♥ 𝓓𝓮𝓶𝓸𝓵𝓲𝓽𝓲𝓸𝓷 𝓛𝓸𝓿𝓮𝓻𝓼 ♥ ~ A Your Boyfriend Game Fanfic/AU

Chapter 4: Part IV - TK's Concern

Soundtrack:

Cigarette Daydreams by Cage The Elephant (TK)

The rest of the drive to my apartment is companionable silence. TK is a methodical driver, so there's plenty of time for me to lose myself in my thoughts for a bit.

Then TK pulls into the parking lot of my apartment complex. They leave the car running, but hesitate to say goodbye.

"Has your roommate paid her part of the rent yet?" They shift in the driver's seat to face me.

I shake my head, not exactly wanting to talk about it.

TK nods, rubbing the back of their neck. "That's really shitty. I'm sorry."

I shrug. "It is what it is. I'll figure something out if I need to."

"Well, if you ever need a place to stay, I'm happy to let you crash for a bit," they say, looking away from me.

TK's offer surprises me. I didn't think they worried so much about me. I wonder if part of this is about Peter.

"Uh, thanks," I say, tucking my hair behind my ear. "I don't think I'll need it, but it's nice to know I've got a place to go." I smile at them.

TK blushes. "You could wake me up anytime you have a night terror."

I roll my eyes with a grin. "I'm not a child, TK. I'm fine."

TK shakes their head. "Most people who say they're fine aren't actually fine."

"Well, I'm fine. Not great. But alright."

"Are your night terrors still hanging around?" they ask tentatively.

I frown. They know I don't like to talk about the nightmares. But I should've expected them to ask me about it.

"It's..." I sigh. "Yeah. They are."

Yesterday Lucy banged on my door until I woke up because I wouldn't stop making strangled noises. I guess we balance each other out in that respect. I don't sleep well because of her and her partners, and she doesn't sleep well because of my nightmares.

TK rubs the back of their neck, looking distressed. "If there's anything I can do, let me know. If you need anyone to talk to—"

"I don't need to talk about it," I hug myself. "I'm fine. It's not something I can just blurt out, y'know?"

TK sighs. "I understand."

TK touches my shoulder. I tense, but they don't seem to notice. I meet their eyes and see an empathetic vulnerability there that no one's ever showed me before.

"But I'm here if you ever need me," they say. "You can count on me."

Their words give me an immediate distrustful feeling. I can't count on anyone. I take a moment to get my thoughts under control. It's hard to believe that I can count on anyone when everyone I've counted on has betrayed me in the worst ways.

But it's not fair to pin that all on TK. They're genuinely trying to help. It's not their fault I'm fucked in the head.

"I... Thank you, TK."

They jerk their hand from my shoulder, remembering I don't like to be touched.

"S-sorry," they say.

I exhale and relax a little. The hardest part about others touching me is that it's random. Sometimes I don't notice it. Other times, it's physically painful for someone to touch me. I'm sure it's difficult for TK to decipher. Another reason I don't want to involve them with my bullshit.

"It's alright," I say.

They give me a look like, "It's not, don't lie to me."

Then they exhale and sit back in their seat. They know I probably won't call them to talk about my feelings or fears. I can feel the frustration and confusion they feel, knowing I don't work that way. But they don't know how I work.

And yet I'm willing to go on night walks with Peter...

I shake the thoughts away, grab my bag and unbuckle myself, preparing to leave.

"Take care, Lily," TK says.

I step out of the car and then turn to face them. I salute them. "Will do, sergeant."

TK rolls their eyes and chuckles. "Smartass."

"Get home safe, TK. I'll see you Monday," I say, and turn to walk to my apartment. Hopefully Don, my landlord, doesn't bust my tits about Lucy's rent.

~~

Ready for Chapter 5? :D Don and Lucy make appearances ;)

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