𝐥𝐨𝐯𝐞𝐛𝐢𝐫𝐝

44

matteo

I rub my eyes and squint at the brightness of my room, I forgot to close my blinds last night. Last night. I look over at Valentina, who's sleeping peacefully tangled up in the covers with wild hair and I sigh in relief.

She stayed.

There was no way in hell that I was letting her spend the night alone, I would gladly give her all the space she needs but I was going to be there.

I was going to look after her, she's strong and independent but she also needs to realise that I'm here for her. When she feels like she needs someone to depend on, I'm here. And I know she's not used to it and I know that she's unsure but I'm going to try my best to show her that it's okay to need people sometimes.

It's the least she deserves.

Even though I'm curious as to what sparked her attack, I know it's not really any of my business and that if she wants to tell me she will and if she doesn't it doesn't matter. I can help her either way.

Placing a small kiss on her forehead, I roll out of bed and slip on some sweatpants and a hoodie. I make my way downstairs quietly to make her a cup of tea and some mango, something she loves.

It's an odd combination but I know it'll make her happy.

After making the tea and putting some cut up mango in a bowl along with a fork, I walk back upstairs to find her stirring awake slowly.

"Morning Vee." I greet as I walk into the room.

"Morning." Her husky voice mutters in return and I smile at her.

I sit the cup and the bowl down on the bedside table before instructing her to sit up. "I got you some tea and some mango." I hand her the bowl and nod my head towards the cup.

Valentina's eyes light up and she smiles softly at me. "Thank you."

Grabbing my laptop, I rest it in between us on the bed with our latest episode of Brooklyn 99 playing. I study her while she watches the show, she seems happy but quiet and it's a little worrying cause she's not quiet often, at least not like this.

"I meant what I said last night. I care about you Vee, that means that I'm not just here for the pretty parts, I'm here for you no matter what." Her head moves from the screen to look at me with wide brown eyes, the purple tint in them shinning more than ususal. She looks like she doesn't know what to say.

"You don't have to say anything back I just wanted to remind you." Valentina swallows and nods, turning back to look at the screen. 

We don't get out of bed for hours and slowly we begin to shift closer and closer together until her head lays on my chest and my arms is around her shoulder, twirling her hair.

It's so soft.

"I care about you too Matteo." She whispers, "More than I'd like to admit."

I don't reply, I don't think she wants me to. Instead, I busy myself tracing swirls and hearts on her arm.  We watch another episode in silence until she pauses it. I wait for her to speak, wondering what she's going to say.

"I've been having weird dreams." Vee talks as if she's thinking out loud and doesn't turn around to look at me. "Actually, they're more like memories. I know that it's really happened, I don't know how but I do. Like I said weird."

That is the last thing I thought that she would say. Weird dreams? I wonder what that's about.

"In the two that I've had there was this guy stood in front of me but I couldn't see his face. I feel like I know or knew him but I just can't place him. In the first dream he had normal length short hair and then he buzzed it by the second one."