Fear Is Just An Emotion

2

"My name is Zak Bagans. I never believed in ghosts until I came face to face with one", Dakota quoted the television as our new episode began.

I cringed when the intro displayed a lady in a white dress crawling on the ground getting closer to the viewers. "Ugh why do they have to make it so terrifying. It's so unnatural."

"Do you expect it to be all sunshine and rainbows? It's Zak Bagans, you know he's a dark and twisted fella. Anyone who goes looking for spirits and provokes demons is not going to have a bright and cheerful introduction to their ghost hunting show" Dakota states in response to my comment.

The room was dark and I was eating my chicken nuggets while watching these guys interview the hotels owner.

"This place isn't too far away from us" Dakota stated already having that glint in his eye letting me know he's thinking again. Of course he's thinking about this terrible idea and he's going to try and involve me in it, I just know it. "We could totally try and get a few hours of evidence for ourselves and maybe even spend the night in the hotel and see if we have even more experiences when we're separated."

"No. N, O, No. I am not spending the night at a haunted, potentially demon infested hotel ALONE Dakota" I told him my tone being slightly more snappy than I wanted since I was terrified.

"Okay, Okay, maybe staying alone wouldn't be the best idea if there's demonic entities but still it would be a fun experiment to see if being alone intensifies the haunted activity" he said a little sad that I was so against his plan.

"Yo, dude, just because Y/N might not be up for a haunted hotel investigation and sleep over doesn't mean I'm not!" Tanner told him making sure Dakota's spirits went back up. It wasn't nice to see the happy fun loving Dak turn into a gloomy gray cloud.

"At least one of my friends loves me" Dakota said giving me a slight glare but I know he was doing it playfully.

All of us like the paranormal and the unexplained but out of all of us I am the most petrified of finding myself in a situation where something like that could happen. Everybody thinks Chelsea is a chicken when it comes to that kind of stuff but I am one step above chicken. I am the Ostrich of the group, the biggest chicken out there.

Ghost Adventures finished the episode catching a few EVP's that were a little hard to understand completely but some of the words were pronounced enough to hear. Besides the footsteps and the occasional unexplained sound the location didn't seem too dangerous. Still creepy as heck but not as scary as I thought it would have turned out.

"Alrighty, so who's up for some happy TV? I asked while I grabbed the remote, scrolling through the channels until I found the game show network hoping that an episode of Family Feud was on so we could get some laughter before having to sleep.

Morning came quicker than I would have liked but the good thing about today is that Chelsea is finally coming back home for a little while. Her flight comes in a little late in the day so we're making an afternoon out of it, but first coffee.

With my eyes still closed I make my way out of my room and head down the stairs. It's a little chilly this morning so I grab a hoodie off of the chair in the kitchen while I begin to make coffee. As its brewing I wrap myself in the oversized hoodie and rest my arms across the island. I slowly start to close my eyes and I breath in the scent of freshly brewing coffee and Tanner?? Why am I smelling Tanner? I peak my eyes open a little confused and that's when realization hits me. Of course its Tanner's hoodie, out of all of them that are thrown around this house I just so happen to absentmindedly pick up one of his. Shrugging it off I rest my head down again and start to fall back asleep.

"Y/N, wake up" I felt my arm being poked. "Y/N, come on, it's time for coffee", someone poked my cheek. I started to stir. I let out a yawn as I opened my eyes to be greeted by someones back in the kitchen.

"Morning sunshine" Tanner said as he turned around placing a cup of coffee in front of me, the color a perfect dark caramel.

"Awww, you made me coffee" I said, smiling while I took a small sip. "And you put in the perfect amount of caramel sauce" I continued my heart gushing at how perfect he is just by making the smallest gestures.

"Of course I did, I watch you make coffee all the time. I know how you like it" he says while sending me a sideways smile.

"Oh really now? And how is that", I jokingly ask him

"Bitter, but with just enough sweetness, strong, but not overpowering" Tanner states, nailing it completely.

"And here I thought you were going to say something corny, like 'you like your coffee like you like your men, tall, dark, and handsome'" I said in my impersonation of his voice.

Holding his stomach from laughing so much I couldn't help but gaze at him warmly. Oh how little he knew how true that statement was. I did like my coffee like my men. Tanner was the exact formula of my coffee, just the right amount of everything. He was a little standoffish but once you got to know him he was super sweet and lovable, and my goodness was he protective. He cares so much for everyone he's connected too and he will do whatever it takes to keep them safe, always.

After his laughter dies down he comes and sits beside me at the counter. He gives me a quick once over and his eyes scrunch up.

"Is that my hoodie?" He asks as he tugs it away from my body and tries to see more of the jacket. "That's my hoodie isn't it" he says as he shakes his head.

"Do you want it back? I can take it off and find my own now that my eyes are open and my head is starting to wake up" I offer him.

"No, don't do that. You look so small and soft in my fluffy hoodie" He says his face heating up a little after realizing what he's said.

This isn't the first time that I've worn his jackets before but for some reason the two of us sitting there at the counter together drinking coffee while he admired me looking soft and small in his clothes seemed to hold a deeper feeling than just two friends hanging out. Tanner couldn't possibly feel the same way that I feel about him could he? No, we're just friends, that's how it's always been.

"It smells like you" I said, not realizing I said that out loud.

His ears started to turn a bright red. "I'm so sorry if it stinks, I'll wash it right now" he starts to panic.

"Why would you wash it?" I asked him a little confused.

"You said it smells like me" Tanner said

Now it was my turn for my face to transform into a tomato. How embarrassing is it to tell someone you know what there scent smells like. What am I some type of animal?! As if I could be anymore of a lunatic now was my chance.

"Just because it smells like you doesn't mean it stinks. I like the way it smells. It brings me comfort" I whisper mainly to myself but I think he's caught my words. I look up to meet his eyes already on me. "It's like your hugging me" I tell him laughing a little bit to lessen the awkwardness of the situation.

"How about one better?" He says as he leans over towards me. He wraps me in his arms and gives me a giant hug. I melt into his embrace and breath in the calming scent that is Tanner himself. One of the only people who I can consider my safe place. He lets go of me and he has a huge smile on his face.

"Now you have more of me on there" he said as he turned away blushing.

I pulled the sleeves down over my hands and wrapped them securely around the coffee mug on the island. I was so warm and fuzzy all over because of this stupid bafoon beside me.

I let the smallest smile take over my face and I felt Tanners eyes on me.

"What is it now?" I asked him softly. He just shakes his head and turns away from me.

"Oh come on now, you can't just ignore me after I felt you staring at me. You don't just stare at people Tan, that's rude" I playfully said.

He turned back to me and his gaze locked on mine. He had a more tender look in his eye whereas mine was playful but as he continued to stare at me I couldn't help but loose the playful part and start to match the same fondness he was carrying.

The eye contact became so intense. It felt like he could see into my soul. So caught up in the moment with him I almost missed the quiet words he spoke.

"Y/N, you are so beautiful" he whispered while still gazing at me.