Someone cares // No one cares part 2 || Dnf

35. comfort

George POV

"Hey", I heard Clay coming from behind me, causing me to regain my attention.
"Hey", I smiled at him as he stood next to me.
"You know, you could've come with me?", he gave me a worried glance.
"What?", I laughed, frowning, "Clay, I'm fine. I don't need to be by your side 24/7. You don't have to protect me from everything anymore. You can go to the toilet alone, thank you.

"I just want you to feel safe."
Of course he wanted that. And I loved him for that.
And indeed, I felt way safer when he was with me, but he wasn't my bodyguard, and never has been.
In the past few months we didn't have any "danger". Clay's old group and Floris after that were the only reasons Clay would have to protect me. But we didn't have those problems anymore....

...And now Floris was back.

"Ruby came up to me."
"What did she say? Or do?", I got his attention.
"I don't exactly know. Told me she wasn't like her brother and we shouldn't judge her based on him. She wants to be my friend I think. I, I really don't know what to think about her, Clay", I looked up to my boyfriend.

Slowly he wrapped his arm around my back, pulling me to him gently and rubbing my arm in soft movements. I rested my head against his chest, sighing.
"Everything is going to be fine, alright", he said in a calming voice before giving my head a kiss.
"I hope so", I wrapped my arms around his torso, snuggling closer to him.

---

Breathing soft and evenly, I sat down on the couch, ready to continue studying.
"Hey, love", my favourite voice appeared behind me.
Clay leaned over the couch back and put his arms around me, giving me a lovely kiss onto the cheek.
"Hey", I smiled.

"Physics?", he looked at my book.
"Yeah", I sighed.
"You're studying really hard, huh?", he rested his chin on my shoulder.
"I don't know. The exams went pretty good or okay until now. But I'm-", I got interrupted by my own yawn, "I'm getting tired."

"You know that you don't have to do that if you don't want to, right?", his soft voice made me even more tired.
"I have to get my graduation."
"Why don't you take a break? We could lay in bed, cuddle, talk if you want, and if you want to sleep, you can do that", He gently nestled his cheek against mine.
"That sounds nice", I smiled.

As soon as I wanted to stand up myself, Clay came around the couch, grabbed me and lifted me up in his arms, one arm under my back and the other one holding my legs.
I immediately felt so safe again. This beautiful feeling whenever Clay was close to me and gave me comfort.

We went to the bedroom, he put me down onto the mattress and just as I felt the soft bed underneath me, I instantly felt even more tired than before.
Clay lay next to me, wrapping an arm around me and pulling me closer to him.
For a while we just laid there, Clay spooning me, making me feel comfortable, no words, just cuddly comfort.

"Is there anything that's bothering you? Making you feel unwell? You know that you can talk to me about anything you want, right?", he finally whispered into my ear after some time.
For another few seconds, silence was speaking again, letting me think about telling Clay about my worries.

"Clay-", I began, but never continued.
"Yes?"
"Uhm...", I thought again, but...., "Nothing."
"George, I can tell that something's up with you. Something is worrying or bothering you. For quite a while now. I never said anything, because there probably had to be a reason you didn't talk to me about it. And I respect that you apparently don't want to tell me, George, but....I'm worried about you."

Of course he noticed, what did I expect?

"Is it because there's nothing I can do about it?", he asked when I gave no reaction.
I slowly nodded as response.
"Well, then don't tell me because you need to fix it, tell me to make yourself feel better. Even though, I might not find a solution, I want to be there for you George. Please tell me what's wrong."
Clay snuggled his face closer to my shoulder, pressing me tighter to him.

"Clay, listen, I don't want to be a burden-"
"Don't say such bullshit!", he got slightly louder, frightening me a bit. He wasn't that loud, just in relation to our current volume on talking.
"You never were a burden for me and you never will be", he lowered his voice again, "I love you George. I want to be there for you. I want to know every single thing about you. I want to know how you feel every second of your lifetime. I need to be by your side and I need to know if something's not okay, so I can try to make you feel better. Please."

I hadn't expected him to be this upset about it. I felt like he was in the edge of sobbing.
He grabbed my shirt tightly and tried to cuddle closer to me, even though it wasn't possible.

"It bothers you so much?", I tried to turn around to him. As he felt my movement, he loosened his grip from me, giving me a deep glance.
As I had fully turned around and lay face to face with him, I moved closer to him and snuggled into his chest.

"I just want you to be happy", he wrapped his arms around me again, putting his chin on my head.
"As long as I'm with you, I am happy", I had to smile.
"But I want you to be happy when I'm not there too", his voice got shaky.
"Clay", I looked up, cupping his face with my hands and smiled at him, "You're my everything. In moments like this, there's nothing more I can think about than you, Clay."

We just looked at each other for a while.
"I love you Clay", I felt my breath slowly dropping.
"I love you more George", Clay clenched his teeth, sounding like he'd be about to cry. Cute.

Quickly I gave him a soft kiss on the lips, feeling how love and comfort flowed through my body.
I really, really loved him.

"I'm here", I cuddled back to his chest.
"And I'm here", Clay's arms wrapped themselves around me.
Both of us got relaxed very soon and shortly after we both fell asleep calmly.

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~1.117 words~