The Write Match // Bill Hader

Thirteen

I wake up with Bill's arm wrapped loosely around my waist. He's still asleep, and I move carefully away from him, doing the same routine I've done for the past few months. I'm wearing my sweatpants I wore yesterday, and I've still got his t-shirt on. I know I'll be back soon, so I'll just keep it until then. I walk into the kitchen and get my stuff, walking quietly towards the door.

"Leaving so early?" His tired voice startles me, and I stop, sighing. He's never caught me leaving before.

"We've got a show today." I say.

"We do, but you don't see me trying to sneak out,
do you?" He asks, sitting up, his hair curly.

"Why would you, this is your apartment." I argue back and find myself already annoyed. I didn't want to argue with him today, especially not this early.

"That's right, my apartment, exactly where you wanted to be last night. Talk to me Meredith, don't go sit in your apartment alone before work. You need someone." He fights back, and I stop him.

"I don't need anyone. I'm twenty-eight years old, I can take care of myself." I cross my arms.

"You're obviously upset about something Meredith and I totally understand that. I just wanted to be a friend and help." He says and I shake my head.

"We're not friends, and I'm not upset about anything. That was yesterday, today is a new day, today is show day. I can go back to blocking everything out and feeling nothing." I turn away again and sigh.

"Meredith-" I stop, listening to him. "Do you ever think that things bother you so much because you block them out and don't talk about it?" He says, and I listen to his words and think about the truth behind them, but I know that's not me. I hate feelings, they make me uncomfortable.

I say nothing, and walk out of his apartment, walking straight to the stairwell. I open the door and begin to walk down the stairs when I'm pulled back and see Bill walking down the stairs to me.

"What are-" I start, and he kisses me, surprising me completely, and I melt. I drop everything, my hands finding his hair, still shocked he came after me. But when I think about it, I almost back way, but I stop myself because I don't care that he has a certain power over me.

I kiss him in the middle of the stairwell, my lips moving with his. He pulls back, but stays close to me, keeping his hands on my face, his blue eyes locked with mine. "Stay, please. I'm tired of watching you leave every morning." He says, almost in a whisper and I lean forward, kissing him again.

"Not going to happen." I tease, and his hand drops in defeat.

"You can't tell me you didn't feel anything just then, there was something. You can't tell me there wasn't something there, and I can't be the only one who wants to wake up to that feeling." He fights backs, and I shake my head.

"I didn't feel a thing. It was a good distraction, just like you. Stop before you get hurt." I pull away and pick up my things. "I've got stuff to do." I lie, he knows I really don't have anything to do today, and I did feel something, something I've never felt before.

"Meredith." He says, and for some reason his voice sounds different. "There's no use, is there?" He asks.

"You finally got it!" I reply. These past few weeks have been tiring with the long hours, constant arguments, and the back and forth. I know this is my fault, it's the emotional block, but I will not let up, I never have before.

"You'll be mine one day-" He starts but I cut him off.

"One day you'll finally realize that there is no point in trying with me anymore. This isn't hopeless, but I am. I don't do relationships anymore Bill, we're just hooking up, that's it, I'm sorry. You were just with another girl, and you didn't seem to have a problem." I throw that night in his face, and he glares at me.