♥︎ATHALIA♥︎
After everything that happened earlier, I knew Brandon needed a break from his emotions, even just for a little while.
We ended up sitting on a bench outside, staring at the stars in comfortable silence, after being in his room the whole day.
The sky was a dark canvas dotted with twinkling lights, and the night air felt cool and refreshing.
I glanced at him. He seemed lost in thought, but at least the tension in his shoulders had softened.
I wanted to see him smile again, to bring back some of that lightness I'd seen in him earlier this week.
"Hey," I said, nudging him lightly with my elbow. "You know what we need?"
He looked over at me, curiosity flickering in his eyes. "What?"
"Karaoke night!" I grinned.
“No...I dont think so.”
"Come on, it'll be fun. We can sing horribly off-key and laugh about it. What do you say?"
For a second, he just stared at me like I was insane, and then a small smile tugged at his lips, and he shook his head. "You're crazy, you know that?"
"Yup. But I'm serious. Let's do it." I stood up, pulling him along with me. "I've got a karaoke playlist ready to go. And we'll order pizza too, for the full experience."
He hesitated for a moment, but then he sighed, his smile growing a little wider. "Fine. But only because you're making me."
I beamed, glad to see him loosening up. We headed back inside, setting up the speaker, and within minutes, we were belting out the worst renditions of some classic pop songs.
At first, Brandon seemed a little stiff, but by the second song, he started getting into it.
We sang like nobody was listening, laughing at each other's attempts to hit impossible notes.
At one point, he actually started dancing, and seeing him like that made my heart swell. It was nice seeing him so carefree, even if just for a moment.
By the time the pizza arrived, we were both out of breath from laughing and singing.
We collapsed on the couch, munching on slices of pizza, still giggling from our ridiculous karaoke session.
"This was a good idea." Brandon said, glancing over at me as he took a bite of pizza.
"Told you," I said smugly, leaning back against the cushions. "You just have to trust me."
He smiled, the kind of smile that would make you feel weak in the knees.
I turned my head to the other side, hoping he wouldn't see me blush.
Then it hit me–my feelings for him had grown deeper. It wasn't just mutual feelings of a friendship I was developing; there was something more. I liked him.
Alot.
The thought made me smile, and I couldn't help but feel a flutter of excitement.
We sat there for the rest of the night, talking, eating, and letting the stars outside be our silent witnesses to a night filled with laughter.
After we finished eating, the room was filled with the cosy aftermath of our karaoke night.
Empty pizza boxes and scattered napkins marked our impromptu celebration.
Brandon looked more relaxed than he had all day, a soft smile playing on his lips as we cleaned up.
"I had fun." he said, his voice gentle.
I smiled back, feeling a warm glow at his words. "Me too."
Once everything was tidied up, Brandon walked me to the guest room, where I'd be sleeping this time.
Unfortunately.
The house was quiet now, the only sounds being the distant hum of the neighbourhood and our footsteps echoing softly through the hall.
We stopped at the door, and I turned to face him. "Well, this is it. It's time to get some sleep."
Brandon nodded, looking a bit hesitant. "Yeah, I guess so."
I reached up on impulse and pecked him gently on the cheek. "Goodnight, Brandon."
He looked surprised but pleased, a faint blush colouring his cheeks. "Goodnight, Athalia."
I stepped into the room, and as I closed the door, I could see him lingering for a moment before turning away.
I let out a contented sigh, feeling a sense of calm and connection from the evening we had shared.
The night had been a welcome escape, and I hoped it had given him a little relief from the pain he'd been carrying.
As I settled into bed, I couldn't help but smile, thinking about how much we'd both needed this simple joy and the comfort of each other's company.
♥︎♥︎♥︎♥︎♥︎♥︎♥︎
YOU ARE READING
Cold Water
Romance[BWWM] I was only twelve years old when the world turned cold. The day my mom died in that car accident, I felt like someone had dumped a bucket of ice water over my heart. My dad, who had always been my hero, suddenly became a stranger, filled...
