????: ??????? ??? (? ????? ???? ?????) ?

► 𝙰𝙲𝚃 𝙸𝚅: 𝚃𝙷𝙴 𝚂𝙴𝙰𝚁𝙲𝙷 𝙵𝙾𝚁 𝚃𝙷𝙴 𝙴𝙽𝙳 ◄

~~~

Skyler

JULY

Napping during the day is something I rarely get to do because of busy schedules and unending workloads, but when I do actually get the chance, it's probably the nicest thing in the world.

I've been doing it a lot more recently, not just because the stressful stockpile of things to do has lightened, but because I've felt at peace enough to take my mind off of things and just rest. 

Ever since Charlie's birthday last month, things have been a lot better. I don't know how long it will last, but I might as well ride the high while it's still kickin'.

And that means taking breaks and deserving naps whenever I feel like it. Like right now.

A gentle tap on the shoulder had been the thing to disturb my peaceful sleep. Waking up, my eyes slowly de-blurred and settled on the person standing patiently by the bedside, awaiting my response.

"Sky..?" The voice had called, muffled and at a distance. I wasn't fully awake yet, so whoever was trying to bring me back to consciousness; they're gonna have to wait.

"Hey, leave her alone," another voice hissed, even further away as if they weren't in the room and, instead, calling from the hallway. "Let her sleep."

"But doesn't h—she have to leave in a bit?" The closer voice stammered over their words.

"She has an hour. It's a long drive from here to California. Let her sleep."

The other voice had disappeared, but the faded silhouette in front of me did not move a muscle. Their face slowly came into focus, along with the familiar black, tan, and white patches of fur on their face.

They whispered into my ear. "...Clouds?" 

I squinted my eyes and breathed in heavily through my nostrils. Every time I wake up, my lungs feel like they're sinking or being weighed down by some heavy object.

"Hey, Cal," I mumbled groggily, rubbing my eyes with the backside of my paw, sniffling and clearing my throat. My eyes burned from the sensation of air hitting them after my eyelids had been shielding them from the atmosphere for the past hour. 

The image of my childhood bedroom formed around me as I returned to my senses, reminding me that I was home for the time being. It was still strange seeing how empty it was, since all my stuff was either thrown away or moved to California. I had promised to visit my family last month, so here was me finally doing that. But, sadly, the brief vacation had ended today.

Calico dropped to his knees, reaching my level on the mattress, his paws gripping the edge of the bed. "You leave in an hour. You got to get up and get ready and get all your things packed and... you gotta hurry."

"Wow, I didn't think you'd be this eager to get me out of the house," I teased, lying on my back and stretching my limbs feebly. 

"I'm upset that you're leaving me again," Cal grumbled, sitting on the floor with an attitude, his back against the bedframe.

"You were the one that convinced me to move in with Charlie," I reasoned.

"I thought you'd stay for the Fourth of July. We were gonna watch the fireworks..."

"Yeah, well, me and my friends had plans to celebrate the Fourth of July together months ago, so I can't just skip out on them. I was here for the First of July, if that helps," I chuckled, only for Cal to go quiet.