the vibe in haley’s room feels like a soft exhale at the end of a long day—warm, drowsy, and deeply lived-in. the air seems to carry the faint scent of burnt out candles and worn-in cotton, the kind of smells that settle into blankets and books over time. a pale quilt, embroidered with faded rose-pink stitching, spills over the bed like a patch of early morning. it’s slightly rumpled, inviting, as you and haley laid tangled in the sheets, embraced in the comforting warmth of sleep.

stacks of books (alex’s) rise in uneven towers beside the bed, giving the space a scholarly clutter. they give off a dusty, cozy aroma that mixes with the sweeter scent of fabric softener clinging to the bedding. the walls behind haley’s bed are layered with posters, selfies, and torn-out magazine pages—an intimate collage that hints at late-night creativity and familiar rituals.

a small stereo sits quietly nearby, her room filled with the gentle beats of the slow r&b she had playing, adding to the hazy, nostalgic atmosphere. altogether, the space feels safe and warmly enclosed, like a sanctuary where time slows down and the world outside can wait just a little longer.

that’s how time felt when you were with haley—slow, and unneeded. all that existed was you two in the confines of her bedroom, napping peacefully.

you weren’t haley’s… typical type for a boyfriend. to put it simply, you were a nerd. one that was as smart as alex, yet as innocent as luke. she’d needed a tutor after failing science and math again, to which she was assigned to be tutored by you—possibly the smartest boy in her year, or rather definitely. but amidst the turning of textbook pages and you explaining equations to her, she’d noticed something different about you.

the soft furrow of your brows as you concentrated, the way your tongue poked out just so: the way your hair was tousled from running your hands through it: the way your smile was patient and understanding with her… yeah. she just had to get you.

and she did in the way haley dunphy did: charismatic smiles, seductive hairflips and cleavage shown ever so slightly. simple, subtle things that had you distracted and your cheeks flushed.

haley initiated the first kiss, of course. your flustered reaction was adorable, but that was besides the point—

—you were now dating the haley dunphy, tangled in her soft pink and white blankets, head rested just above her heart and your arms around her waist.