Photograph

Twenty Six

I woke up with a wet face.

It shocked me, really.

Pepper and Shark and Peaches were all acting as if I was a chew toy and were licking away at my face as if there was absolutely no tomorrow. Over the sound of the saliva and panting, was Billie laughing away with her phone covering her face as the dogs ripped me back into consciousness. She was filming me.

I groggily pushed all three dogs away, groaning and wiping my face. "Guys, I know I'm cute or whatever, but please. It's, like, 3am."

I heard another soft chuckle next to me after the dramatic scene.

"I see you met the dogs, ma."

The room was once again dipped in red and a soft familiar blanket was draped over me, I must've fell asleep. The night sky outside was still there, as the supply of stars painted in the sky were still twinkling outside her jagged and chipped off wooden window.

"Yeah. It seems as if they met me, though." I said, watching as they all scattered around the room after I sat up.

All three of the dogs were bursting with energy. They were pulsating around the room like the word 'tired' didn't even exist to them. Well, to Shark and Peaches, at least. Pepper was slower than them but still quick, but the spotty dog ended up just curling into a tiny ball and falling asleep beside the bed as the other two hyper dogs ran around in circles around the room.

Billie says it's because, "That bitch is old. She can't even respond to her own damn name sometimes. Some kind of dog memory loss, I'm presuming."

I heard Billie sigh beside me as she put her phone down next to her and turned her body around so she was facing me.

"Sorry for freaking out earlier. I should've let you speak. But, if it wasn't for me going all bozo, my fucking foot wouldn't be recovering. So, uh, yeah."

I forgot, Billie had this certain way of apologizing. She never actually directly took accountability for her actions but it was so cute that you could never ever stay angry at her witty apologies.

Plus, she didn't even need to apologise in this situation.

"Billie, I don't even know what I was gonna say back there."

She bit the inside of her cheek slightly.

"The fuck is that supposed to mean, mama?"

I laid down on my back, looking up at the bright red lights that partially blinded me at the sudden movement. I felt her watching me.

She mirrored my move, and she laid on her side next to me.

I turned my head to meet hers and gave her a small smile as she pulled the soft blanket over the both of us, snatching us away from the outside world.

"I like you too, Billie. But I chickened out because I literally had no clue if you were serious about this or not." I admitted. "It just doesn't seem real."

"Well, Alex, it is real and it's happening right now."

I watched a smile creep onto her face as she said that. Her dimples were indented her cheeks and her eyes crinkled up as if they were smiling with her.

"Can you do me a favour?" She asked huskily. Her raspy voice against the hum of the soft ukulele from Finneas' room in the early morning that was dripping it's way in to where we were made this scenario seem surreal.

"Of course I can." I responded.

She raised her hand and delicately brushed a strand of hair away from out of my face and tucked it behind my ear. I felt a warm blush rise to my cheeks at the sudden move of basic intimacy.

I felt her warm breath hit my cheek as she got ready to speak once again.

"Whatever you do," She mumbled, resting her hand on the side of my face. "Please be patient with me."

I returned the small smile and leaned over to give her a small kiss on the cheek, but she turned her face ever so slightly and pecked my lips slightly. "K?"

"Okay."

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A/N

short & cute & ty for the support