenly buried her face further into the blankets. She was avoiding him and he didn’t like it one bit. It wasn’t like Sasha to shy away from him with anything.
“What do you mean you don’t-”
The brunette took advantage of his kindness. Like a predator claiming its prey, Sasha tossed the blanket away and she grabbed Niccolo’s waist. She giggled at his stuttering babbles from the sudden action- movements that revealed she wasn’t sick in the slightest. Easily, she twisted sideways and tossed him down on the bed. The old bedframe squeaked and groaned in protest from the frenzy. Sasha hooked her leg around his hip and she partially flopped on top of his squirming form. She used her strength and weight to hold her boyfriend down without issue.
Urgently patting Sasha’s sides, Niccolo scowled in a playful, yet serious manner. “Sasha! My clothes are going to get wrinkled! Now is not the time to fool around. You’re going to make us both late!”
“Let’s just stay home today,” she yawned. Sasha smashed her cheek against his chest while he blabbered nonsensical scolding. “I think we deserve it.”
“Neither one of us can stay home today, so no, we don’t deserve to be lazy,” Niccolo protested. Staying rigid in his spot, he tossed his head back in growing frustration. The clock continued to tick forward and he feared he wouldn’t beat traffic like usual. His rigid routine tugged at him to return. “Sasha, we get paid tomorrow, so we need today’s hours to pay the bills.”
The brunette frowned at his persistence, but she knew exactly how to break him down. “What bills are due this week?”
“Our phones and insurance,” he informed. His hands grew still on her sides. No matter how much he moved, Sasha wouldn’t budge. Her leg stayed tight over his hip and her arms squeezed at him like a constricting boa. Feeling uncomfortable in her bizarre hold, Niccolo’s eyes narrowed dully.
Hardly thinking it over, she hummed in his shirt when Niccolo twitched at her adventurous hand. Sasha tugged at his loose pants. “Based on my calculations, we’ll make it without today's hours. Muffins, you’ve worked eight days in a row and I’ve done six. Don’t we deserve to skip at least one day and be lazy together?”
“I think your form of laziness involves other things,” Niccolo mumbled. Continuing to cling to that obnoxious routine that left him feeling overwhelmed and exhausted, he tried widening his arms to slip out of Sasha’s grasp. Fingers curled at his back and he arched it in fear his weight would hurt her.
“No. I want your pants off so you’re comfortable.” Lifting her head, she caught those honey irises that flashed a look she knew all too well. Sasha’s lips curved into the smallest of knowing smiles, though her expression spoke of concern. “Can we play hooky for once?”
He puckered his lips in a slight pout. Niccolo glanced off to the side to avoid her pleading look, but his tender heart weakened. “It… it depends on how good your argument is…”
“When was the last time we shared a day off? When was the last time we shared a good meal? Deep cleaned the apartment? When was the last time we kissed?” She easily listed off. Her voice was hopeful and her tone expressed yearning. Craving for a lazy day together with no responsibilities, Sasha’s lower lip curled into a mirroring pout.
He sunk deeper and deeper into the mattress with every question. His look of ‘stop fooling around’ became one of understanding. Niccolo’s body, limb by limb, muscle by muscle, weakened until Sasha’s grip vanished. She laid above him now, her hands sliding over his shoulders and over his jaw to cup his face. A thumb rubbed beneath his eye and his lashes fluttered closed when he embraced her worrying, yet caring action. Niccolo couldn’t hide his look of exhaustion at this distance.
Niccolo couldn’t remember the last time they had a full day together. They had a few hours here and there, but they normally possessed quick meals, much-needed naps, and necessary chores. Sometimes they cuddled and spoke eagerly to one another, but it wasn’t enough. Those few precious minutes were always disturbed by something that needed their immediate attention—their nights involved one or the other slipping into bed while the other was fast asleep. Some days, Niccolo brought home paperwork while Sasha busied herself with overtime at the nearby diner.
When was the last time they held each other like this? Slow, sincere, and passionately sweet? Had he truly been that busy he hadn’t noticed Sasha’s hair had grown some? The makeup he had borrowed from time to time had dwindled to just a few items? Those slow-cooked, hearty meals became measly quick ones with eagerness for something better? That Sasha’s mouth desperately wanted to speak those silly, loving sentences he craved every day, even in his sleep?
Niccolo shook his head. He shook it in disappointment of himself and he heaved a tired sigh. “You’re right. It’s been a while for a lot of things. It’s just…”
“I know. I know. Democracy demands us to slave away more than necessary,” Sasha filled in. She watched those soft lips twitch into the smallest of smiles. Leaning closer, her mouth pressed against his nose. Those hands that lingered on her sides widened and curved until they brought her into a tender hug. Sasha practically melted at the familiar contact she had been begging for.
“You mean I need to find a higher-paying job to support us better,” Niccolo corrected. Bending his leg, he used it to his advantage. Their bodies rolled until their shoulders sunk into the mattress. Laying side by side, he tilted his head and kissed her cheek. He lingered to absorb her growing warmth.
“But we live in such an odd area that there aren’t any good jobs you would like,” she pointed out. The body beside her shifted and she forced herself to pull away. Watching Niccolo awkwardly shrug off his pants, Sasha reached out and she plucked at the few buttons. She had claimed victory with hardly any denial and she made sure it would stay that way.
“Like I enjoy the one I have now,” he inaudibly muttered. Niccolo stretched his arm back and his work clothes fell to the floor. His voice rose so he could properly speak to his girlfriend, but not enough to disturb the settling softness between them. “I could always travel a bit outside our comfort zone, but I’m not sure the vehicle could hold up those extra few miles.”
Another stressed sigh. Another responsibility that caused their smiles to falter. Sasha dismissed it easily by tossing the blankets over Niccolo’s frame. His arm returned over her waist while the other snuck beneath his pillow. Indulging in what they had been missing in their daily lives, Sasha and Niccolo took in the way they fit together like two puzzle pieces.
Sasha kissed his cheek. The warmth radiating from his skin caused her smile to reappear. "We can have Reiner look at it. He'll give us a good deal."
"Or we can move to the country in a rundown house," Niccolo jokingly replied. His eyes fluttered closed as Sasha's mouth explored his face. His heart grew jittery at the sensations that brightened his soul tenfold. "Live off of the land and battle the elements. For sure we would have both the time and money for such luxuries."
She brightened at the familiar idea. “I wouldn’t mind something like that. I have-”
He guffawed at her hinting words. “Don’t start that bizarre preaching-!”
“-knowledge on how to survive an apocalypse! Preserving food in jars, garden tricks for a surplus of crops, and living off the land!” Sasha rambled quickly. She squealed in the back of her throat when the arm around her waist tightened. Biting at her lip to suppress another sound, the brunette clung to her boyfriend when he playfully shoved his face in the crook of her neck.
Minding his manners, Niccolo muffled his snort into her nightshirt. Only his wildly imaginative girlfriend would come up with such a thoroughly planned fantasy. They had visited such a thing time and time again before.
“We’re not living in a Hallmark movie where we just leave everything behind and fix up a place nice and pretty. This is reality; it’s harsh and unpredictable.”
“Yeah, well, we can make our reality into a Hallmark- style movie. There are a lot of houses out in the country, isn’t there? I’m sure we could find something in our price range. I see people do it all the time on the internet!” Sasha defended.
“Uh-huh. How would we commute to work?” Niccolo challenged. He kissed her peeking collarbone and felt her chest vibrate against his lips. The brunette was thinking over his question to make it appear attractive. Niccolo, dismissive of superstitions and unimaginable fantasies, threaded lightly on the subject. He always did with whatever Sasha hurtled his way.
“I don’t know. It depends on how close we are to the city or town. Bicycles?”
He gave a light shrug in acknowledgment. “That wouldn’t be too bad. I need that kind of exercise. We’ll keep the car around for weather days, right?”
“Right. We can save for a newer vehicle in the meantime,” Sasha informed. Her chest puffed proudly at the simple step toward freedom.
“Sounds reasonable. What about the garden?” Niccolo wondered. Peppering kisses along the length of her neck, he soon caught the corner of her jawline. His soul yearned to not only splurge on the contact between their bodies but to fuel Sasha with undying devotion.
Feeling her cheeks warm with a pale blush from the attention, Sasha’s eyes wandered around their small bedroom. Silently praying she could lure her boyfriend further into a different future, she elaborated on her suggestion. “My Dad has a whole journal worth of tips and tricks we can borrow. If we follow everything correctly, we can fill a whole backyard with a garden! We’ll grow corn, all kinds of squashes, melons, strawberries, tomatoes, and potatoes! We can sell the extras at a farmers market!”
“You could also sell your delicious jams. You’d make a profit off of those,” he murmured. Resting his head back on his pillow, his lashes low, Niccolo admired Sasha’s glowing giddiness. “Our friends look forward to the jars you make for the holidays.”
“They’re practically pre-approved for the market! And you can sell your baked goods too!” She gasped.
“We would be quite the smash hit, wouldn’t we? What would we name our table?” Niccolo chuckled. Word by word, fulfilling sentence by fulfilling sentence, he couldn’t help himself to feel somewhat lured by the silly idea. Instead of slaving away behind a desk, staring at his computer for hours on end, or signing endless paperwork, he could busy his hands in the kitchen. Kneading dough, lathering sweets, and molding chocolate sounded like a dream come true. Niccolo couldn’t remember the last time he had touched his limited equipment that brought them both joy.
“I have no idea. Something memorable, that’s for sure! Oh! We can get chickens too! They would eat the bugs!”
“I wouldn’t mind some animals to liven up our place. What would be next? Or what would be done during all that?” He questioned. Edging Sasha on for more, his hand made its appearance from beneath his pillow. Cupping the side of her face, his thumb brushed along her blushing cheek. Niccolo took in the way those dark irises were practically gleaming with a dream so real he could almost feel it.
Leaning into his hand, Sasha’s smile softened. That exhausted look continued to be present on Niccolo’s features, but she took notice of his growing anticipation. He was following along, those typical superstitions of his fading away at the idea of something less stressful and something more rewarding instead. “Fixing up our shabby little house of course! We’ll fix it up here and there whenever we can. Paint it our favorite colors, fix up the kitchen, patch up any broken parts, and clean the outside.”
“I’d prefer the trimmings on the windows and doors a natural color.”
“And a polished wood floor?” She remembered. They had gossiped and dreamed of their future home plenty of times before. Such details like that were always held dear in her mind.
“Oh, yes. Quite classy. I’d like a front door framed with sidelights. I’ve always loved that sort of design,” Niccolo sighed. Giving her cheek a playful squeeze, his nose curled when Sasha stuck her tongue out in reply.
“Well, if we’re getting fancy like that, I want a turret room.”
“Those have always been your favorite since that one date. It would be a room full of wonderful memories if we had one in our house.”
They both grew still. Hands held faces or were draped over waists. Deep brown lingered on light ones as they absorbed the rare peace in their apartment. No clocks were apparent, the traffic outside began to die down, and their noisy neighbors had left for work. Their bosses would be calling or texting about their whereabouts, but they weren’t worried about replying for the time being. Sasha had encouraged Niccolo into one of her little fantasies again, and like usual, he accepted the idea after some logical thinking.
They could find a little house they could call their own. They could find less tenacious jobs. They could fix up the yard and steadily work their way inside. They could replace their mismatched furniture with brand-new sets. They could invite friends over without the fear of being too noisy. They could invite their family over and feel even more proud of their accomplishments.
Those rigid, clock-work hours would lessen their grip and allow the couple to have more freedom. Niccolo and Sasha would still work like responsible adults, but they would work something manageable as their hobbies blossomed into something more.
They’d have the freedom to cuddle without interruption. More time would be spent in the kitchen as they cooked fulfilling meals together. Late nights would practically become nonexistent. Date nights would become more frequent. Their friends would see them more often. Forgotten hobbies and unexplored ones would busy their quiet days.
An equal balance between work and love, with a quiet tick of a clock for half of it instead of nearly entirely.
“Muffins?” Sasha whispered. Earning a faint hum, honey irises steadily refocusing, she pressed her face further into her pillow almost shyly. “What are you thinking about? You have that look.”
He defensively raised a brow. “I don’t have a look.”
“Yes, you did. You get a look when you’re determined about something. What are you thinking about?” She questioned again, her voice rising with bubbling curiosity. The hand on her cheek continued to stroke away all of her worries and her body was brought closer by an enveloping arm.
“I’m just thinking of all the ‘what ifs’. The positives are outweighing all the negatives in my mind,” Niccolo replied. Speaking with the utmost honesty, he briefly bit his lip to hide his growing smile. It could have been his exhaustion speaking for him, but he knew by the end of their lazy day together, such an idea would have been accepted anyway. “You know how we should spend our day together?”
Rather taken aback by the topic change, she cocked her head. “How?”
“We’ll sleep the rest of the morning away. Next, we’ll go out and have lunch at our favorite little restaurant down the block. We can drift to the park for an hour or so, get our hair trimmed, and maybe do some window shopping, before making our way back. I’ll cook you your favorite dish while you pick a movie for us to watch. Afterward, relaxing baths that’ll lead to much-needed massages.”
Sasha dragged a blissful hum and her smile grew lopsided in a sappy manner. She moved impossibly closer, her nose brushing against Niccolo’s. “Do you have any ideas what may happen after those much-needed massages?”
“Yeah, more sleep,” he teased. Niccolo giggled when those eyes flashed with obvious disapproval. “I’m joking. Obviously, after spending such a relaxing, yet romantic day together, I’ll devour every inch of you like you’re my last meal.”
“Whoa, you could have left that in the air, you know? You’re getting me all flustered for tonight now! You ruined the surprise!” She giggled back. Blushing furiously at his suggestion, her eyes darted off to the side. Sasha’s chest tightened with warmth from the lovely ideas for their day together. They were all things she had been desperately wishing for during those slow days at work. Niccolo, always attentive and devoted, knew exactly what she desired most; for them to spend time together.
Niccolo chuckled and he flashed his teeth. “I like getting you flustered. It’s payback for all the times you give me a heart attack.”
“It’s not a heart attack if, in the end, you get all submissive and whiny,” Sasha retorted.
“I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
“Uh-huh. I’ll remind you tonight of the so-called heart attacks I give you.”
“Shh, we’re supposed to be sleeping now!” Niccolo hushed. Rolling away, he curled onto his other side in a desperate attempt to hide his reddened face. Knitting his brows together with his lips all wavy in embarrassment, Niccolo huffed out a laugh. Only Sasha could ever get him to react as if he had never encountered such romantic gestures before.
Leaning forward, Sasha pressed her face between his shoulder blades. She melted against his broad back and her mouth sought for skin. Her arm draped over his side and her mischievous grin softened into something sweet again. Fingers threaded between hers affectionately when her hand landed over a quickened heart. Sliding up and over to peer over Niccolo’s shoulder, the brunette quirked a brow at his look of fake annoyance. His rose-colored cheeks and wide eyes gave him away too easily.
“What were you really thinking about?” Sasha pressured.
He squinted. “If I told you, we won’t be able to slip in a morning nap.”
“Please, Muffins? We’re both being rebellious, so I believe both parties deserve to know all the secrets for today. What if one of us goes to jail and that person doesn’t know their partner's dreams?”
“What are you talking?” Niccolo chortled. “Who said we’re going to jail for skipping a single day of work?”
“Me, for the dramatics. Come on, what is it? Is it about living in the countryside?”
“Maybe,” he admitted.
Like the hands on an old clock, they slowly ticked for every second that would lead to an added minute. Her brows cautiously rose and she suddenly boxed Niccolo in with both of her arms. Hovering above the man of her dreams, jaw slack, the brunette felt tongue-tied. Any words that wanted to escape were trapped in her throat until Sasha forced a celebratory sound.
“You’re kidding! This is like, one of the wildest things I’ve blabbered about! Niccolo, are you sick? Delirious? How about we let this simmer for a couple of days before making it official that-”
“My darling hummingbird,” he interrupted. His voice, like rich honey, flowed without hesitation. He waited for Sasha’s jaw to clench back into place before he continued. “You shined a light on me. You’re right, we should find a house within our budget and change our living conditions. Find more enjoyable jobs, embrace our hobbies, and breathe in fresh air instead of smog every single day. I understand this change won’t happen overnight, but it won’t hurt us to start preparing.”
“I love you,” Sasha whispered. Moistening her forever-chapped lips, she didn’t waste any more time slotting their mouths together. Several quick, crisp greetings were exchanged and she continued to lather Niccolo with adoration between every single one. “I love you so much. I can’t believe you put up with my shenanigans- I love, love you. You’re such a perfect boyfriend, you know?”
“I love you too. So very much,” Niccolo nearly sang back. “We can start planning our steps today during our lazy outing if you want?”
“I’d like that very much. You know, I think we need to skip work more often; we get the best ideas when we’re lazy.”
Niccolo laughed at that.
By heart, Sasha knew Niccolo meant every spoken and unspoken word. He never backed away when something was agreed upon. Once something was within their grasp, undying affection between them followed suit; Lean arms encased Sasha’s frame entirely and Niccolo’s soft lips curved into a dorky, yet proud smile against hers. They shared a dozen more kisses, silly whispers ghosted cheeks, and their lashes grew heavy as they welcomedly accepted that morning nap.
He wanted to embrace change just as much as she did. Niccolo desired to break free from the invisible restraints they had grasped the second they were ready for independence.
A new path for their future. An unfamiliar journey they were ready to share. Plenty of challenges awaited them, but they were more than ready to take it step-by-step in the upcoming months. Skipping a day of life to replenish their souls certainly was the answer for the overworked couple who, in turn, finally disturbed those reinforced clockwork hours.