Professor Series - Sebastian Stan 🩵

Six

I couldn't sleep, even long after the noise of the party ceased. I rolled over to find Chase dead to the world. Him sleeping before me made him look even sweeter as his eyes flickered under his lids, a small smile on his lips. I sighed, sitting up, pulling my knees to my chest under his giant shirt. I had meant what I told him: he was far too sweet for me. I would eventually hurt him and I knew I had to pull away before I could. I got out of bed, pulling the shirt down as I slipped out of his room and into the kitchen. I leaned into the fridge, finding a water bottle. I closed the fridge as a dark shadow stepped into the light, causing me to jump. "Fucking hell."

Tyler only laughed, moving past me to open the freezer. "Can't sleep?" I sighed and shook my head as I watched him take out a container of chocolate ice cream. He approached me, his body and bare chest only inches from mine, sending heat through me as he smirked. He was toned like Chase, maybe more so. A soft peppering of brown hair covering his chest and abdomen, forming a perfect line that led to his boxers. He reached into the drawer beside me and pulled out two spoons. "You like ice cream?"

I laughed, following him to the center island, sitting beside him as he set the ice cream on the counter, "who doesn't? What are you doing up?"

He shrugged, "I don't sleep all that much really. Why aren't you in Chase's bed showing him a good time?"

I blushed as I dipped my spoon in the ice cream, "we didn't have sex."

"I know." He grinned as he took a bite.

"How do you know?"

"For one, I didn't hear you and I take you for a screamer, princess. Also, you don't smell like sex."

My face reddened at his words, "why do you think I'm a screamer?"

He shrugged, "I don't think, I know. And Chase is too nice for you."

I scoffed, "what does that mean? I'm not good enough for him?"

"That's not what I said, you're good enough for whoever you want. He just isn't your type."

I stabbed my spoon into the ice cream, turning on my stool to look at him, "and what makes you think that? You don't know me at all, Tyler." His brown eyes sparkled in the moonlight that spilled in from the window behind as he turned to face me.

"I do. I see you. You're broken, like me..." He brought his hand up to tuck hair behind my ear, "I see it in your eyes. Chase doesn't see it because he's too nice, too pure. He's had a cookie cutter, perfect life. But not you." He ran his finger down the bridge of my nose before running it over my lips. "So tell me."

I avoided his command to spill my deepest secrets with a shake of my head. "Broken like you? How?"

He chuckled, "I asked you first, princess."

I rolled my eyes, "why do you call me that? And why are you flirting with me when you know your friend likes me?"

He sighed, "do you plan on dating Chase seriously?" I only shrugged even though the answer was no. Tyler was right, he was too nice for me. He may have been exactly who I should have wanted, but I didn't. "I'll take that as a no then. And.." he shrugged, "I don't know why I call you princess. It slipped out and I like it, so I'm not going to stop. Okay?"

"Fine." I turned back towards the counter as we ate in silence for a few minutes. Truth be told, I liked him calling me princess too. I sighed, the words spilling out of me before I could say anything. "My mom died last week. Overdosed. Though I'm not terribly saddened by it because she was a shitty ass mother."

He chuckled as I turned back to look at him, "I didn't expect you to be quite so honest. What else? Father?"

I shrugged, "I never knew him. She always told me he split when he found out she was pregnant. But that apparently isn't true since I found letters from him to her. I'm trying to find him. Why am I telling you all this?"

He stood up from the counter, putting the lid back on the ice cream before shoving it back in the freezer. "I don't know. Your broken pieces see mine?"

I nodded, crossing the kitchen to stand in front of him. He was right, there was just something that made me want to spill all my secrets to him but I didn't know why. He rested his hands back on the counter as he watched me, "and you? How are you broken, Tyler?"

He sighed, leaning forward to rest his forehead on mine. Our bodies didn't touch except for our heads, my heart racing at the intimate gesture. "Another time. I promise. Come with me." He pulled away abruptly, grabbing my hand as he led me to a door off the kitchen. He opened it to display stairs to the basement.

"Going to kill me and bury me under the house?"

He laughed, "that would be a crawl space, but no. Just trust me?"

I sighed, but followed him. I didn't know why, but I did trust him. He led me to a bedroom in the basement, closing the door behind him. He pulled on a shirt before grabbing a keyboard he had leaning against a wall. "This your room?" He nodded as I pointed to his shirt, "and you put on the shirt so I knew you didn't have any nefarious plans for me?"

He laughed, "something like that." He patted the bed beside him as he pulled the keyboard onto his lap. "Sit, princess."

"You play piano too?"

"I do. I don't normally play or sing for the band though. I like the drums, I get just enough attention without receiving all of it like Chase does."

I chuckled, nudging his shoulder with mine, "I wouldn't have expected you to be shy, Tyler."

He shrugged, blushing slightly, "just don't tell anyone, yeah?"

I nodded as he turned on the keyboard, playing and singing quietly.

🎵 I know you think I got it all figured out
'Cause I walk around like my head's in the clouds
But I'm just a boy with his heart pourin' out of his head
I wish that you could see the pain that I've seen
All of the times I spent being not me
I hope you know that it's not always happy in my head
'Cause I don't know
The perfect road to go down
But I know
Trying my best
Trying my best to be okay
Trying my best but every day, it's so hard
Holding my breath
Holding my breath 'til I can say
All of the words I want to say from my heart
If you really wanted, I could let you inside
It's been so long and I've got nothing left to hide
Would you believe me if I told you that I've got flaws
Now it's time to let the curtains unfold
And tell all the stories that I didn't want told
I let it out so I unburden my soul, I won't stop
'Cause I don't know
The perfect road to go down
But I know
Trying my best
Trying my best to be okay
Trying my best but every day, it's so hard
Holding my breath
Holding my breath 'til I can say
All of the words I want to say from my heart
Trying my best
Trying my best to be okay
Trying my best but every day, it's so hard
Holding my breath
Holding my breath 'til I can say
All of the words I want to say from my heart🎵

I watched him as he played, his gaze avoiding mine as he did. When he finished, he leaned the keyboard on the bed, "thank you." He shrugged, still avoiding my gaze as I leaned over to place my hand on his cheek. I forced him to look at me as I leaned forward to press a small kiss on his lips. He seemed taken aback but placed his hand over mine before I pulled away. "You let me in in your own way. So, thank you."

Tyler smiled as he gave me a small nod, "thank you for not throwing it back in my face."

I shook my head, "I would never." I leaned over him, grabbing his phone from his nightstand, saving my number inside before handing it to him. "That's for when you decide you want to talk some more. Text me so I have your number. I should get back to Chase."

He nodded, standing up with me, "I know. Don't tell him about all this.. He'll think I'm trying to steal you from him."

I laughed, "aren't you?"

He shrugged, "how can I steal something that doesn't belong to him?"

"Good point. Your secrets are safe with me. Goodnight, Tyler."

"Me too. Goodnight, princess." I gave him another look from the door, seeing him offer me a smile before I left him alone in his room. I slipped back into Chase's room, him not even noticing I had left. I stared at the ceiling for a while thinking about the unlikely friendship I started with Tyler over ice cream. I chuckled, rolling towards the wall before falling asleep.