Rules of Friendship | 18+

𝘛𝘸𝘰 ♡

𝘚𝘵𝘦𝘷𝘦

➵➵➵➵➵➵➵♡➵➵➵➵➵➵➵

There has to be a rule in the friendship handbook about dealing with one of the most beautiful souls you've ever experienced.

The boundaries between Serenity and I had disappeared long ago, by my sophomore year of high school we were staying at each other's house and cuddling with each other. I've seen most of her body and had the desire to see more, but I could never act on it, not without her withdrawing from me completely. She was already in the process of it. Our phone calls went from nightly, to every other night, to weekly. It killed me to watch her slip through my fingers, being across the United States has been detrimental for us, and I knew I needed to be back in New York.

It was four-thirty in the morning, and Serenity was sleeping soundly on my chest, her body tucked completely in my side. It had been so long since I had seen her like this, comfortable enough to touch me. I don't know what had happened between us in the past year, Bucky kept me updated on her life more than she did. But right now, I wasn't going to question it, I was going to relish in the touch of Serenity, even if I was only getting it in her sleep. I turned my head, pressing my lips to Serenity's forehead, watching her lips spread in a grin while she slept. Her being in my arms has always felt right, but I wouldn't risk losing my friendship with her.

My phone buzzed on the nightstand, loud in the nearly silent room, the only noise coming from a fan in the corner. Part of me winced, fearful it was one of the girls I had stood up when I bought a ticket home, I wasn't supposed to come back for another three days, I had planned to go to Mexico with some girls from school, but Serenity didn't answer my phone call and I was tired of the walls building between us, so I got on the first plane out of California, and came home. I know no one believes me when I say Serenity will always come first, but she does, always has. I didn't realize how tense I had become until I read my mom's name across the screen, a text message and I let out a breath, I was ready to be home and have her talk some sense into me.

Mom: I'm home, I'll see you tonight. Be safe wherever you are

Steve: Can I head home now? I stayed at Serenity's

Mom: Son, you never have to ask, I'll have coffee ready, how's my girl?

Steve: She's okay, but something's going on between us and I'm scared of losing her

Mom: See you soon

My fingers traced the side of Serenity's face, her nose scrunching up when she started to wake up, pretty gray eyes blinked a few times before she looked up at me, her frown apparent. I knew not to speak to her yet, she wasn't awake enough, but she rolled over, slapping the table for her phone, and squinted when the time appeared. "I swear to God Stevie," she put her phone back down, rolling back into my side, "If you woke me up to tell me you're going to hook up with someone I'm going to stab you in the eye, you could've just left and not interrupted my very peaceful sleep."

"Oh relax," I pushed her onto her back, rolling over her so I was caging her in, "Mom's home, I'm gonna go ahead and head there, I haven't seen her since Christmas."

I knew Serenity didn't believe me, her eyes narrowed before she nodded. There was no use convincing her that seeing my mom was the truth, I had made her believe that I had a constant rotation of hookups, which she's not wrong, but I have never, okay, scratch that, I would never leave her on the first day of me being home if it wasn't for mom. "Okay," She yawned, too tired to keep fighting with me, "Have fun, now get off me, I'm exhausted and I work at six."

"Serenity, I-"

"Make sure the gate is locked," Serenity mumbled as she rolled over, presenting her back to me, "And the front door, I'll see you later."