Breathe Into Me

Alone With You

*Billie's POV*

I hate that Addie doesn't feel well, and I'm not gonna lie I was a little bummed when she canceled on me, but just being near her is better than not seeing her I suppose.

I am glad that she ate a little something, and I may have been a little extra and gotten her a coffee on the way. I read somewhere that caffeine can help pain medication work more effectively, although I'm not sure how true that is.

Currently she's curled up with her head on my lap snoozing away. I've got investigation discovery on while her cat glares at me. I'm feeling highly judged right now.

I wonder if she'd be okay with me running my fingers through her hair. I raise my hand slightly, debating on whether I should or not. I don't know what will make her feel better. I decide against it. I barely know her.

But I want to know her.

She seems so mysterious. Not like she's hiding something, but more so along the lines of being reserved. As she sleeps, I glance around her apartment from where I sit, careful not to disturb her.

She has a tiny cactus garden in the windowsill, cute... books taking up every available nook and cranny in her bookcase, she's an avid reader. Me on the other hand, not so much. A small box under her coffee table is half filled with vinyls, ahh she's a purist. There's something different listening to an album in that way, it just hits you in all the right ways.

I see a few pictures on the walls. They appear to be what I can assume is her family. She looked a lot like her mom when she was little, I wonder if they live around here too.

The beautiful girl sleeping in my lap stirs, her eyes just barely opening before she lets out a sigh. I can't help myself from instinctively running my fingers through her hair, gently massaging her scalp. "Did you have a nice nap?" I whisper, fearing that anything too loud will only make things worse.

"Mhm." She lightly groans out before slowly sitting up.

Her brow furrows a little bit, sleep still evident in her eyes. She wraps her blanket around her and shuffles behind me, her cat immediately taking residence in the warm spot on the couch, hesitantly curling up next to my leg.

"He must like you. He never cuddles with anyone but me." Addie says returning only to make her way to her kitchen to grab a drink. "Do you want anything?" She asks politely.

"Oh, no I'm good, thanks."

"Well the least I can do is this." She starts rummaging around in her bag on the table.

"If you're trying to pay me back for bringing you food, you really don't need to." I say and she pauses.

"But now I feel like I owe you." She explains.

"But you don't owe me, I didn't make the gesture to ensure a payback, I did it because I care." My tone sincere.

"Oh..." she puts her wallet back into her bag, I can see her blushing from across the room, trying to hide a smile.

"How are you feeling?" I ask.

"A little better, thank you." She says before shuffling back over to me, still wrapped up in her blanket. "Oh you're watching ID, fun fact my mom used to know a guy who ended up on there."

"Oh? Now I'm curious, was he the killer?" I ask with my brow raised.

"The victim actually. Dude was a super nice guy, he was a cop, and the community loved him. His wife embezzled hundreds of thousands of from the church they went to and when people came knocking she shot him in his sleep, hoping to get the insurance payout." She explains as she takes a seat next to me.

"Damn..."

"Yeah... hey, at least he doesn't have money trouble anymore." She cringes at her own remark.

"Did you just make fun of a dead man?" I fake being offended, because let's be honest, I like the twisted sense of humor.

"He's dead! There's absolutely nothing he can do about it!"

"I hope he fucking haunts you..." I glare at her.

"Looks like you're getting haunted by proxy." She pokes her tongue out. Fuck she's adorable.

"Wait, what the fuck does that even mean?"

"It means, you're here with me, guilty by association." She nudges me softly.

"You're a bad influence, I wasn't even making fun of him." I nudge her back.

"I never said I was a good influence Billie... apart from my name, and now where I live, you don't really know me at all." She pulls her knees up to her chest and lazily rests her hands on her knees.

"Then let's change that." I proposition her.

"And how would you go about doing that? Asking me my favorite color? Going to dinner and the movies?" She presses. "Because those are all basic and overrated."

Ok, I guess I have to be more creative than a frat boy, can do. "Well, I was hoping we could check this one place out if you're down, I'm not telling you what it is so you'll just have to be surprised. When's your next day off?" I ask.

"Friday. Why?" She gives me a puzzled look.

"Just wear something comfy, casual and leave the rest up to me." I give her a smile and she gives me one in return. "As much as I'd like to stay here, I've got to meet up with my brother, he needed some help moving some stuff into his new place and I told him I'd be by around 2 and... it's 1:55 and I'm late as fuck."

"Don't let me keep you waiting." She raises her hands.

"I'll see you Friday?"

"I'll see you then." She gives me another smile, this one less enthusiastic as the one prior. "And Billie?"

"Hmm?"

"Thank you again for today. It really means a lot."

a/n: where do you think Billie is going to take her? I'll let you guys vote on this one, just pick A: something outdoors and cute or B: something indoors and nerdy.

I hope y'all are doing okay. Did you drink enough water? Did you eat? Does anyone need a hug?

I lub you bubbies 💕