I rolled over in the pitch-black room, barely making out the alarm clock's glowing digits: 7:00 AM. The heavy curtains blocked the sunlight, but my internal clock wouldn't let me sleep in.
Achoo… My nose burned from the chill. Freezing!
The blankets felt like they hid a massive iceberg—an iceberg?! No wonder I was catching a cold!
I groped for the bedside lamp and flicked it on. In the harsh light, only a golden butterfly-wing mask gleamed back at me.
The "iceberg" stirred, an arm lazily draping over to pull me close. Three more sneezes racked my body, leaving me dizzy. Only when his familiar scent hit me did my panicked heart settle. "Lanst, you gave me this cold!"
"Mmm… Did it on purpose." His voice was sleep-thick, eyes still shut. "Now you can't run away."
"You're despicable!" I pinched and twisted the muscle of his arm.
He didn't even flinch. "You're just fragile. And turn that light off—it's blinding. Why're you fussing so early?"
