Chapter 12

𝙻𝚘𝚗𝚍𝚢𝚗

“You’ve got to be jokin’.”

I stood by the livin’ room window, grippin’ the curtains like they owed me money. The rain was comin’ down in sheets, practically turnin’ the driveway into a lake. Today had been fightin’ me since 6:00 AM. I was on the last day of my period, some construction crew decided to play “hammer the sidewalk” right outside my window for ten minutes, and now the sky was actin’ like it had a personal vendetta against me.

And the cherry on top?

Aries’s car was at a wrap shop. So now we had no car. And before you ask—no, I couldn’t borrow my dads car. He was still in the city. And no, there weren’t any “spares.” Don’t play in my face right now.

“C’mon, we’re gonna be late, Londyn.”

I turned, and there she was—walkin’ over with an umbrella already in hand, lookin’ like she had her whole life coordinated while I was fallin’ apart.

I let out a long, disrespectful groan, my hand instinctively droppin’ to my lower stomach as I walked toward her. The cramps were tryin’ to neutralize me. “I hate takin’ the bus. You know how packed that shit gets when it’s rainin’? It’s gon’ smell like wet wool and disappointment.” I asked, already annoyed just thinking about it.

She chuckled, that low vibration hittin’ me right in the chest. She shook her head, lookin’ at me.

“I know. It’s just one more day, okay?” Her voice dropped into somethin’ softer, calmer—the kind of tone that makes you want to stop yellin’ and just lean in, and for absolutely no good reason, my heart skipped like it forgot its job for a second. Fucking traitor.

“Yeah! Yeah…” My voice pitched up before I caught it. I cleared my throat fast, feelin’ the heat crawl up to my cheeks. “Let’s just go. Before I decide to drop out of college entirely.”

I cleared my throat again, like that was going to fix anything, and followed her toward the door, prayin’ the bus had at least one seat left.

The second we stepped outside, she opened that big-ass umbrella and moved in close beside me, keeping both of us covered from the rain. There was plenty of room under that thing, so there was no valid excuse for her to be pressed against me like that… but she was. And I wasn’t mad at it.

“We’re already late, Aries,” I grumbled, my pace slow because my body was actively plottin’ a coup against me.

She just hummed, matchin’ her steps to mine without sayin’ a word about it. “I’ll treat you to somethin’ after school. How ’bout that?” she asked, glancin’ down at me as we made our way along the sidewalk toward the bus stop.

A small smile betrayed me immediately. I bumped my shoulder into hers, and she let out a quiet laugh, adjustin’ the umbrella so I stayed one-hundred percent covered.

“Can we get sushi again?” I asked, already knowing how this sounded.

She sighed, but I saw her lips twitch. We’d had sushi four days ago when I was throwin’ a “very mature” fit over my cramps, but that was not the point.

“Sushi it is,” she said anyway. I nodded, feelin’ like I’d just won a championship.

By the time we got to the bus stop, we were both standin’ under the little shelter, rain drummin’ against the roof in a steady rhythm. I was good for about two minutes. Maybe less.

Then the pain hit again—sharp, low, and disrespectful as hell.

It twisted low in my stomach, sharp enough that I paused, my hand grippin’ Aries’s hoodie as I leaned into her. I rested my head against her chest without even thinkin’ about it. My nose was extra sensitive today—everythin’ smelled like wet asphalt and too much perfume—but her scent? It was calm. Subtle. Cocoa and vanilla, just like that night in the backyard.

It was enough to distract me, enough to make the pain fade to the background every now and then. I let out a quiet groan, my ear pressed close enough to hear her heartbeat, steady and even, like nothin’ ever rattled her.

“Is your girlfriend okay?”

The voice came out of nowhere. My heart skipped a beat, and I felt Aries stiffen underneath me.

“Oh, she’s not—” Aries started.

I cut Aries off before she could give that lady the “Security Briefing” version of our life. “Yes, I’m okay,” I said. I lifted my head and turned toward the old lady, forcing a small, pained smile that I tried very hard to disguise.

She nodded anyway, her smile warm like she saw right through me, and took a seat on the bench under the shed.

Aries sighed softly, and I turned back toward her, settling my head against her chest again like that was just… where it belonged right now.

“I told you to take a pill. Why ain’t you listen—” she started, then caught herself. “Never mind. It’s you we talkin’ ’bout. I forgot who I was—”

I jerked my head up, grabbin’ her face and squeezin’ her cheeks until her lips were all puckered. “Finish that sentence, Aries. I dare you.”

Her lips pushed forward from the pressure, and I let out a laugh, already losing my ability to stay serious. She looked at me, her eyes dancin’ with that low-frequency humor I hated to love as she gently pried my hands off. “You want that sushi or not?”

I gasped, offended, while a small smile crept onto her face like she enjoyed poking at me.

“I’m just playing. C’mon,” she added as the bus pulled up, letting out a loud hiss as it lowered and opened its doors.

Once we paid and stepped inside, I immediately regretted every decision that led me here. The whole damn bus was packed. Not even packed like “oh, there’s a few seats left.” No. Packed like “why is it this many people in one space and nobody smells good?”

I weaved through a ridiculous amount of bodies, tryin’ not to touch anybody more than necessary, until I made it to the very back. My back hit against the barrier between the seats and the doors, and I winced, the impact sendin’ a dull ache through me.

Aries stumbled into me right after, quickly catchin’ herself by grabbin’ the bar behind me. “You okay??” she asked, her voice immediate, a little too quick.

I nodded, grippin’ the ends of her zip-up hoodie like it was the only stable thing in this crowded mess. “I’m fine,” I murmured.

My eyes drifted for a second, catching a couple girls sitting off to the side, watching Aries a little too closely. They caught me looking and smiled. Soft and unashamed.

Oh. So we’re doin’ this? In the back of the MARTA? On a period day?

Some of y’all real bold.

I turned back to Aries, who was busy lookin’ out the window like none of this concerned her. I reached out and pulled her a little closer without saying anything, and she looked down at me, leaning in just enough for me to rest my head back against her chest.

“Is it hurtin’ that bad?” she asked quietly near my ear.

My body went rigid for a split second—a whole-body reaction I couldn’t check. Then I forced myself to relax, noddin’ against her hoodie. I subtly glanced back at the girls who were busy star gazin’ at my bodyguard. They were lookin’ at me now.

I smirked. A slow, unserious little grin that said everything they needed to know about who owned the space.

Their faces twisted almost immediately, lookin’ like they’d just tasted somethin’ bitter. Yeah… that’s what I thought. Keep that same energy when you’re walkin’ in the rain.

The bus doors hissed open, lowerin’ to the curb like it was tired of the commute too. I didn’t move until I was ready, keepin’ my hand gripped on Aries’ zip-up.

By the time we reached our stop, We got off the bus quick, Aries already openin’ the umbrella and pullin’ me under it before a single drop could mess with my hair.

I was walkin’ slow, my hand instinctively pressin’ against my lower stomach. The cramps were disrespectful today, but I wasn’t about to let Aries see me that vulnerable.

“I swear, if we don’t just call an Uber on the way back home,” I huffed, lookin’ at the puddles like they’d personally offended me. “I’m not doin’ the ‘crowded bus’ routine twice in one day. My nose can’t take the sensory overload, Aries.”

She chuckled, the sound muffled by the rain drummin’ against the umbrella. “It wasn’t that bad, Lo. You survived.”

I hummed, lookin’ at her sideways. “‘Wasn’t that bad’? You was  the one gettin’ star gazed by half the back row while I was over there tryin’ not to crash out from pain.”

She just smiled—that small, amused look she gets when I’m doin’ the most. She adjusted her grip on the umbrella, her arm brushin’ mine, and for a second, the rain didn’t feel so cold.

“Sushi later,” she reminded me, her voice droppin’ into that cocoa and vanilla frequency. “Just get through class.”

I sighed, leanin’ into her space just a little more. “Fine. But if the professor acts up today, hold me back. I don’t got the patience for the syllabus.”

We rushed to class anyway. Late didn’t even begin to cover it. And the moment we walked in, I already knew Mr. Wilson was about to make it a whole situation.

Mr. Wilson stopped mid-sentence, looking at us like we’d just walked in with a search warrant.

Half the class turned around, eyes tracking us from the door to the back of the room like we were some kind of public announcement. I caught Khalil smirking and Britney looking like she’d just confirmed a whole theory.

Yeah… they were either thinking something stupid or already came to the wrong conclusion. And honestly, they had been doing that a lot lately, especially after that dinner party my father forced us to attend.

“You two are an hour late, and you’re disturbing my class,” Mr. Wilson said, his voice projecting to the very back.

I paused, my brows pulling together. Was he deadass right now? “Continue. We was just finna sit down,” I said, raising my voice to match his energy.

He shook his head, looking all unserious with his “authority.” “This is the third time this week. Leave. After class is finished, come back and we’ll discuss things.”

“Nigga, really?” My face twisted in irritation.

I could feel the heat rising in my chest, because no way he was standing here announcing how many times I’d been late like he knew why.

“What you two got going on needs to stay out of class—”

“The fuck is you talkin’ ’bout—” I took two steps forward, ready to backhand his whole attitude, but I felt a hand on my arm.

Aries pulled me back with a small huff, her grip gentle and cautious. “Lo, c’mon. We’ll hit up the library,” she murmured. She was the only thing keeping me from crashing out in front of everyone. I shot one last lethal glare at Wilson before letting her lead me out.

“Leave. Now,” he repeated.

I dragged Aries out of that lecture hall, my boots squeakin’ against the tile. “He’s so fuckin’ needy, and for what!? It was one fuckin’ kiss!?” I snapped, the words echoin’ off the walls like a broadcast.

Aries stopped dead in her tracks. I felt the tug on my wrist and had to halt, turnin’ back to see her lookin’ at me with one brow lifted. It was that “Security Detail” look—the one that meant she was takin’ inventory of a new problem.

“That’s why??” she asked, her voice low.

And just like that… my words disappeared. My heart did that stupid jump-rope thing again, but this time it wasn’t the cramps. It was the way she was lookin’ at me.

“You’re not weirded out by it, are you—” I started, my voice soundin’ rattled.

“No fuckin’ wonder he’s actin’ like a bitch—”

“Huh?”

We both said it at the same time. The silence that followed was thick enough to choke on. I immediately shook my head, tryin’ to physically erase the question I’d almost finished. Was I really about to ask my bodyguard if she cared who I kissed? Was I fried or just delusional?

“Nothin’,” I said quickly, my cheeks feelin’ like they were on fire. “Forget I said anythin’. The rain is fuckin’ with my signal. Can we just go get my favorite now? Please? Before I actually crash out in this hallway.”

Aries hummed in agreement, and we started walkin’ again. It wasn’t until we’d cleared the hallway that I realized I was still holdin’ her wrist like it was the most natural thing in the world.

Before I could even process that, a girl approached us. “Uhm, sorry to bother you guys,” she said, a little hesitant.

I nodded. “Yeah, what’s up?”

She chuckled nervously, tucking her hair behind her ear. “I just wanted to say… you two are a very beautiful couple.”

My heart skipped a beat, then did a whole backflip. I turned to Aries. Her eyes were just as wide as mine, lookin’ like her mind had just been wiped clean.

“Oh—” I turned back to the girl, a soft, pained smile breakin’ through my irritation. “Thank you. I appreciate that.”

I didn’t correct her. I didn’t say “She’s just my bodyguard.” I just let the truth sit there in the air.

She hurried off, and suddenly my face was hit with a heatwave for no good reason.

I didn’t say a word. I just dragged Aries to the front to order. She handled the cashier with that quiet calm, placin’ the order and payin’ before I could even find my wallet.

“That’s like the fifteenth time this week,” she muttered under her breath, lookin’ at the receipt.

I just nodded, still holdin’ her wrist, my fingers brushed against her pulse. I didn’t let go. Not even when we got our food.

We headed to the library, walking over to the quiet corner in the library, tucked away behind the stacks where the light was low and the world was flatlined. For forty-five minutes, it was just us, and the steady rhythm of the rain outside.

“Cuffed sweatpants or uncuffed?” I asked, lookin’ at her over the rim of my cup. It was a “random” question, but I was really just tryin’ to see if she was payin’ attention to the details as much as I was.

She glanced up and chuckled, shakin’ her head. “Uncuffed. You always see me in uncuffed, Londyn.”

She brought her food toward her mouth, and I saw my openin’. I reached over and snatched it right out of her hand. Her mouth slowly closed, lookin’ at me like I just stepped on her pair of 1s.

I giggled, takin’ a bite myself, but before I could even finish, She grabbed my face—her hand firm but soft—and leaned forward, takin’ a bite out of the other half.

Our faces were inches apart. I could smell the cocoa and vanilla on her skin, mixed with the library air. We both pulled back, laughin’ into our hands. “That’s what you get for stealin’ my food,” she said with a quiet chuckle.

My smile faded slowly, my throat tightening just a little as I swallowed.

I hummed softly, my eyes lingerin’ on her face a second longer than they probably should have. The laughter faded, and the silence that followed was thick. We just… looked at each other.

I cleared my throat, lookin’ away before I said somethin’ reckless and stupid. I brought my drink to my lips, hopin’ the cold would reset my system.

“Give me some,” she said, pointin’ at my cup. Findin’ my “unserious” mask again. “I don’t share my—”

She didn’t even let me finish. She leaned over and took a sip, lookin’ at me the whole time like she was waitin’ for me to stop her. I didn’t. I just huffed and pushed her head away, our laughter breakin’ the tension before it could flatline us entirely.

“Let’s go before he has another hissy fit,” I said, gathering everything as we got up and left the library, heading back to the lecture room.

The second we walked in, Mr. Wilson brushed Aries off like she wasn’t even worth acknowledging.

Her jaw tightened immediately.

“I’ll be fine,” I mouthed to her.

She huffed but stepped out, and I made my way down the steps to his desk. I stopped right in front of him, my face completely blank.

“Who the fuck do you think you are, embarrassin’ me like that?” I snapped.

His eyes narrowed, lookin’ at me with a disrespect that was deadass uncalled for. “You don’t walk into my class late after screwin’ another student and disrupt—”

My hand connected with his face before he could even finish the lie. His head snapped to the side, the sound echoin’ through the empty hall like a gunshot.

“Bold of your bitch-ass to assume I’m fuckin’ on someone,” I said, my voice low and sharp. “And even if I was, that shit ain’t your business. You’re a professor, not my priest. Stay in your lane, nigga.”

His expression twisted instantly, anger flashing across his face as he lunged forward, his hand coming up like he was about to put it on me.

I flinched—

But nothing landed.

I opened my eyes to see Aries standin’ right there, her hand wrapped around his wrist like a steel trap. She hadn’t even made a sound when she came back in.

I turned slightly, realizing just how close she was, how fast she had gotten there. Her jaw was clenched, her grip firm as she shoved his arm away from me.

“I wouldn’t do that if I were you,” Aries whispered, her voice so cold it made the rain outside feel like a summer breeze.

My body reacted before my brain did, a small shudder running through me at the tone alone. “The fuck is wrong with the bitch!?” Mr. Wilson snapped.

That was the wrong thing to say.

Aries moved before I could even think, grabbing the front of his jacket and yanking him forward. “Repeat that shit,” she said, her voice calm & collected. “I dare you, my nigga.”

I quickly grabbed her forearm, glancing toward the door as I noticed students starting to gather. Yeah… no. This was about to get worse. “We gotta go, like, now.”

I tightened my grip on her and pulled her back, dragging her toward the other exit before anyone could stop us.

We rushed out of that building, straight into the pourin’ rain. The AC from the hallway was replaced by the heavy, drownin’ weight of the Atlanta sky, and my clothes were soaked through in zero seconds.

“Let my dad handle it,” I huffed, my breath hitchin’ as the cold hit my skin.

I was movin’ fast, my hand still gripped on Aries’ arm like I was the one protectin’ her for once. The adrenaline was doin’ a catastrophic dance with my cramps, but I didn’t care. We needed to be off this campus.

I looked back at her. Her face was still a flatline of rage, her jaw tight enough to snap. The rain was streamin’ down her face, plasterin’ those damp curls to her forehead.

Aries grumbled under her breath, pulling off her jacket and throwing it over my head.

“I dropped the umbrella when I rushed inside to stop him,” Aries muttered, lookin’ at her soaked boots like they’d betrayed her. She was standin’ there in just her shirt, her jacket still draped over my head.

“You’re gonna get sick, Aries!” I shouted over the thunder, tryin’ to push the heavy denim back toward her.

“So will you!?” she shot back, her eyes flashin’ with that lethal intensity she’d had for Mr. Wilson. She wasn’t havin’ it. It was clear she was stayin’ on duty, even if she caught a cold doin’ it.

I groaned, givin’ up because arguin’ with her when she’s in the mindset was no use. We ran toward the nearest store to grab a cheap umbrella.

Her clothes were completely plastered to her, showin’ every line of the muscle underneath. Her hair was damp, stickin’ to her forehead in those dark curls. I felt my own clothes doin’ the same, the cold water finally startin’ to numb the cramps.

She reached up and wrung out the hem of her shirt, water splashin’ against the ground. It was so unserious, so chaotic, that I couldn’t help it. I let out a small laugh, the sound echoin’ under the plastic umbrella.

“What?” she asked, glancin’ at me with a half-smirk.

“Nothin’,” I breathed, lookin’ at her through the rain.

She glanced down and groaned, handing me the umbrella. “I needa tie my shoe.”

She crouched down, and I held the umbrella over us, trying to keep us covered. That lasted about two seconds.

A strong gust of wind flipped the umbrella inside out, yankin’ it straight out of my hands like it had somewhere to be.

“CHEAP ASS UMBRELLA!” I shouted, my voice echoin’ through the rain as I watched it get dragged down the street like it was running away from responsibility. “I HATE IT HERE! WHY IS EVERYTHIN’ GOIN’ LEFT TODAY?!”

I turned back to Aries, ready to vent, but the words died in my throat. She was laughin’. Actually laughin’. It wasn’t that “Security Detail” chuckle—it was a full-blown, soul-deep sound that made the whole world feel flatlined in the best way possible.

“You’re so dramatic, Lo,” she breathed, her eyes dancin’ with a light I hadn’t seen all day.

Before I could even get offended, she moved. In one smooth motion. She scooped me up off my feet. I let out a startled squeak, my arms wrappin’ around her neck and my legs instinctively locking around her waist as she held me against her chest.

The rain was poundin’ down on us, but with her holdin’ me like I was the most precious cargo on the planet, I didn’t even give a damn. She started runnin’ toward the gates to our place, her timbs splashin’ through the puddles like they were obstacles.

I looked at her face—wet, smilin’, and entirely too correct.

“Put me down, Aries! You’re gonna drop me!” I shouted, but I was laughin’ too, my face pressed against her neck.

“I got you,” she chuckled.

We burst through the door, water trailing behind us like we were leaving evidence, Aries immediately started ushering me toward the stairs like she wasn’t the one completely drenched.

“Just go shower. It’s fine,” she said, right before sneezing, which completely ruined her whole “I’m good” act.

“Yeah, okay, Captain America,” I huffed, rollin’ my eyes. “Go get a towel before you flatline on the rug. I’m goin’ quick so you can get in next.”

I moved upstairs, the adrenaline finally startin’ to fade, leavin’ me with the dull ache of my cramps and the memory of her heartbeat against my ear.

The quiet was thick, heavy with the weight of everything that happened—the bus, the slap, the way she scooped me up in the rain. I stepped into the steam of the shower, hopin’ the hot water would wash away the “unserious” thoughts, but I already knew.

Ever since my dad left after that dinner, he hadn’t been around much. Not that he ever stayed long to begin with.

So honestly?

It was… nice. Knowing someone else was here.

I stepped out of the steam, feelin’ like a human again, wearing my usual—baggy sweatpants, oversized tee, hair thrown up into a lazy bun, and glasses sitting low on my nose.

I barely made it into the hallway before I saw Aries rushing into the bathroom, struggling to peel her shirt off while sneezing again like her body was actively betraying her.

I pinched the bridge of my nose and groaned.

Yeah. No.

I headed downstairs and turned on the kettle, deciding to make her a cup of hot chocolate before she got herself sick trying to act tough.

I stood by the stove, the steam from the kettle risin’ up. Once it clicked off, I was stirrin’ the hot chocolate, tryin’ to act like my heart wasn’t still racin’ from the classroom crash-out.

I heard her footsteps on the tile. Aries was walkin’ slow. She had a towel draped over her head, wearin’ a sports bra and gray sweats that sat low on her hips. I caught the waistband of her boxers peekin’ out and had to look away fast before my face hit the same temp as the water in the kettle.

“I made you some hot chocolate,” I said, walkin’ over and handin’ it to her.

She glanced down at me, sniffling softly.

Thunder cracked right over the roof, shakin’ the windows. I flinched, my shoulders jumpin’ as lightnin’ bleached the kitchen white for a split second. I let out a breath I didn’t even realize I’d been holding.

“Thank you,” she said quietly.

I hummed in response, my eyes drifting toward the window as rain continued to pour, flashes of white light cutting through the dark sky every so often.

When I turned back around, she was closer. Way closer. The space between us had shrunk without me noticing, and now we were standing just inches apart.

“Next time,” she said, her voice soundin’ stuffy and entirely too soft, “let’s just stay home.”

I let out a small chuckle and nodded, reachin’ up to help dry her curls with the towel. I was movin’ in slow motion, my fingers brushin’ against her damp hair. Our eyes met again.

And this time… I slowed down.

Her gaze dipped for just a second, and my breath hitched, my whole system deadlocked on the way she was lookin’ at me. I cleared my throat, tryin’ to act like I wasn’t suddenly aware of everything.

“You should drink the hot cocoa before it gets cold—”

Everything went dark.

The entire world went flatline. No humming from the fridge, no light from the hallway—just heavy, suffocating dark. I let out a loud gasp, my heart jumpin’ into my throat like it was tryin’ to escape the room.

“Oh my fucking gosh—”

I turned toward the window way too fast, lookin’ for a streetlamp or something, but my foot caught the edge of the coffee table. I went stumblin’ into the void.

“Bitch—” I hissed, barely findin’ my balance as I heard a small huff of laughter behind me.

Then, a beam of light cut through the darkness. Aries had her phone out, the flashlight illuminatin’ the steam still risin’ from her mug. She looked entirely too calm for someone standin’ in a blackout.

“Are you afraid of the dark, Lo?” she asked. Her voice was back to that cocoa and vanilla frequency, but this time it was laced with a tease that made my blood boil.

“Shut up,” I snapped, brushin’ past her and feel’n the heat of her skin as I went. “I’m not afraid, I’m just…surprised. Move the light.”

I was annoyed, but deep down? I was glad she was the one holdin’ the light. The house felt way too big with the power out, and she was the only safe space I had left.

Who in their right mind enjoys a power outage? For all I know, somebody could break in through the back door and we wouldn’t even notice because it’s pitch black.

“It’s not funny, Aries!” I huffed, peekin’ out the window like that was somehow going to help.

“Hey. At least we showered,” she said casually.

I whipped my head back and glared at her.

“Okay, okay,” she said quickly, hands liftin’ slightly. “I’m sorry. I’ll go light some candles, grab us some snacks, and we can just… talk until the power comes back on.”

Her voice softened at the end, and I hummed, noddin’.

Then immediately followed right behind her. I cleared my throat, grabbing a small pinch of her sweatpants as I walked. “It’s too dark…” I muttered.

She didn’t even comment on it. Just moved.

First, she grabbed a matchbox and started lightin’ the few candles we had around the house, small flickers of light slowly bringin’ the space back to life. Then we grabbed snacks from the kitchen like we were preparing for a storm survival movie.

Thunder rolled again, loud enough to make me jolt. She glanced over at me. “How come you don’t like thunder?”

I shrugged slightly as we walked back to the livin’ room, both of us dropping onto the couch and spreadin’ the snacks across the table.

“Dad was never around much, as you can see,” I said with a small scoff. “So being alone all the time… not really knowing what’s going on… it kind of just sticks with you.”

My voice came out softer than I expected.

Then, out of nowhere, she blurted. “I’m afraid of clowns.”

I turned to her so fast I almost caught a cramp. I burst out laughin’, the sound echoin’ through the quiet livin’ room. “But you stay ’round one?” I shot back, grinnin’ so hard it probably glowed in the dark.

Her jaw dropped, her eyes dancin’ with that unserious light I loved.

“You?” she returned, quick and sharp. She leaned in a little closer, the candlelight catch’n the edge of her sports bra and the soft line of her shoulder.

I gasped, and we both ended up laughing, the tension breaking just like that. She grabbed a bag of candy, tossing some into her mouth before handing me one.

“I’m here now,” she added.

My smile faded slowly, her words settling somewhere deeper than I was ready for. Past the loud attitude and the unseriousness. I nodded softly, pulling my legs up to my chest. “Thanks for being my pole when I was in pain today,” I said, clearing my throat because I didn’t like the way my voice was startin’ to sound.

I didn’t like thanking people. But… that didn’t feel bad.

She shifted closer, and my defense system tried to go back online. “The fuck is you gettin’ closer for—”

“Shut up,” she muttered, her hand reachin’ out and gently pullin’ my head down to her shoulder.

My eyes widened for a second. She smelled like vanilla, like always… just stronger this time. Warmer. Closer. My heart thumped hard against my chest, her voice soft where it sat against me.

“I’ll treat you to sushi every time you get your period,” she murmured, her breath brushin’ against my hair.

I let my eyes close, the tension in my neck finally breakin’.

I let out a soft, unserious chuckle, a smile tuggin’ at my lips. “You really tryna bribe me with spicy tuna, Aries?”

“If it keeps you from crashin’ out in hallways? Always,” she whispered.

I didn’t even argue. I just nodded against her shoulder, my face warming slightly. I didn’t pull away. I just let the dark hold us, realizing that for the first time in this empty-ass house, I wasn’t actually alone.

“Mhm…” My eyelids grew heavy without warning.

The storm outside kept going, rain tapping against the windows, thunder rolling in the distance… but all I could really hear was her heartbeat.

Steady. Close. My body relaxed against hers, the earlier fear melting into something quieter, something softer.

I hummed faintly, barely aware of it, as sleep pulled me under before I could even fight it.