She Needed Him

What's a little?

After eating one too many s'mores and getting told off by Austin for making one more after that, everybody wrapped up the night with a few more drinks and plenty of laughter.

I'm glad that there was no longer any tension.

Tucker's social anxiety seems to disappear after convincing Kyle for a few drinks. Tucker's eyes started to flutter shut so Kyle had carried him inside onto the couch while we finished the rest of the beers.

Austin, Kyle, and I were doing our jobs cleaning up the mess around the backyard. Tossing the last beer bottle into the small trash bag I held, I walked inside and threw it into the larger trash can in the kitchen.

The clanking of the bottles startled Tucker awake where he laid on the couch. He sat up quickly, looking around, and whining slightly when he made eye contact with me.

"Aww," I cooed, "I'm sorry, Tucker. I didn't mean to scare you. We are just cleaning up. You can lay back down- I am sure that Kyle will be ready to head out shortly."

"No..," whined Tucker, "I want D- Kyle, please."

I looked at the fluffy-haired boy who sleepily rubbed his eyes with a small pout on his lips. When I smiled at him, his pout deepened. I walked across the floor, into the living room, and softly smiled again at the boy who sat on the couch.

"He'll be in here shortly, okay?"

"Okay, I guess," Tucker huffed and crossed his arms.

I slightly rolled my eyes. This is fun.

"Tucker?"

"Hmm?"

"How does it feel... to be... little?"

The boy's posture straightened and his pout disappeared. He cocked an eyebrow at me, giving me a look I haven't seen from him before.

"Why?"

Shivers went up my spine. I've never heard his voice that deep.

"I'm just curious, I guess. Just looks fun. Not that I'm making fun of you or anything, so please don't think that."

Tucker looked at me for a few moments in silence, questioning if I was telling the truth or not.

His voice lightened, "Okay.. it's like a stress reliever? You just feel carefree, I guess. Kind of hard to describe unless you go into little space."

"Oh?" I asked, "Can you tell me about that? Have you always been a little? How did you know you were?"

"Well, that secret stays with me," Tucker laughed awkwardly, "but I've pretty much always been a little, yes. You kind of just know which side you're on, you know?"

I thought about it for a moment. I suppose he was right. As cute as little Tucker was for those few moments I had witnessed him, I don't think I ever could have a desire to truly care for someone in that headspace often. However, I know I have an interest in learning about little space.

"True," I shrugged, "I suppose I could only be a little as well. How do you know if you are or not?"

Tucker stares at me, "I don't make the rules! I just kind of do what feels right. If you want to, I can show you some of my stuffies that I have with me and you can see if you like any of those things."

"Stuffies?"

"Stuffed animals!" He smiles.

"Oh!" I gasp, "I have those! C'mon, let's go to my room and I'll show you my stuffies too!"

Tucker giggles and jumps off the couch, rushing over to the backpack sitting by the front door. He digs through it and pulls out two stuffed animals. We run down the hallway, into my bedroom, and close the door behind us. I open my closet and giggle in response to Tucker's gasp at my stuffie collection.

"It's not much but I love them!"

"You're so lucky!" Tucker pouts, "I only have these two so far."

Tucker holds out a small, floppy, dark brown stuffed puppy in one hand. In the other he holds a larger black bear stuffed animal. He pouts but gives them both a cuddle right after.

"You still have time to build your collection! But if there's one you really like you can keep it!"

Tucker's eyes flicker over to one of my old flamingo Webkinz sitting on the shelf. He bites his lip, deciding whether to take me up on my offer or not,

"Are you sure?"

"Yes!" I gleam, "Plus we're friends now so I know you'll take good care of them!"

"Friends?"

I look at Tucker and hand him the flamingo stuffie from the shelf, "Best friends, Tucker!"