In Between

Of Waiting On Somebody

Y/N wakes up in her own bed, her body feeling heavy and her mind foggy. She tries to recall the events from last night, but everything is blurry—fragmented pieces of the party, the kiss with Walker, and then... nothing.

The sunlight streaming through the windows feels too bright. Her head aches as she turns, squinting, to see Dior sitting on the edge of the bed, her face filled with concern.

"Hey," Dior says softly, "how are you feeling?"

Y/N winces, trying to sit up, but Dior places a gentle hand on her shoulder. "Take it easy. You've been through a lot."

"What... what happened?" Y/N asks, her voice hoarse.

Dior sighs, brushing her hair out of her face. "Your drink was spiked. We realized something was wrong when you started looking really out of it. Walker called your dad, and Ryan came to pick you up. You've been out since last night."

The news hits Y/N like a punch. She vaguely remembers drinking something in the kitchen, but she hadn't thought twice about it. Her mind swims with fragments of the night, but there's a blank spot where the later hours should be.

"Who did it?" Y/N asks quietly, her voice shaky.

Dior shakes her head. "We don't know. Everyone at the party was pretty drunk, but your dad is furious. He's trying to get to the bottom of it."

Y/N swallows hard, feeling a tightness in her chest. The fact that she could have been in real danger—it's too much to process. She wraps her arms around herself, trying to hold back the tears threatening to spill.

As if on cue, the door creaks open, and Walker steps inside, his expression a mix of relief and guilt. "Y/N," he says softly, his voice barely above a whisper.

Y/N looks at him, her mind flashing back to the kiss, then the hazy events of the night. Walker's blue eyes are full of concern, his usual carefree demeanor nowhere to be found.

Dior takes the hint and quietly excuses herself, leaving the two alone.

Walker sits down in the chair next to Y/N's bed, his hands clasped together as if he doesn't know what to say. "I should've been watching you more closely. I—"

Y/N cuts him off, her voice quieter than she intends. "It's not your fault, Walker."

"It feels like it is," he replies, his jaw tightening. "I promised your dad I'd look out for you, and I let this happen."

Y/N watches him carefully, seeing how much he's beating himself up over something that wasn't in his control. "You called him, though. You did the right thing."

Walker shakes his head. "That's not enough. I promised him... the day I met you, he made me swear I'd never let anything bad happen to you. I should have been the one making sure you were okay."

Y/N feels a lump rise in her throat, hearing the weight behind his words. She hadn't realized how seriously Walker took that promise, or that her dad had even made such a request. It makes her see him in a new light.

"I don't remember much from last night," she admits, her voice fragile. "Just... bits and pieces."

Walker's face softens, and he reaches out, taking her hand in his. "You don't need to worry about it anymore. You're safe. Your dad's handling everything."

Y/N looks at their hands, her heart feeling heavy. There's a moment of silence between them, and Y/N's mind drifts back to the kiss. Everything between them feels so complicated now, tangled up in emotions and unspoken promises.

"Walker," she starts, unsure of where to go with her thoughts, "about last night... the kiss..."

Walker exhales slowly, his gaze steady on hers. "I don't want to talk about it until you're ready."

His words surprise her, but they also bring a sense of relief. There's too much to unpack right now—her head is still spinning, and the last thing she needs is to dive into the chaos of their relationship.

"Thank you," Y/N says quietly, her voice barely above a whisper.

Walker nods, his grip on her hand tightening ever so slightly. "Get some rest. I'll be here if you need anything."

Y/N watches as Walker stands, his gaze lingering on her for a moment before he leaves the room. She's left with her thoughts, her emotions swirling. Everything feels so overwhelming—what happened at the party, the kiss with Walker, the weight of his promise to her dad.

For now, all she can do is wait—wait for the answers, wait for things to make sense, and wait to figure out where she and Walker stand amidst all the confusion.