The Opposite of Us

Bonus Ch: Battle of the Rose

Izzy's POV

"Izzy! Where did you put my rose hoodie?" Heath yells from his room.

It's been two weeks since Richelle and Noah's wedding and everything is pretty much the same, except I spend most nights curled up in Heath's arms. We've been mostly sleeping in his room, occasionally falling asleep on the couch. There is nothing like waking up to gentle kisses and a nose nuzzling into your neck with strong, safe arms wrapped around you. Especially when those arms belong to your favourite person.

I really didn't expect myself to become one of those sappy love people. But being around Heath and being able to openly share my feelings with him and know that he reciprocates that... I can't help but feel lucky and overwhelmed. Sometimes that comes out in the form of touching his face to make sure he's really there or giving him little kisses because I can. We try not to be like that in public if I can help it, keeping the moments special between us. But I will slip my hand into his, or I'll bump his shoulder with mine, to which he reacts by wrapping an arm around my shoulders.

Does that stop us from also being like the best friends we were? No. I'll still flick my leg up to kick him or he will play fight with me. However, instead of awkwardly having to cough and change subjects or walk out of the room after something like that would happen, it now usually instigates making out.

I still haven't forgotten the day after the wedding.

Heath and I were play-arguing about what flavour the wedding cake was. He thought it was red velvet, I thought it was chocolate mudcake. I had challenged him about it, poking him in the chest. Heath moved closer to me, his hands landing on my hips before pushing me back onto the couch. The way his eyes were clouded and directed at me took my breath away. The make-out session that ensued will be etched in my brain for a while. What will also be etched into my brain forever is the shriek that Ozzy let out as he walked into the apartment, his eyes bulging out of his head. 

I was straddling a shirtless Heath with just my sports bra and a pair of comfy shorts on.

Safe to say Ozzy will never forgive me for "scarring him for life". My brother has a penchant for dramatics and he acts as if he caught us having sex. I don't think it will matter if I'm old and grey, Ozzy will still treat me like the innocent little kid that he needs to protect. I think he forgets that I was feral to him when we were kids. I looked up to him, but anytime he treated me as if I wasn't old enough or strong enough or smart enough, I would rebel. Eventually he learnt that I could handle myself.

Heath has never underestimated me and I love that. It's part of what drew me to him as a friend and I am very lucky he continues to support me in any way that he can. I really can't wait to see how we grow together in the future, because I know with Heath by my side, I really could do so much more than I previously dreamed of. I know he always has my back.

"Izzy," Heath calls my name again, bringing me back to reality.

I quickly glance around my room and spot his beloved hoodie hanging off the end of my bed. A mess of short dark hair peaks around the door frame and I yawn, stretching my body out on my bed. I subtly kick the hoodie to the floor and out of his sight.

"Is it in here?" he asks.

I shrug in response, focusing on my phone. He moves further into my room, not trusting my response.

Smart man

He has a quick look around but not too hard, instead turning his attention to me. His eyes lock at onto mine knowingly.

"Are you going to tell me where it is, or are you going to make this difficult for me?"

Smiling coyly as he sits down on the bed next to me, I shrug again. "I don't know what you're talking about."

"Ok, you leave me with no choice," he states, tickling me until I'm struggling to breathe from laughing so hard. I give his jaw a playful nip in the hopes that he will stop for a moment, giving my lungs and stomach muscles a break. Instead, he continues to tickle me until I wheeze out the location to his precious hoodie. "End of the bed."

Smirking victoriously, he puts on his hoodie and looks around my room, taking it in.

"You know, it seems wasteful to be using two rooms when we're only sleeping in one." Heath smiles at me softly, placing a hand on one of the knees I have pulled up to my chest to protect myself from future tickle attacks. He props his head up on my other knee and lovingly looks into my eyes, his amber irises melting my defences.

"Izzy, move into my room."

Placing a gentle kiss on my knee, he continues. "We can turn this one into a guest bedroom, a study or a dance space, if you like."

"I'd love to move in with you," I reply. "But only if I get joint custody of the rose hoodie."

He rolls his sweet amber eyes, but the smile that overtakes his face causes me to throw my arms around his neck.

"Who would've thought all those years ago that we'd be living together and now dating?" I ask.

"I hoped that it would happen one day. And here it is," he admits.

Now my smile overtakes my face and I pull him into a tight hug that causes us to fall back onto the bed.

If this is a dream, please never wake me up.