𝐃𝐄𝐒𝐓𝐑𝐎𝐘𝐈𝐍𝐆 𝟓 || 𝐁𝐨𝐲𝐬 𝐨𝐟 𝐓𝐨𝐦𝐦𝐞𝐧

CHAPTER 54: 𓆩♡𓆪

Lizzie starts visiting more frequently. She doesn't text me when she's coming over. There's no need to. The door is always open. Purposefully, I leave it unlocked at night so she can find some place to stay.

Tonight is no different.

I hear the click of the door opening as I lay on the couch, my mam working in the kitchen, doing whatever she feels like needs to be tended to. Sometimes she likes to cut vegetables in advance or try out new tools she bought at the store. Who am I to stop her?

I try to keep my gaze trained on the TV screen infront of me and ignore Lizzie as she slips her shoes off. I'm trying my best to make everything feel as normal for her as possible.

Even though this situationship is anything but.

I don't even know what I'm watching though, to be honest. It's some crime investigation thing. It's interesting for the most part.

I hear the shuffling of Lizzie's clothing as she walks to the couch, then I feel her warmth at my feet as she crawls to lay beside me.

"Hey, Liz," I murmur, shifting around so she can have room to lay. I'm still wrapped up in my warm wool blanket so I let her come under it. The thing is massive - Probably can fit 4 people under it.

She only grunts and lets her eyes close as she rests her forehead on my shoulder blades. She's been pretty tired lately. That's okay. At least I know she's here, safe and sound, asleep.

I yawn and fiddle with a strand of auburn hair - My gaze going back to the TV. Now, I see they've busted a man for trying to sell a drug that was a mix of 5 other drugs. Huh. I wonder how stuff like that is possible. I mean, how do you create such a thing?

"Ooh, I heard the door open, Katie, love." My mam says from the kitchen. She was too engrossed in her new potato peeler to mention it before. "Is someone here?"

"Yeah," I respond back loud enough for her to hear but not loud enough to disrupt Lizzie. "A girl from school. No one to be worried about." I sigh.

After 20 minutes I feel her stirring around. She must've just woken up from a short nap. I like taking naps like that, too. It's like a small energy boost.

She wraps her arms around my middle and rests her head on my shoulder. I can feel her jaw working and can see in the corner of my eye her blinking her sleep away.

There's a new case on the TV screen now. They're trying to solve the murder of 17 year old Aela Hudson who was raped and killed, her body being found in a dumpster months after her disappearance.

I can feel the anxiety start rushing through my body. I tug on the same strand of hair I was playing with - Welcoming the slight sting of pain in my scalp.

She was 17. 17, and treated so brutally. It makes me realize that something like that can happen to me any day. Any day, I could get murdered, or.. Or raped.

And it can especially happen to me because I'm young. Me being underage shows. I'm not tall like Claire or a fighter like Lizzie. I can barely stand up for myself in arguments with Hugh, how would I stand up against a rapist?

Oh God, what if there were murderers in this area? Or by Tommen? What if I'm just doing my daily commute to school and I get drugged and kidnapped right in the open? What would I do? What could I do?

"Aww, my poor baby, Katie," The blonde beside me mumbles, her voice a bit rough and hoarse from sleep. She helps bring me back to reality but my heart is still pumping like I just finished running. I honestly forgot she's still here.

"I just got up and you're already spiraling.." She presses a plush kiss to my jaw. "Why are you watching this? You're just making yourself scared for no reason, Kat. Here, pass me the remote."

My cheeks grow hot immediately. "Yeah, sorry. I don't know. It just, uhm, popped up, I guess." I stutter. I sit up slightly and reach for the remote on the coffee table.

I then pass it to her with shaky hands, and now she keeps her head propped on my arm as she flips through the channels. We eventually land on an animal documentary. The first scene is a female lion taking care of it's cub.

"There. That's better." She says assuringly, leaning forward to put the remote back down before cuddling with me again.

"Thanks." I whisper. She successfully eased away most of my worries. Though, I hope they don't come back and appear in my dreams. Have you ever never thought about something at all, yet it lingers in the back of your head and appears in your dreams? It happens to me often.

"Lizzie." I speak - My voice quiet. "I want you to know something." I start moving around under the blanket to face her way. The only things heard are the blanket rustling, the soft music from the documentary, and mam's light clattering in the kitchen.

"And I want you to remember it forever. It's a promise. You have to promise me." I say before finally facing her.

I search her face as she gives me no response. The silence feels like it drones on forever.

I then grab her hand, sandwiching it between my own. I cup my fingers around it and relish in the feel of her skin against mine.

"Don't ever give me my heart back."