Babysitters

Chapter 22

VERONICA VALDEZ

"Ver', wake up."
Goddammit.
"Wake up!"
I groaned and turned to look at the intruder.
My last nights adventure was definitely not a good thing to my sleeping schedule. I should've known I wouldn't be able to sleep in today considering the little amount of times I've done it here. Someone always wakes me up in the middle of a good dream.
"Hey sleepyhead." Theo grinned, towering over my bed.
I squinted my eyes to see him better, the remains of my sleep still in them. "What are you doing in here?"
My voice came out as barely a whisper, making me cough out to clear my throat. Theo didn't seem to mind, though.
"I missed you. Wake up."
It's weird how one sentence can make a persons face light up in flames and make the skin turn completely red. I could feel how my cheeks got warm instantly. "Don't joke around, Theo. I'm too tired for it," I responded, trying to keep my voice steady. I turned on my stomach and hid my face into my pillow, trying to get a grip so that my face would return to a normal color. The bright red that plastered it right now was definitely not normal.
"I'm not joking," Theo huffed impatiently, and laid beside me—to my surprise—. "I missed you and I seriously want you to wake up."
There goes all the progress with my face.
Crap.
"Fine..." I muttered before sitting up on the bed. The blanket fell off of my upper body, and only then I realized whose hoodie I was wearing again.
Theo noticed it too, and a smug grin found his face. "You slept with my hoodie on?"
Well, there's no denying it now. "I— yeah." I got up and headed to my wardrobe, trying to think of a topic I could change the conversation towards.
This is too damn embarrassing.
I picked out a pair of sweatpants and a new crop top, a outfit I always went for if I didn't know what to wear. Right now my only goal was to get Theo's hoodie off me and save myself from the humiliation. I don't even know why I feel so awkward, I guess I'm just not used to this close proximity me and Theo have nowadays.
I turned back towards Theo and gave him a look that told him to turn around. He buried his face into my pillow the same way I had done, and I began changing. I tried to be quick and not keep him waiting, but I was also curious as to what he was planning. I mean, he didn't come to wake me up in my room just to sit in silence, right?
When I was finally ready, I dropped his hoodie on top of him as a sign that he could look again. Giving the hoodie back gave me a weird, wistful feeling that crawled under my skin and I knew it'd refuse to leave before he'd give me a new one.
"So," Theo started, turning to face me as he began to fold the hoodie. "We were thinking that we'd go out today."
I raised my eyebrows. "Out? Last time you said that the place wasn't a pleasant one. Should I be scared?"
Theo snorted. "No, no. This time it's a good place, I promise. Me and the boys are going to a beach and I was wondering if you wanted to join us—?"
"A beach," I repeated, thinking about his offer. I did want to go out, I hadn't been anywhere except the manors garden in a long time. "Sure, sounds fun."
"Cool," Theo smirked and got up, walking to my desk. He picked up my laptop and turned to me. "You have Netflix?"
I nodded.
"Wanna watch something? To kill time?" He asked me nonchalantly, as if he didn't know I was fine doing anything if it was with him.
I hummed in response, sitting down on my bed as he brought the laptop and sat beside me. Close to me.
So close.
He handed me the device and I signed in, going into Netflix. "So, what do you want to watch?" I asked him, my eyes wandering on the screen.
He shrugged. "Anything is fine. You choose."
I sighed, picking out a horror movie and clicking it open.
"Do you want snacks?" Theo suddenly asked. "Mattheo has a huge stash in his room and I could always steal some from him."
My head automatically turned to him. "Um... Sure, I guess. Will he get mad?"
"Probably. But I'll take the blame," he grinned and got up. "Give me one second."
I paused the movie, and leaned back as he slipped out of the door. I took my phone out and checked if I had any new messages. Ava had sent a few TikTok's, but nothing else.
We've been talking with Ava on the phone quite a lot recently, and she has obviously been asking about Theo and the other boys. I've told her the basics, but left some important things out, for example the marriage thing and almost everything about Theo and me. I know she'd freak out, and I don't think I'm ready to talk about these things to her, not yet. I feel bad for not telling my best friend about some huge things that are going on in my life but I'm also scared shitless of the conversation I'd have to have with her if she'd know. If I need to talk to someone about it, it's Enzo.
I also fear the fact that if I'd admit the marriage to Ava, I'd also have to admit it to myself. To this point I've been kind of avoiding the topic even with Enzo, because even the thought makes me so uncomfortable. I don't want to think about it or hear about it.
Out of sight, out of mind.

I almost drop my phone as the door flies open, revealing a full-handed Theo. It seems like he stole the whole stash.
I let out a giggle as he dropped everything on the bed and closed the door with his foot, grinning like a child who has done something bad.
"I thought it'd be good to have a variety of where to choose." He dropped down on the bed. "But you really have to tell me what you like so I can only bring those things in the future."
"In the future?" I chuckled, my eyes wandering over all the chocolate, candy and chips he brought.
"Yeah, don't think I'm letting this be the only time we're watching a movie together." He smirked and pressed the play button on the screen.

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A/N:
Hello my loves
It's about time for me to get this chapter out, I apologize it has taken me so long. I've been very busy with school, and I haven't had the time to focus on writing. I want to make up for it somehow, and I want to give you the options to choose from. Either I make another 2000 word chapter that'll be out next week, or I can write kind of a one-shot of a boy you can choose. If I end up doing the latter, expect me to make more of those over time since sometimes (often) I feel like writing something short I don't have to think about too much.
I'd probably make a completely different book for the one-shots, and I'd also accept requests. Please let me know which one you'd prefer, I'd love to hear your opinions.
Please vote and comment if you liked the chapter, it motivates me to update quicker for you 💕
Love u all x