Vulnerable

Chapter 9

Aria

I woke up encased in Billie's arms and a cloud of her perfume, it was arguably the best way to wake up.

When I rolled over to face her, she was smiling and slowly opening her eyes. "Good morning." She whispered and I took in her beautifully tangled hair and the raspy tone of her voice, both bringing a smile to my own face.

"Morning." I whispered through a yawn, and she lightly kissed my forehead as I stretched.

"You sleep a little better?"

I nodded, moving my face closer to hers and closing my eyes contently. "Much. Thank you for...ya know." I opened my eyes and she brought her hand to my cheek.

"Don't thank me, I'm glad I was here...Do you have panic attacks like that a lot?" Her voice was gentle, caring.

"Not as much anymore, only on special occasions." I joked. She rolled her eyes and flicked my ear, it felt good to be laughing with her again.

Somehow in just one night, she had managed to make the weight that had been sitting on my chest for days now, feel half as heavy. Mostly by just being her.

She reached an arm around my waist and pulled me on top of her, "There she is, my little sarcastic ass." she teased, squeezing her arms around me.

"I missed her." She mumbled into my ear.

"Me too."

I laid there while she scratched my back, humming absentmindedly in my ear- although, I swore it was the most beautiful and intricate thing I'd ever heard.

"I'm so glad you are here Billie." I blurted out, feeling overwhelmed by the feelings that were growing in my chest.

She hummed in agreement and I knew she had missed my point, so I pulled back to look at her.

"No like...I'm glad you're here. What you told me last night about being in dark places before..I'm proud of you for making it out of them and being here."

Her eyes flashed with so many emotions and she opened her mouth to speak several times before deciding to just kiss me.

I melted into her lips, lacing my fingers into her hair. Her hands slipped under my sweatshirt and her nails dug lightly into the skin of my hips. I sighed into her mouth before gently pulling my lips from hers and resting our foreheads together.

"I need a shower in the worst way." I admitted, suddenly remembering my current state after four days of living in a depression nest.

Billie laughed at my sudden interruption of our sweet moment, "Can I join?"

I raised my eyebrows at her a bit, not sure if I was in the headspace for all that a shower with Billie had previously entailed. As if she read my mind, she held her hands up beside her almost in surrender.

"No funny business, promise." She scrunched her nose, "Just in a- wanna hold you and wash your hair kind way."

I smiled at her intensely, appreciating that she sensed my hesitation and didn't push it any further. It was so refreshing- even though there was nothing about her that didn't make me want her, I needed her presence more right now and she knew it intuitively.