Ruin The Friendship

Chapter 5 : Overthinking

I wake up disoriented and warm. I smack my lips, blinking sleep from my eyes and take in my surroundings. Clay has his arms wrapped around me, tight, and he's half on top of me, blanketing me. I take a second to process that.

Right.

Last night we—

I'm pulled from my thought by a meow. My eyes dart around, landing on the floor where Patches politely sits. I wriggle my way out of Clay's arms, immediately dipping down to pet her.

I look back, seeing Clay move, and decide to take my leave. Quietly, I escape, even as he stirs, making my way downstairs with my phone. I dart into the bathroom quick.

My eyes catch on myself in the mirror on my way out. My hair is messed, a small hickey I don't remember getting on my collarbone where the collar of Clay's shirt lays stretched.

And then there's that. His shirt. I'm in his shirt. My breath hitches and I flee the bathroom, wandering back into the living room. I curl up with my phone, resolute to scroll social media and not think about what happened.

I'm surprised when I see that it's still relatively early in the morning, just a bit past 9 am. We must've been up past 3 or 4 am. But, my brain is functioning on school time, making it impossible to sleep-in even when I want to.

I start to pick at my nails, failing at being distracted, already overthinking. I really like Clay. Like... way more than like. After last night that feeling is only greater. We didn't really talk about anything like that though. We didn't really talk at all. We just...

I hear a thump from upstairs and I further curl in on myself, not sure what to expect, or what to even say. What if it's awkward? What if we can't be friends after this? What if he doesn't want anything more than to fuck?

I swivel my head, turning to watch Clay descend the stairs, cradling his cat like a baby.

"She woke me up just because she's hungry." He says, grinning. I huff a small laugh. It's comforting to just watch him coo over and baby his cat. It makes things feels normal.

Clay disappears into the kitchen, I hear the sink run, and the shake of food, then he reappears, catless. I swallow nervously as he walks right for me. He arches over me, reaching for me, and I freeze up. He leans in and immediately kisses my cheek once, then moves toward my jaw, now cradling me.

I slap at his chest, pushing him off. His brows draw tight into a look of confusion. "Morning breath." I say with an awkward laugh as my excuse.

Clay rolls his eyes but relents, flopping to the couch next to me, scrolling his phone. I look at him for a moment, feeling my entire body tense, and realize I need to bring it up before I overthink myself into oblivion and avoid it for the rest of forever.

"So..." I start, picking at my fingers again. Clay looks up at me with lifted brows, then drops his sight to my hands. He sits up nonchalant, tugging at my wrist to pull my hands apart.

"So?" He asks, keeping a hold of my hand and rubbing small circles with his thumb. I nearly cry in frustration, pulling my hand back.

I sigh. "So... what just happened?" I ask nervously.

Clay laughs, "What do you mean?" His eyes dart around. "Did something happen?"

I roll my eyes back into my head. "You know what I mean." I say. He laughs.

"I dunno either. Two adult friends started fucking, and they're probably gonna do it again." He says, voice still humored.

I twist my hands in my lap. That's it?