𝐋𝐨𝐧𝐠 𝐬𝐭𝐨𝐫𝐲 𝐬𝐡𝐨𝐫𝐭 |𝟏𝟖+|

10

Etta Valentines POV

We stayed up talking till six in the morning, only going to bed when we both started drifting off whilst slumped on the couches.

Me and Miguel talked about everything and anything, gradually learning more about each other on such a deep level that I surprised myself with my honesty.

For example. I learned that Miguel has mommy issues - his words not mine. He told me how his friends seem to have everything planned out whilst he's just plodding along in life, waiting for something to come along that he can latch onto.

He told me countless times that meeting me was one of the best things to happen to him, but I put that down to sleep deprivation because why would that ever be true?

His favourite colour is blue, a deep arctic ocean blue to be precise. His favourite meal is a good fajita with a side of strawberry milkshake dunked fries. His favourite sweet treats are churros with dips of both white and dark melted chocolate, but he said that might have some competition ever since he tasted the pancakes I served him the other day.

His guilty pleasure is watching videos of people falling over and his favourite film is How to train your dragon 3.

Miguel informed me how he's a typical man with a love for video games, but sometimes he plays them too much as a distraction that he worries his eyes will go square. When that happens, he likes to go outside and touch grass but that's a little difficult when you live in an apartment building in the middle of New York City.

He thinks that if he was born somewhere with more greenery he could've been a farmer, or a duck racer in a past life.

And with all this new knowledge, I memorised the smooth, steady sound of his voice and replayed his words in my head like a bedtime story until I eventually fell asleep.

I enjoy Miguel's company far more than I care to admit. He makes me feel grounded if that makes any sense.

But he also makes me breakfast it would seem.

"Hey Scooby, I don't know if you're in the land of the conscious yet but I got some food down here whenever you're ready."

Every step I took towards the door made my heart flutter. I'd been laying in bed for about ten minutes, simply coming round before he called out.

I opened the door, eyes first landing on his before a flush coursed through my body from the sight of the fully grey attire he had on. Grey tank with grey sweatpants, and if that weren't enough, tattoos that I didn't realise he had decorated his arms and snuck beneath the material of his shirt.

"Etta?" God, was I staring?!

"Err....right. Um...yes. Food?" This is why I don't tend to leave my house.

Miguel's smirk told me all I needed to know. He caught me staring.

"I tried to make waffles, did you want some?"

I took a breath, steadying myself as I smiled. "Sure. Lemme just get freshened up and I'll meet you down there."

"Oh yeah, about that. Did you wanna borrow some of my clothes? Only yours had holes in the knees from when you fell yesterday?" And just like that, I remembered how much of a mess my life was in.