Before I know what's happening, I'm in Basil's arms, tears streaking my face, barely breathing.
"Breathe, Sunny, breathe. You're okay. I love you." He says, his shaky hands running through my raven hair.
I can't breathe.
His fingertips graze the tops of my ears, he pulls my face into his chest. I inhale the smell of his comforting sweater, which is heavy with the scent of dirt and flowers and freshly cut grass. His lips tasted like happiness when he kissed me earlier. His freckles tasted like sunlight.
I breathe.
"You've become very... triggerable lately, huh, Sunny? California must have messed you up." He breathes into my ear.
I don't have the strength to even nod.
He runs his fingers through my hair again. "I'm gonna get you back to normal, Sunny, I swear. I swear. I'm going to make sure you're okay, if its the last goddamn thing I do, I swear, I swear, I swear, I swear, Sunny, oh god..."
He trails off, and the way he obsessively repeats the last phrase makes me feel incredibly anxious. Somehow, this worry is enough that I can shake off my hyperventilating dizziness and pick up my phone and let the app say what I can't.
"It's not going to be the last thing you do. We'll grow old together." The app eventually says and my fingers finally finish fumbling over the small keyboard on my phone.
He smiles. "Thank you, Sunny."
For a couple of minutes, Basil and I sit there in silence. And then Dad gets home, smiles at me, and goes into the kitchen, to fuck Ai or something. After another of couple minutes, Dad comes out with plates and silverware, and Ai with food.
She portions it out perfectly onto our plates, and we eat in mostly silence, punctuated only by failed conversation starters from Dad and Ai, and Basil anxiously replies.
Underneath the table, I put my hand on his leg. He lets out a soft gasp, glances over at me, and smiles.
(325 words)
(Outlaw by McCafferty)
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Trees (an omori fic)
FanfictionSunny moved with his mother to a far off town after Mari died, and got into some trouble with a boy named Nik. He has to live with his dad though, and reconnects with some old friends. The name Trees comes from the 3 songs by the band McCafferty. I...
