𝐂𝐡𝐩𝐭 𝟐𝟐

Two Days Later - Kamala's Pov

"Maya, don't do anything reckless while I'm gone. You know how I get when I'm upset. Are we clear?"

Maya rolled her eyes before pulling her sister into a hug. "Oh. My. God. Yes, I understand. I won't do anything, Kamala. Unlike some people, I actually have self-control."

She shot Kamala a sideways glance, a sarcastic smirk forming on her lips.

"I'm serious, Maya. Don't try anything while I'm away. I'll be checking in on Allura often, and I trust her to tell me if you so much as look at her the wrong way," Kamala warned, her tone firm.

Maya folded her arms, her mouth falling open in mock offense. "Instead of worrying so much about what I'll be doing, maybe you should focus on surviving this trip with Professor Stanley."

Kamala didn't respond—because she couldn't. Maya had a point. A week away in another city with Stanley was bound to be challenging, but Kamala knew one thing for sure: she had no interest in her, and she intended to keep her distance.

"Oh, trust me, I will. I plan on keeping myself in check, and you're going to do the same."

Just then, Allura walked in, her usual bubbly energy lifting the mood, though the sadness on her face was impossible to miss.

"Come here, baby," Kamala said, opening her arms.

Allura nestled into her chest, wrapping her arms around Kamala's waist. She hadn't even left yet, and already, she dreaded this trip—especially leaving Allura alone with Maya.

"You're leaving already?" Allura pouted, her signature expression making Kamala's heart melt, just as it always did.

"Unfortunately, yes. My flight leaves in an hour, and I can't miss it. But I'll call and check on you whenever I can," Kamala assured her, pressing a kiss to the top of her head, savoring the moment.

"You better. I'm gonna miss you."

Kamala felt heat rise to her cheeks at Allura's words. She always did. They had become each other's safe place, and the thought of being apart was something neither of them was used to.

Kamala pulled back slightly, taking a moment to admire Allura's features. "Stay right here. I'll be back."

She walked down the hall to her bedroom, heading straight for the spot near her TV. Kamala knew she couldn't fully trust Maya alone with Allura, so she had set up a few cameras around the house—just in case. A quick check confirmed they were all in place and functioning.

Before leaving the room, she grabbed her favorite necklace. With it in hand, she made her way back down the hall.

"What's that for?" Allura asked, eyeing the necklace curiously.

"Turn around, sweet pea," Kamala said with a soft smile. "This is my favorite necklace, and I want you to wear it while I'm gone. That way, you'll always have a little piece of me with you."

She fastened the clasp, and when Allura turned back to face her, a smile spread across her lips.

"Aww, Kamala, it's beautiful. I'll take good care of it," she promised before pressing a gentle kiss to Kamala's lips.

Kamala deepened the kiss, her hands instinctively finding Allura's waist. Their breathing grew heavier as the slow, tender kiss quickly turned more intense.

Maya groaned, dramatically shielding her eyes. "Can you two get a room or something? Damn, I did not sign up to see all that."

They pulled back slightly, a soft laugh escaping against each other's lips.

They pulled back slightly, a soft laugh escaping against each other's lips.

"I should get going before I end up pinning you to that bed," Kamala teased, wrapping Allura in one last hug. "I love you so much."

Allura held her tighter, resting her head against Kamala's shoulder. "I love you more. Now go before you make me beg you to stay."

Allura sighed as they pulled back. She hated seeing Kamala leave, but she couldn't deny that she loved watching her walk away.

Maya walked Kamala to the door, wrapping an arm around her in a side hug. "Be safe out there, sis. Call me as soon as you land. I love you."

Kamala gave a warm smile, mouthing the words, "I love you too."

With that, she turned on her heel and headed to the airport, already counting down the moments until she could come back home.

· · ─────── ·𖥸· ─────── · ·

I arrived at the airport just in time. As I made my way through the terminal, my phone buzzed in my pocket. My heart leaped, hoping it was Allura—but when I pulled it out, I saw Stanley's name on the screen. With an annoyed sigh, I slipped the phone back into my pocket without answering.

Moving through security, I placed my bags down, already familiar with the routine after countless flights. After being patted down and checked, I slipped my shoes back on—only to catch a familiar face in my peripheral vision.

Shit.

"Kamala, over here!"

The voice called out, but I pretended not to hear it, keeping my pace steady toward the gate. Stepping onto the plane, I handed off my bags to the attendants and made a beeline for an empty row, claiming the window seat.

Knowing this was going to be a long flight, I pulled out my phone and sent Allura a game of pool. I knew I'd lose, but I just wanted an excuse to talk to her. The atmosphere on the plane was calm, filled with quiet chatter as passengers settled into their seats.

"Kamala, I was calling for you. Did you hear me?"

Stanley's voice rang out cheerfully, and I inwardly groaned.

I didn't hate her, but I knew what being alone with her could lead to. My mind kept circling back to the last time we were in this situation—and the consequences that followed. I couldn't let that happen again.

"S-Sorry, I didn't hear you. I was just trying to get here quickly." A lie. I'd heard every word, but she didn't need to know that.

She settled into the seat beside me, crossing her legs and casually peering over at my phone.

"What are you playing?"

I exhaled softly, keeping my irritation in check. If this trip was going to go smoothly, I needed to set some boundaries—now.

"Amanda, listen." My tone was firm. "What happened between us last time can't happen again. You're nice, I get that—but I can't let that happen. We need to keep things professional."

Her expression shifted—cheerful one moment, then something else entirely. Sad? Angry? I couldn't tell, and honestly, it didn't matter. What mattered was that I had set my boundaries.

She shifted slightly in her seat, taking a deep breath.

"I understand, Kamala. No hard feelings. And I'm sorry for making you uncomfortable and overstepping."

A small smile crept onto my lips. I hadn't expected her to be so understanding, but here she was, actually listening.

The rest of the flight settled into a more professional rhythm. We discussed the work ahead, the classes we'd be monitoring, and the schedule we needed to follow. The conversation flowed smoothly, without any tension.

But no matter how focused I tried to be, my mind kept drifting back to my beautiful girl waiting for me at home. I already missed her—the way she'd challenge me with her sharp wit, those playful remarks that always made me smile.

A few hours passed, and we finally landed in the bustling city of Atlanta. After gathering our bags, we stepped outside, immediately met by the hum of traffic and city lights. The energy of the streets was a clear reminder of the long week ahead.

A well-dressed man stood by a sleek black car, offering a polite nod as we approached.

"Good evening, ladies. I will be your driver for the week," he announced with a warm smile.

· · ─────── ·𖥸· ─────── · ·

We arrived at the luxurious hotel, the driver assisting us with our bags as we walked inside. The key cards were already waiting for us at the desk, and I could feel the weight of the long day settling in. By the time we reached our rooms, the sky had darkened, and exhaustion was creeping up on me.

As I approached my door, I noticed Stanley heading toward hers, which was only a couple doors down.

"Goodnight, Kamala," she called out, a small smile tugging at her lips as she slipped inside her room.

I entered my own room, taking a moment to take in the spacious, well-designed space before dropping my bags. I headed straight for the shower, letting the hot steam engulf me as I lathered up, feeling the warmth relax my muscles. My thoughts wandered to Allura—what was she doing right now?

After finishing my shower, I slipped into my pajamas, wrapped my hair up, and climbed into bed. My phone was in my hand before I even thought about it. I hovered over Allura's name, needing to see her face and hear her voice before I could settle into sleep.

I tapped FaceTime and watched the phone ring a few times before her beautiful face appeared on the screen.

"Hi, my beautiful baby. How are you?" I greeted her softly, my voice filled with warmth.

Allura looked flawless, as always—her dark hair cascading down her back, and that smile I couldn't get enough of lighting up her face. She wore a white tank top and boxers, laying comfortably in my bed.

"No, how are you? How was your flight? Did they treat you well? Did anyone try you?" she asked, sitting up slightly, her brow furrowed in concern.

I couldn't help but laugh at her seriousness. If there was one thing I loved about her, it was how she always seemed to go to war about me.

"It went well, sweet pea. No one tried me, I promise."

"I've gotta make sure," she said, her tone serious. "You know I'm always ready to knock someone upside the head for you."

Her protectiveness made my heart swell. It was one of the many reasons I adored her so much.

"You look so pretty right now. So free, just being you." She bit her lip slightly, her gaze warm and affectionate.

I blushed instinctively, quickly looking away from the camera, feeling the heat rise to my cheeks.

"You're so lucky I'm not in that room with you right now. That tank top would be on the floor," I teased, my voice low and playful.

She sank back into the bed, forming her lips into a thin line as she shook her head slightly, clearly enjoying this. Got her.

"Don't get all quiet now. I see you blushing," I said, pointing my finger at the camera, a smirk tugging at my lips.

She let out a light-hearted laugh, her eyes twinkling.

"How do you know I'm blushing, Professor?" she asked, her tone teasing but with a hint of curiosity.

I sat up slightly, glancing at the ceiling as if pretending to think. "Well, every time I make you blush, you always shake your head a little bit and bite your lip."

Her laugh was soft, and I could almost hear the smile in her voice.

"And every time I make you blush, you look off from the camera," she teased. "Don't you remember what happened in the bathroom at school? Cause..." Her voice trailed off, and I could feel the weight of her words. "I gets down, I don't play. Especially not when it comes to you."

Her playful tone mixed with that hint of seriousness had my heart racing a little faster.

"You better watch it or I'll be catching an early flight back. Do you remember when I had you face down in the sheets? 'Oh Kamala, Oh Kamala, Can I come?' Does that ring a bell, Allura?"

I tilted my head slightly, waiting for Allura's response, trying to hide my grin. She rolled her eyes and pursed her lips, looking like she was holding back a laugh.

"Yeah, that's what I thought, mama," I teased, giving her a playful smirk.

I couldn't help but chuckle, the tension between us disappearing instantly.

"You're lucky you're so cute," I said, sticking my tongue out at her through the screen.

"Tell me something I don't know," she replied, her smile widening as she shifted in the bed, clearly enjoying the banter.

It felt good to laugh, especially after the long day. Even though we were miles apart, moments like this made it feel like she was right there beside me.

"Did Stanley try anything on you? Because I still owe her an ass whooping," Allura asked, her playful tone shifting to a more serious one, though I could still hear the protective edge in her voice.

I laughed, shaking my head. "No, sweet pea. Stanley kept it professional. No need for any ass-whooping... yet," I added, winking at the screen.

"Good," she said, clearly relieved. "But if she does anything, you better call me. I'll be on the next flight to handle it."

I smiled, feeling her love and loyalty from miles away. "I promise, I'll handle it. But it's nice to know you've got my back."

"Of course I do. Always," Allura said, blowing a kiss toward the screen as I did the same.

We kept chatting, the conversation flowing easily as the hours ticked by. I found myself rambling about childhood memories, laughing at the silly things I used to do.

Then, I noticed the soft sounds of snores coming through the phone. Allura had fallen asleep, her face perfectly framed by the phone's camera, looking peaceful and serene.

I chuckled quietly, my heart full of warmth. I turned off my lights and gently placed the phone beside me on the bed, not wanting to disturb her.

"Goodnight, princess," I whispered, smiling to myself as I drifted off to sleep, feeling closer to her despite the distance.

Awww they fell asleep on the phone. How freakin cute are they ??😍