Stolen Kisses, Pretty Lies

~Chapter 14~

It's fine. This is fine. Relax. She's asleep. Relax. She's not actually cuddling you. It's fine. No need to get worked up, Nine.

Midnights shifted behind me, her arm tightening around my waist for a brief moment. My cheeks felt warm against a pillow, which I suddenly realised wasn't a pillow at all, but Midnights' bicep.

I was in heaven. But it wasn't right. She was unconscious, and I shouldn't ever expect this from her.

I didn't move; I was fearful of my boundaries and so I stayed still.

I felt a soft exhale tickle the back of my neck, and my heart fluttered.

When a phone rang loudly from another room, I was majorly disappointed. Midnights stirred, and propped herself up on one elbow slowly.

"Morning," I murmured through a yawn.

"Hi," she matched my yawn.

I rolled onto my back and stretched. Midnights watched for some reason, making me giggle.

"What?" I questioned her.

"What?" She repeated, cracking a smile.

"You're looking at me!"

"How could I not? You're so pretty."

I blushed furiously, "you're so sweet."

"And you're blushing like crazy."

"Am not!" I argued back, despite it being pointless, but a smile still on my face.

"You are!" She laughed.

"Shut up," I groaned, rolling over to hide my face under the pillows.

"Noooooo Nine- ooh spider!"

I immediately scrambled upright and jumped off the couch, looking around wildly. "Where?"

"On the wall."

I followed her finger and saw a ginormous spider crawling up the wall.

"Ew, ew, ew, ew, get it away!" I shrieked, backing as far away as possible.

"Nine, it's not even that big," Midnights chuckled. "Do you want me to put it outside?"

I nodded, "don't let it hurt you! It might be poisonous!"

"It's not going to bite me, relax," she scooped the spider into her hands and moved to the window.

"Be careful!" I squeaked, moving back.

"I'm not going to do anything; it's not like I'm just gonna-" she gave me a small smirk and started to walk toward me.

"Mid... don't you dare," I stepped toward the door, ready to make a run for it.

"What? I'm not doing anything!"

"Midnights, I love you but-"

Suddenly, everything stopped.

"I'm sorry- I didn't mean that- just-" I exited the room, my heart racing and panic building in my head.

"Wait, Nine" I heard footsteps and then she joined me in the room over.

I looked at her hands.

"The spiders gone," she confirmed. "Are you okay?"

My breaths were shallow and I leant against the wall, "I'm sorry."

"What for?"

"What- what I said," I swallowed thickly. "I didn't mean to."

"Why would you be sorry for that?" Midnights brushed a strand of hair off my face.

"Because I didn't mean to say it, I don't want to make things weird, or give you other things to worry about when you're already going through so much."

Midnights smiled, "as kind as it is, it's definitely unnecessary. I've felt the best I ever have here, and by here, I mean by your side."

I nodded nervously.

"Could you... say it again?" She whispered.

"Say..."

Midnights nodded, she looked a little nervous herself. "So my mind knows it's true... I've only heard those words told to me a couple times in my life... I'm not going to process it otherwise. But if it's not true, you can forget it."

"I... it's true. It's very, very true. It's true, and it's real, and it's love love. And I'm sorry."

Midnights smiled. "Stop apologising!"

"I'm sorry! I just feel guilty, like I'm taking advantage of you, or stepping over the line, or feeling something out of my place, or-"

"I love you too."

"What?"

"I... love you too."

"You... love me?"

"Yes. Quite a lot, actually," she smiled shakily.

"You love me?"

"Yes, Nine!" Midnights giggled, wringing her hands as she stood in front of me. "I love you," she pulled me into a hug, initiating it for the first time.

I immediately relaxed into her, hugging her back gently. "I love you too, Mid."

She rested her head on mine, mine on her shoulder, and my arms around her, with hers around me.

I pulled back after a moment, my heart rate still quick, but infected by lovesickness. "So... what now?"

"I don't know, I'm in shock too."

"I don't want to push anything, seriously. You don't need more in your life than there already is."

"Okay, I think I'm okay with taking things further," she shrugged.

"As long as you promise to let me know if anything happens, or I do anything, or just any of that stuff," I requested seriously.

Midnights nodded. "I promise I'll talk to you."

"Brilliant," I replied breathily. "So... do you wanna be my girlfriend?"

"Yeah. I really do."

I beamed at the girl, who pulled me in for another hug, which I accepted, feeling like I could burst with joy.

~~~~~

"So, do we wanna go public?" I asked, resting my chin on hands as we sat at the dining table.

"What do you think? I don't really care, as long as my parents don't find out," Midnights mused, chip in her hand.

"Well, no one knows about me yet, so I'd prefer staying private, if that's okay."

"Easy," Midnights nodded and grabbed my hand, placing a chip on my palm.

"Mid," I gave her a look.

"I get to look after you properly now, eat it. It's yum."

I stared at the chip, debating over every detail in my head.

"You're overthinking, love. Just put it in your mouth," she shrugged.

"It's not that easy," I grumbled.

"Overthinking is just gonna make it harder, I'll count you down."

"Mid." I cocked my head in annoyance.

"Ready? Three, two, one," she counted the numbers way faster than anticipated, I got lost and just shoved the damn thing in my mouth without thinking about it, only realising when it was between my teeth.

I grimaced and swallowed the chip, the taste overwhelmingly salty in my mouth. Salt, calories...

"Good girl," she patted my head, cutting through my thoughts.

I blushed yet again and fiddled with my fingers.

~~

I love you, I'm sorry came on while I was writing this and it was funny.