Echoes of Wonderland

Shuffling feelings

Red's POV

We stumbled back into the dorm, breathless and shaken. The rush of adrenaline was still coursing through my veins, but the immediate danger was behind us. I closed the door softly, leaning against it for a moment to catch my breath. Chloe was pacing the room, her face flushed with a mix of fear and excitement.

As we lay on the bed, the adrenaline finally starting to fade, I turned to Chloe. The weight of the night's events pressed heavily on my mind, but there was one thing I couldn't ignore.

- Chloe, - I start, voice soft but resolute. - I need to address what you said earlier.

She looked at me, her eyes wide with anticipation and a hint of fear.

- Me confessing my love for you? - Chloe says confirming it's what I meant and I nodded.

- Yeah. Look, I'm still hurt by what happened earlier, but after everything tonight... - My heart pounding, afraid to say what I'm about to say. - I'm not sure how I feel, Chlo.

Chloe's eyes filled with tears.

- I don't know what love feels like - I recall my mother's words, 'love ain't it'. - But I know I care a lot about you.

- Red, I'm so sorry for everything. I never meant to hurt you. I was just scared and confused. - Chloe immediately starts apologizing.

- I know. And I forgive you. - I reached out, taking her hand in mine. - We've both made mistakes, but we can work through them. Together.

- I care about you too, so much, Red. - The blue haired girl says, a small smile breaking through her tears but her voice trembling, starting to ramble. - You're the only person I want to stay with forever. I just can't stop thinking about how harsh I was, and the awful words I used. I didn't mean to push you away. I hate how quickly I snapped and didn't even let you—

I couldn't take it anymore. Without a second thought, I sprang towards her, my heart pounding. I took her face in my hands and kissed her, cutting off her apologies mid-sentence. The touch of her skin was electric, sending a shiver down my spine. Our lips met with a fierce intensity, a collision of pent-up emotions. It was passionate, deep, and hard but gentle. A kiss filled with all the feelings we had been holding back.

My fingers tangled in her hair, pulling her closer. Chloe's hands found their way to my waist, her grip firm yet tender. The world around us faded away as we moved in perfect sync, our bodies instinctively knowing how to touch, how to hold. The kiss felt like coming home, like finding the missing piece of my heart.

As we pulled back, breathless and flushed, I rested my forehead against hers.

- We'll figure this out. One step at a time. - I assure her.

Chloe smiled, her eyes shining with love and determination.

---

We ended up lying on the bed, tangled in each other's arms. The weight of the world seemed to lift as we held each other close. The warmth of her body against mine was a comforting reminder that we were no longer alone in this fight.

Chloe nuzzled closer, her fingers gently tracing patterns on my arm.

- You okay, bae? - she whispered, her breath warm against my neck.

I tensed slightly at the new term, feeling a strange mix of embarrassment and pleasure. It was unexpected, but hearing it from her felt... right. My reaction must have been noticeable because Chloe immediately looked concerned.

- I'm sorry, - She said quickly, her eyes wide with worry. - Was that too much? I didn't mean to—

I cut her off with a gentle kiss, hoping to convey my feelings through the touch of our lips. When I pulled back, I smiled at her.

- It's okay, Chlo. It just caught me off guard, that's all. I kinda liked it. - I trail off. - Just don't adress me by cutie pie or cringy shit like that, and if you tell someone I let you call me that, I'll cut your throat.

- Deal. - Relief washed over her features and a smirk creeps on her lips. - I just want to show you how much you mean to me.

- I know. And I appreciate it.

With a soft smile, I leaned in again, capturing Chloe's lips in a deeper, more urgent kiss. This time, the kiss was a desperate mingling of emotions, as if we were trying to communicate everything we felt without words. Chloe's hand moved to my cheek, her thumb tracing tender patterns along my jawline as she intensified the kiss. Each caress and movement felt like an intimate promise, a wordless declaration of our commitment.

We got lost in the heat of the moment, each kiss blending softness with a burning intensity. Chloe's fingers roamed over my skin with an almost feverish intensity, each touch setting off a cascade of warmth that consumed me. Our breaths came in desperate, mingling gasps, our hearts racing together as if in a wild, rhythmic dance. The world outside was nothing but a blur, as every kiss and caress made the moment feel timeless, a sanctuary where only the two of us existed.
Before it gets into something else, I pull back slightly, and take a deep breath.

- Chlo, there's something I need to tell you. - My voice wavered, betraying the vulnerability I felt.

- What is it? - She looked at me, her eyes filled with concern and love.

- I'm afraid, - I admitted, my voice barely above a whisper. - I've never felt anything like what I feel for you. It's... overwhelming. I'm not ready to fully accept my feelings yet. But I need you to know that I do care, a lot.

Chloe's eyes softened, and she gave me a reassuring smile.

- Red, I understand. This all can be scary, especially when it's something so new and intense. But you don't have to rush. I'm here, and I'm not going anywhere.

- Thank you. - I nodded, feeling a weight lift off my shoulders. - I just... I want to be honest with you. You know how my mom was, or is, I don't know. But she told me love makes you weak, that you don't need it because it ruins everything. Because of that, I've always been skeptical about it.

- Red, you're not your mom. - Chloe's expression shifted to one of understanding and empathy. - You can choose your own path, your own feelings. Love doesn't make you weak; it makes you stronger because you have someone to support you.

- I know you're right. - I looked into her eyes, seeing the sincerity in her words. - It's just hard to shake off everything she's drilled into me. But I want to try, for us.

Chloe kissed me again, her lips gentle and reassuring.

- We'll take it slow. - She calms me and I smile.

We lay there, wrapped in each other's embrace, sharing a few more soft kisses as the light of dawn began to fill the room. The future was uncertain, but in that moment, we had each other. And that was enough.

As the exhaustion of the night caught up with us, we fell asleep, still holding on to each other, finding comfort in our newfound love and the promise of facing whatever came next together.

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Take this as my apology for previous chapters.

And there are more to come...

Let me know how you're feeling about all of this so far!