THORNS | 1

16. ALMOST KISSES

NICK IS SOMETHING ELSE entirely. He came over yesterday and gave me a ring. A ring for goodness sakes. And then he assured me he would never leave me. That he's here to stay. And I'm gonna be honest. I believe him.

My brain is telling me to run and never talk to him again but my heart goes against it. He's so sweet and understanding. Nothing he does ever upsets me. He's perfect.

"Sunshine! Hey!" He yelled from across the parking lot. Speak of the devil. He jogged over to where I was standing next to my car as everyone else was leaving the school grounds.

"Nick hi" I smiled up to him and he gave me one back. He was rocking on the back of his heels like he needed to say something but he hesitated.

"Would you maybe want to hang out this afternoon? Just the two of us?" He finally spoke.

"Umm yeah. Did you want to come to mine? I wanted to scope out more of Kylan's library he mentioned. You can join me if you'd like? But you probably think that's a dumb idea- I'm sorry we can do something else, just forget I said it" I rambled, fading out. Of course he wouldn't want to read books with you.

"Exploring a library with toy sounds great Ellie" he chirped. If only my grin could get bigger. I squealed and grabbed him hand before leading him around to my car.

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"Holy smokes" I gasped as I entered Kylan's library. It reminded me exactly of the one Belle had in the Beasts castle. This was for princesses.

"Wow Elle. Looks like we got the whole place to look at" Nick grinned taking my hand in his as we walked up the spiral staircase.

We walked over to a sitting corner which was still surrounded by books. In one lonely grand chair sat three books. I walked over to them intrigued, and read the covers.

Charlottes Web
Coronary Artery Disease and It's Symptoms
Anne of Green Gables

Oh.

Oh.

These must've been left here by Maria before she passed. She used to read too. And Kylan hasn't touched it. Kept it just how she left it.

I didn't even realise some tears started to fall until I felt Nicks hand softly lifted my head towards him. He gave me a worried look while wiping away the tears with his thumbs.

"You okay, Elle?" He asked softly. I just nodded, leaning into his touch. He stood there for a moment looking at me to make sure I really was alright before he stopped at my lips.

"You are so beautiful" he mumbled.

Then his face started to move forward closing in on mine. Oh my god, he's going to kiss me. OH MY GOD HES GOING TO KISS ME!

Panic set in and before his lips could touch mine, I gently pushed his chest away and he leaned back, blinking rapidly clearly realising what he was about to do. But before he could give an explanation, Lane's voice rung out through the library.

"ELLLLLEEE!"

We both looked at each other with widened eyes and I shoved him towards the small corner in between bookshelves before leaning over the balcony to Kane.

"I'm here!" I yelled back and he looked up and sighed when he saw me.

"Your mom's ordering Pizza, do you want some?" He asked me. He seriously interrupted me and Nick for this?!

"Sure, anything fine" I yelled back irritated now. He yelled back an okay before walking out. I let out a relieved sigh as Nick came out of his hiding spot, beet red.

"That was close" he breathed.

"Yeah. Let's go up to my room so we are guaranteed to be left alone" I muttered, wrapping my arms around myself, still awkward from the almost kiss before.

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I was laying down on Nicks chest as we lay on the bed and he was occupied with his phone. I was fighting to urge to go to sleep.

I want to stay with him. If I go to sleep, he'll leave.

"Sunshine, stop fighting it. It okay. You can sleep" he whispered lowly that it shook his entire abdomen, putting his phone down next to him.

I finally gave up and wrapped my arms around him and he put his around my head and I made little noises as I snuggled into his neck, breathing in his scent. He smelled, homey and loving.

I felt at peace. And so I slept. Better than I had in weeks.

She laid asleep in my arms and I couldn't imagine anything cuter. She's so fragile, I'm afraid to breath wrong on her and she might slip away. But I won't let her. Not in a million years will I let her get away from me.

I ran my fingers through her soft dark brown hair and and she groaned and snuggled into my neck breathing in me. She's so content. I don't want to loose this girl. And I want to make her mine.

God I want to call her mine so bad. I want her to only look at me. I want me to be the one she says is her boyfriend. I want to be the one who's there for her when she's having a hard day. I want to be the one to protect her. I want to be her one.

I think deep down I've known I've liked her since the first day we met at the wedding. It never just really made sense until today. When we almost kissed. Her lips looked so pretty and perfect. But then she pushed me away. I should've known it was wrong of me to do that. She probably doesn't even like me that way. And then we had to hide because of Kane. If we were together, maybe we'd be able to be around each other in front of them.

I swear off my parents grave.

Respectively because I love them and all.

I will make this girl mine.

I'm really sorry I am posting so later and they are getting shorter but quite honestly I am still in school and I'm exhausted so like.... Yeah. Anyways hope you guys like it. I'm so excited for the next couple chapters cause they scream drama.