𝒯𝒽𝑒 /Sunny Side Up/ 𝐸𝓃𝑔𝒶𝑔𝑒𝓂𝑒𝓃𝓉

It's Night and I Love You • 1

"You're so cold," his words weren't harsh, just filled with concern.

"I'm always cold. I'm anemic," she sassed and peered up at the lights.

There were a few lamp lights placed at different spots around the room of Theadora's apartment. They were dim, giving off a warm feeling to the living room. They shined on the small book shelves mounted on the wall and beamed on the cream couches which gave off a cozy vibe. The simplicity of the decorations didn't make the couple feel void and alone.

He rolled his eyes at her, "Don't say that," and with a gentle touch he was using his large hand to lightly brush her dark brown hair. "We're working on that, remember?" He said then leaned over and lovingly kissed her freckled forehead.

The room was still quite dark and the couple was seated on the soft carpeted floor. Theadora sat comfortably on a pillow, the couch at her and her fiancé's back.
He was glad they got to have a one on one moment but weren't totally alone. He could hear small movements and snoring coming from the hallway which reminded him of Theadora's roommates.

She received the kiss with a smile. "Yeah and it's not that easy right now. School's been kicking my butt and lately I've just felt, burnt-out I guess. Plus that's just the truth Sunny. My iron is always low!" Now she was exaggerating and Ben could tell by the way she drew out the word 'always'.
"Also, one," Theadora smirked.

Ben gave a curt nod when he heard such a favorable number, replying, "Not 'always' Thea, I think you meant to say 'often'?" His smile turned into a chuckle and he found himself putting an arm around her shoulder. "I know I'm not the greatest at it but I'd hope that you'd at least try to speak better about yourself. I mean, well..." Ben struggled to find his words, "It does worry me sometimes," his smile didn't last and it seemed to disappear into the shadows of the dimly lit living room.
"About what?" Theadora tried to look up at him, the shorter one between the two of them, even though they were sitting.
Her shoulders and back felt so warm as she gave his words more thought. "Well, I took my iron supplements today," she tried to smile up at him, in an "I'm sorry for worrying you but I'm trying," way.
But when he didn't meet her eyes, a pout began to form. It didn't go unnoticed by her fiancé. She felt great warmth from leaning against him and over the past two years and two months of being with him, she grew into his loving embraces. Two months ago they'd gotten engaged and Theadora found herself longing for more of him. Often replaying the proposal in her head because it made her smile and wanting to hold hands more, maybe even cuddle.
Although, she didn't remember too many times that she and Ben Sunny, known to her more as Sunny than Ben, hugged or kissed before the engagement. In fact, they hadn't even kissed once on the lips during the two years of the dating process.
Although. There was this one time... her mind trailed off to a distant memory and her pointer finger rested on her lips, trying to recall.

The first time he had ever kissed her on the lips she called him 'mean'. Oh yes that was a night she would not forget.
"You're mean," she said after a couple of dates. Ben was shell-shocked.

"Huh?" He gaped at her in confusion. He definitely began to think of her as some weirdo but tried to refrain from it. This had been one of his best friends for nearly 2 years. Taking the thought captive and bringing himself back to the young woman in front of him.

20 year old Theadora folded her arms angrily, "I- um. It was mean because you uh-" she paused, "you didn't ask!" she looked away and took a few steps back. "I don't mind it but i-" Ben's eyes trailed down to her hands in her pockets, it looked like she was trying to hide them. They were trembling from what he could see. Theadora at the time couldn't help but clench and unclench them systematically in an attempt to make the shaking go away.

A thought popped up in his mind. I hope I didn't trigger anything. I didn't mean to-
Now the nerves had hit him, "Oh no, I'm so sorry! I didn't mean to trigger anything or make you feel uncomfortable," Had he done something wrong? This was only the third date but he had always thought that it was the man that was supposed to make the first move. Although he did. Panic creeped up on his face and he looked at everything but her.