Deadly Nightmares (The Last Guardian, Book One)

NINETEEN

Warnings: mentions of health problems. tell me if i missed anything!!

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IT WAS HARD TO SLEEP WITH ALL THE NOISE IN THE ROOM.

Clifford tried not to punch the man sleeping beside him, just because he was Tamara's brother.

Jeremiah was snoring beside him, and goddamn if he wasn't louder than his father when he had a cold.

He sat up in irritation when the big man let out a particularly loud and dragged-out snore, looking back and wanting to stuff cotton up his nose.

He got off the bed, took his pillow, and rubbed his dry eyes harshly. He exited the room, grumbling under his breath, turning around to stop inches before he crashed into Tamara.

Tamara stared at him with wide eyes, her hand on her chest, sighing with relief. "Couldn't sleep?"

"Yeah. Your brother's snores are worse than my father's. He probably needs to get his nose checked or something."

She chuckled, looking at her room. "I hid an extra box of pizza in the kitchen. You wanna have it with me?"

Bells started ringing in his head, the words 'LATE NIGHT PIZZA DATE!!!!' flashing in big red neon letters.

"Sure," he said casually as if every cell of his wasn't vibrating. He was assuming stuff, but he couldn't help it.

A few minutes later, they were sitting on the balcony floor, a pizza box between them and wine glasses in their hand.

"Did you have a nightmare?" Clifford asked, biting the slice in his other hand.

"Nah, just couldn't sleep," she said, sipping her wine. "I thought I'd have a nightmare."

He turned to her curiously, wanting to hear her.

"I thought I'd be terrified and all," she explained with a shrug. "But... I don't know, I feel restless. And I'm wondering how he got back."

"You think you're just in shock?"

"Nope. I was, afterwards for some time. That's why I ordered a secret extra pizza because I knew I wouldn't eat much."

"Damn. I wish I could know my digestive system that well."

She only chuckled, looking at him with a smile. "I just know that I wouldn't wanna cook, but I'd be hungry."

They stayed like that for a few minutes, just sitting in the silence comfortably, munching our pizzas and sipping our wine.

Then, he couldn't hold his tongue, his mind repeating the question until it was the only thing he could think of.

"Is this a date?" he asked softly, his body tense as he awaited her answer.

"Hmm. Maybe," she teased, hugging her knees and setting her cheek on them as she gazed at him, her midnight black eyes looking like limitless voids, beautiful enough to drown in.

And I would. I know I would.

She set her sight on the horizon again, tipping the glass up to gulp down her drink, her cheeks red. 

He hid a smile behind the rim of the glass, biting on a slice of the pizza.

Some time later, they both stood in front of the couch, staring at it. All the rooms in her apartment were taken, there was already a guy sleeping on the floor of the living room.