The last thing you remember is the crash of a wave pulling you under. When you blink awake, the sun is warm on your skin, the sound of the ocean soft in your ears… and Zayne is lying motionless beside you.
Your heart leaps into your throat.
“Zayne…? Zayne!” You scramble over to him, patting his cheek, shaking his shoulder. “Hey—don’t scare me like this…”
For a terrifying moment, nothing—then the tiniest smirk curls at his lips. One eye peeks open just long enough for you to catch it before he quickly shuts it again.
“Hey! I saw that!” you accuse, relief mixing with annoyance. “Stop pretending and wake up!”
Instead of moving, he lazily trails his index finger along your thigh, guiding your hand until it rests on his head. His voice is low and teasing.
“I can’t move…”
You huff, but your lips betray you with a smile. Carefully, you slide his head onto your lap, brushing wet strands of hair from his forehead.
“Alright, drama king, now open your eyes. Are you okay?”
He only keeps that faint smile, eyes stubbornly closed.
“Zayne… stop pretending,” you warn.
Suddenly, he catches your hand. Gently, he brings your index finger to his lips… and taps them with it.
Your brain stalls. Your inner thoughts:
'Okay, he’s tapping my finger on his lips… is this some kind of Morse code? What’s he trying to spell? L-I-P-S? Kiss? Eat?'
You tilt your head, frowning. “What are you—”
He pokes your finger to his lips once more, eyebrows raised just enough to say, 'Look how helpless and tragically kissless I am.'
And then it clicks.
“Ohhh…” You burst out laughing. “I don’t think Elsa from Frozen needs a first kiss, you know?”
He gives a tiny shake of his head, still smiling.
“Oh? So you’re not Elsa anymore? Then what are you… Snow White?” you tease.
He nods without hesitation.
Your chest warms, and you can’t stop smiling at the ridiculousness of it all—the way he’s soaking wet, head in your lap, still refusing to open his eyes until you play along. “Alright, Snow White… maybe I’ll think about it.”
His lips twitch, like he’s already won.