Crushed Beats *PAUSED/REWRITING*

Chapter 24

Totally just didn't forget about this book.

Today might have seemed sunny. But as soon as it was dark a storm came through. Pretty common in Florida. Something Pico disliked. He jumped every time there was thunder. He got flashbacks when there was lighting. He hated it. Everything. Light rain or showering was fine. But he was afraid of the storms. It reminded him of the school shooting.

The thundering reminded him of the sound of gunshots. The lighting reminded him of the flashes of them. Everyone was asleep except you. You and Pico were texting right now matter of fact.

💔?❤️

So what are you even doing up
This late anyways 😦

Can't sleep.

How come
💁‍♀️

PTSD😐

Ohhh shit sorry😶

Nah it's fine or whatever
Read at 1:27 AM

"Oh fuck-" he cursed, "why would I say that?!"
He panicked and sped and walked to your room. "Y/n!"

"What the fuck Pico?!" You say startled.

"You're not mad at me are you?" He sat on your floor. "No...not that I know of- what was that about anyways?" He tilted his head. "You...bursting in my room."

He shook his head and waved his hands. You shrugged and sat up, "You can't sleep though, right?" You grabbed your MacBook. "Let's watch a movie, you can pick." You scooted over and patted the spot next to you.

"Wait, what?"

"You coming up here or not?" You smiled.

"I-uh..yeah.." he flushed from embarrassment and sat next to you. "Okay...you can pick," you looked at him and he wasn't even paying attention. He was staring outside. Why? It reminded him of when he was staring out the classroom window before he first heard the gunshots. Him knowing that the same person that killed all those people is in the same house as him didn't help, it made it even worse. You frowned. You hesitated before speaking, "you can cuddle me if that makes you feel any better.."

You looked at the screen to avoid making eye contact. He shifted behind you and wrapped his arms around your waist, pulling you onto his lap. You gasp at the sudden movement. "I'm sorry..." he apologized. He hasn't apologized to anyone since the school shooting. Accept for Nene and Darnell. Those were the only ones he trusted. And he trusted you too. You fidgeted with your hands and your face started to heat up. I mean who wouldn't?

Your crush, is behind you, cuddling you for that matter. And he said sorry? You didn't know about his past, but he sure was cold most of the time. And now you knew why. Not much, only the PTSD part.

But that was enough to know now. You didn't want to make him feel uncomfortable, right?

It took a lot for you to not say something about it. "S-So...what movie did you want to watch again?" "I don't want to watch one." 'Wow, so much for that. Now it's going to be even more awkward.'

He falls back still holding you. And you were stuck. You had no idea what to do. You didn't want to tell him to stop, you'd feel bad. But you also liked it.
You were going to say something until you heard soft snores behind you.

Lighting lights up the room as you stare into space. "1, 2, 3," thundering interrupts your whispering. That means the storm is 3 miles away. At least that's what they say. Whatever number you got to before the thunder starts, that's how many miles away the storm is. You kept whispering Over and over until you couldn't hold your eyes open anymore.