Pursuing Nirvana.

e i g h t

Sunday, at last. Today was the one day out of the week that I don't have to work.

Much to my hopes, Brayden was still fast asleep in my bed. His arm now hung lazily around my torso. His forehead leaning on the back of my head so that I could feel his slow and relaxed breathing against the nape of my neck.

He was so peaceful and tranquil; like an undefiled stream in a virgin forest, so pure yet full of life. Although, he was far too still for my liking.

I rolled over in his embrace, careful not to disturb him, so I was now facing Brayden directly. "Wake up, sleepy head," I cooed softly.

He groaned sleepily in response, remaining asleep and subconsciously wrinkling his eyebrows.

Slightly aggravated that my attempts at waking him pleasantly were fruitless, I decided upon pulling the aggressive card. Filling my lungs to their fullest capacity, I blurted out, "Brayden wake up, someone's breaking in, help!"

Brayden's eyes snapped open, filled with confused aggression as he jolted awake and sat up, scanning the room quickly for the alleged perpetrator. I tried to stifle my laughter but I couldn't resist busting out in a laughing fit.

Brayden turned to me, looking puzzled as to why I was laughing so hard until he realized I wasn't serious. He then relaxed and flopped back into bed, glaring at me.

"What'd you do that for," Brayden whined groggily, he tried to seem angry, but he and I both knew he wasn't capable of it. I had this boy wrapped tightly around my finger and he wasn't coming loose anytime soon.

My lips broke into a teasing smile, "Because I wanted to see you, duh," I admitted matter-of-factly, staring at him in admiration with kind eyes.

Branden's jaw parted slightly as he tilted his head slightly forward, "You could still see me while I was asleep, you know, I was dreaming so good and you interrupted it."

"Oh yeah, what about?" I smirked, asking curiously.

His face drained of all color in an instant with an exception of his cheeks, which were now flushing a bright crimson color. I raised an eyebrow at this sudden change, in wonder of what a teenage boy like Brayden could possibly dream about, and enjoy. Not too much to wonder about, really.

"Nothing," he sputtered out defensively

"Right," I drawled sarcastically, nodding slowly and laughing to myself at his reaction.

Brayden rolled his eyes with a tender smile and hopped out of bed. "Anyways, you better get dressed soon." A hint of a smirk formed at the corner of his mouth.

I furrowed my brow, but I couldn't resist beaming at his witty statement, "Why?"

Brayden reached for his phone that sat upon my dresser. He turned back around to face me with a big grin and a sweet look in his eyes, "Because I'm taking you out for lunch, since our first date was kind of a bust."

I grinned widely and cast my eyes downward to my lap, twiddling my thumbs.

Although I was a little flattered, I was incredibly worried. Brayden has already expressed his extreme disdain for another guy to even look at me. I shuttered as I remembered seeing Brayden beat the consciousness out of that guy in the club a couple nights ago. I never want to see anything like that ever again.

I looked back up at him and spoke with a nervous tone, "I don't know if that's a good idea just yet, Brayden."

The smile fell from his face to the floor instantly and he ambled back toward the bed. A confused expression etched into his features, "What do you mean?"