The Bad Boy's Game. Contest. #BTONESHOT

Falling is Best When Someone Catches You

@callmecutekins
Bad Boy's Game
Chapter 32: Falling is Best When Someone Catches You.
Different Chapter Ending
June 1st, 10:20PM

--------/------///-------/-

I glance up at Archer's face, seeing it laced with worry. He's staring off into the distance, fidgeting around.

Gently, I place my hand on his cheek, pulling his face to look at me.

"Are you alright..?" I ask quietly, trailing off uncertainly. He doesn't usually act like this.

He gives me a serious look before answering carefully.

"W-we need to talk," his eyes dart nervously to the people sitting nearby and I'm shocked. Archer, the bad-boy, just stuttered. Stuttered!

"Well what is it?" I clear my throat, gazing at him thoughtfully, but also a bit worried.

Glancing around again, he tilts his head slightly,

"There's a park, about five minutes from here. Can we talk there?" He suggests with a wary look.

I shrug, and he gives me a small smile, before we head out the doors, heading to the park.

---------

We approach an old bench under a large maple tree, and grabbing my hand gently, we walk over and sit down. His expression is unreadable, and suddenly I'm frightened.

Is he calling of the game?

Did me confessing my feelings for him scare him off?

Was this a mistake?

I'm pulled back to earth as I hear Archer take a deep breath, then launches into a speech.

"Ellie, I've needed to tell you this for quite a while, but haven't found the courage. I think..." He pauses, faltering, before starting again.

"I-I think I'm falling for you." I open my eyes wide in surprise, and am about to say something, when he cuts me off.

"No. Don't say anything. I'm not finished." He glances at me and I nod slowly, giving him permission to continue.

"I really care about you, and from you're confession I think you feel the same. I just want you to know that the game wasn't exactly just a game. It was so I could get to know you better. And I did," he says with a small smile, "and I have to admit, it was the best decision of my life."

I stare at him as he finishes his speech, not quite sure what to say. I can see him searching my face rapidly, looking for my reaction. I lean a bit closer and he gives me a confused look.

"What are--" his voice is cut off as I capture his lips with mine, and I feel him suck in a breath. He deepens the kiss, reaching to hold my face to his. Suddenly, he breaks off. He's panting a little, and then a question hits me.

"Why were you scared to tell me?" I ask him, confused. I mean, he acted as if it was like I was going to be mad. Besides Archer, scared? The bad boy, scared?

"I didn't know how you were going to react," he confesses to me quietly. "I thought maybe I'd scare you off or something." With a sly grin he adds, "I shouldn't have been worried though. You can't resist these luxurious lips," he purses his lips at me, making me laugh.

"I literally had just told you like, five hours ago that I liked you." I roll my eyes at him and he shakes his head.

"You said 'falling'. You never said you actually liked me.

I could see the hope in his eyes. Three little words would change our relationship forever. Maybe I thought I would be scared, or worried when I said this. But no. It just felt... Right.

"I like you." I say simply and I watch his entire face light up with joy.

I punch him in the arm gently,

"Calm down, save some hot for Christmas," I laugh and I see his eyes sparkle.

"Hey, I have an idea. Let's play a game." He tells me with a mischievous smile. I groan, looking at him warily. I saw how his last so-called "game" turned out.

"I thought that's what we were doing," I point out and he shakes his head, still grinning.

"It's a new game," he pulls me a bit closer, whispering. "First to say 'I love you' loses, okay?" He says with a small smile.

"Okay. First to say 'I love you' loses." I agree to his proposition with an easy smile.

He tugs me closer, bringing his lips just centimetres away from mine.

"In that case..." He says slowly,

"I love you."

I give him a surprised look, then laugh.

"Well that was definitely the easiest win ever," I shrug my shoulders then grin at him, trying to keep my heart from racing. He loved me. He actually loved me. I focus back on him and laugh again.

"So you lose!" giving him a triumph smile, he just smiles back, leaning in closer.

"I consider this a win for me, actually," his eyes are sparkling and I'm confused for a second.

"But how...?" I ask him with a tilt of my head.

"Because I just won the only thing that matters. Your heart."

And then he kissed me.

-----------/--------//-----------/------

Heyy so this is for the contest that beautifultragedies is hosting. I think I did fairly well and I hope you like it!

I'm not sure what to classify this as. A spin-off? A different ending? I'm not sure.

Also I wanted to clarify why I put "VOID" on the picture. It's because (in my new version of the chapter,) the game is actually "void". According to Archer, it was just a ploy to get to know her ;)

Anyway thanks! Wish me luck in the contest, I've been re-writing and re-writing, trying my hardest to make this good. So wish me luck and have a frabjous day!

(Frabjous is my word of the day, btw. It means "elegant." Fitting, no?)