Something Gained

Chapter Eleven

At 3am, I sat bolt upright in bed, the darkness surrounding me. For a moment I couldn't work out where I was.

I slid out of bed and towards my living room, recalling the events of the evening in my confused state. Someone was sleeping on my sofa.

Daniel.

I looked over at him, sleeping peacefully and wondering why he was on my sofa.

I moved into my kitchen and went to go grab a glass of water. I accidentally let the cupboard door slam close when I took a glass out which woke up Daniel.

"Woah!" I heard him yell which made me jump.

"Sorry!" I said back, Daniel was up and across the room in a second.

"Are you okay?" He asked

"Yeah I'm sorry, I just was getting a drink" I said to him, "what are you still doing here? Why are you on the sofa?"

"I didn't want to leave you on your own. You fell asleep, so I took you to bed and went to sleep" he shrugged

"Oh" I sipped my water and smiled, "thank you" I said to him. Honestly, I was glad he was still here.

He had been next to me the whole time, we had snacked on various things he had bought with him, which he made me promise I didn't tell Michael. We had watched two movies, and laughed and joked the whole time.

"Did you want me to go now?" He asked

"It's 3am Daniel" I said with a roll of my eyes

"Yeah and?"

"Stay" I said to him, looking up at him, he was now sipping his own water, "please" I added.

He nodded simply and placed his glass down and returned to the sofa, I watched him pick up his phone and fluff up one of my decorative cushions before sitting back down.

"You can't sleep there" I said to him

"Why not?" He asked, I walked over to him

"First, it's not healthy for you to be on a sofa, you could cause yourself an injury, and second, Michael will kill you for it"

"Where you would you like me to go?" He asked, standing up again

"You can sleep with me" I said with a shrug, and started walking to my bedroom.

"This sounds fun" he chuckled.

"No Daniel" I let out a laugh, and settled myself in bed, while he did as well.

The next morning I woke up and I was laying on his chest, I could hear his heart beating and it was the most soothing thing. I felt calmer and happier. I just laid there for ages looking out the window at the sun and the trees.

"Morning" I felt his chest vibrate as his sleepy Australian accent rumbled out.

"Good morning" I replied

"I've got an idea" he said quietly

"An idea" I questioned. I was so comfortable laying on him that I didn't even bother moving.

"Yeah, just trust me"

"Fine, but I'm not moving yet" he laughed and pulled me into him more as we just lay down watching the sun come through the window.

I peeled myself away from my bed eventually and got in the shower and got myself ready for the day. I got dressed in a white floaty top, black leggings, and a denim jacket. I slipped on my sunglasses and put my bag on my shoulder and walked out of my room.

Daniel was waiting in the kitchen, leaning against the counter on his phone.

"Hey are you ready to go?" He asked looking up from his phone.

"I am indeed, now what are we doing?" I asked picking up my keys.

"I can't tell you that, you'll have to wait and see" he said walking towards the door. I rolled my eyes and followed him out the door, locking it behind me.

We got to Daniels house, which was actually just down the street from me. He invited me and I wandered around while he got ready.

He had a nice house, bigger and nicer than my apartment. But it was a nice space, it reflected him.

I walked down the hallway that had a cabinet lining the wall, with loads of trophies, pictures, medals and helmets, all from different races. I walked along it slowly, looking at everything.

Some of these races I had seen on the tv, a couple I even attended when I was a bit younger.

"Being nosey?" Daniel made me jump as he creeped up behind me.

"Having a heart attack" I gasped, clutching my hand to my chest.

"I know cpr" he smiled, I rolled my eyes before he dragged me out of the hallway and towards his garage.

The whole drive, to wherever we were going, Daniel sang at the top of his lungs, dancing and being silly which made me laugh the whole time.

He was so carefree and lighthearted, you couldn't help feeling the same around him. It was so hard to not smile when he was smiling

We parked up the car right near the beach and I saw to the left was Santa Monica Pier.

I smiled instantly. I was obsessed with the beach, with seasides, the coast, everything. The water was still calming to me, being near it or watching it.

I didn't know how Daniel knew to bring me here. Maybe it was just coincidence, but I was happy anyway.

"We can go somewhere else" Daniel said. Obviously picking up on my silence. I shook my head immediately and got out of the car.

We had a great day. We walked all around the pier, playing games, eating food (me more than him, he had to watch his diet obviously), we laughed so much it was the best thing in the world to spend the day with someone I felt so calm with. Except the constant electricity everytime we touched or my heart skipping a beat everytime he looked into my eyes.

Those beautiful chocolate brown eyes, they melted me everytime. Right now I wasn't thinking about being his PR manager, or the fact I worked with him, I was just living and breathing in the moment. We were now walking along the beach and the sun was setting across the ocean, we were walking side by side.

"How are you feeling now?" He asked me stopping me from walking.

"Wonderful, thank you so much. You've made everything better" I looked up and he was staring into my eyes. He brushed some of my dark curly hair away from my face and kept his hand there.

"Your eyes in the sun, they're sparkling" he mumbled, I only just about catch what he said.

His hand moved to my shoulder and he looked off to the side. I huffed and put both my hands on his face and brought his lips down onto mine. He clearly didn't need telling twice and kissed me back. I felt like I couldn't breathe but at the same time he was my oxygen and I just wanted more. He pulled away from the kiss and rested his forehead on mine.

"So I'm allowed to kiss you then?" He asked. I shrugged and he smiled, he kissed me on the lips once more and then put his arm round my shoulders and we started walking back to his car.