A Betting Game

14. It's too dark.

I had seen her.

Stood outside the house, it hadn't been obvious; but when I finally turned my head after minutes of feeling like I was being watched, I saw her.

She was that subtle flash of colour amongst the bushes.

Watching me - waiting for something...

With all this, it allowed me to understand that she must feel something.

Because why else would she have followed me here?

******

I was laying in bed when the patter of stones against my window could be heard.

The room had been plunged into darkness hours before, and the dim glow coming from the clock on my bedside table, told me that it was just after 1 AM. The sound made me jump, and I sat up in the bed, looking over to the closed curtains.

After watching it for a minute or so, another shower of stones hit the glass, this time with more force.

Standing up out of bed, I made my way over to the window, and pulled back the grey curtains.

A large pair of almond shaped eyes stared back at me, highlighted by the moon.

Jumping back I let out a non-masculine yelp of shock.

Olivia rolled her eyes slightly, as I opened the window with a frown. She was wearing more than usual, but even in the minimal lighting, I could see the scatter of goosebumps across her pale skin from the cold night air.

"What are you doing here?" I asked her, watching as she delicately jumped through the open window, before closing it behind her. She turned to face me, keeping her eyes fixed on the light carpet beneath my feet. "Olivia?"

"I..." She opened her mouth to speak, but seemed to think better of it, as her eyes finally looked up to meet my own. I went to protest, before seeing the gleam in her eyes as tears spilled onto her cheeks.

"Hey, don't cry," Stepping forwards, I whispered the words as I wrapped my arms around her now shaking frame. She was cold, and had definitely been outside for more than a healthy amount of time. "Olivia, it's okay,"

For a few minutes, she collected herself, her face pressed into my chest as she dried her tears. The girl took a deep breath, before seeming to sag forwards so that I was holding her weight. I didn't feel right bugging her as to what was wrong, so just stayed silent with her in my arms.

Eventually though, she opened her mouth to speak.

"I'm so broken, Nathan," She whispered, almost silently. The sound was muffled further by the material of my t-shirt, which I hadn't bothered to remove when going to bed.

I was almost glad about that.

"You're not broken..." I said quietly, wrapping a lock of her long hair between my fingers. "You just need to talk to people more, that's all,"

Looking up, she smiled sadly, her hand reaching up to stroke my cheek. Fortunately for her, I was somehow able to contain myself, holding my breath slightly at her touch.

"Sometimes," Olivia murmured, dancing patterns across my face with her index and moving it down to my chest, where she lay her hand flat. "Sometimes, I can feel parts of myself fall away... it's like nothing will ever feel right again..." She paused slightly, eyes moving to meet my own. "You, though, you make me feel... less bad,"

"Olivia, you aren't bad.." I barely had time to finish the sentence, before she had both hands on my cheeks, pulling my head down so that it was only inches away from my own.

"Stop," Her words were shaken, and eyes were only partially open. She looked so warn; it hurt to see her this way. "Don't excuse me, because there's nothing that will change that,"

I didn't see her move forward, but I felt it. Her warm lips brushed my own, causing my heart to beat in my throat. The kiss deepened, and I put both hands on her waist to pull her against me, leaning down so that I could reach her.

Walking her backwards, we hit the bed, her arms around my neck being the only thing stopping her from flying back onto the already dishevelled bed sheets. 

She felt so delicate in my arms as her lips moved perfectly with mine, gently teasing me. I cradled her down onto the mattress, using my arms to support myself above her. Eventually I pulled away, our breaths mixing as I looked down at the girl.

Away from the window, we were surrounded by almost blackness on the bed.

"I'm sorry," She whispered from the darkness once our breathing had returned to normal. I shook my head as a reply, before realising that she couldn't see me.

"Livv..." Still above her, I felt myself drop slightly, so that we fit together.

"Sleep with me?" She asked quietly, leaving a brief pause before adding. "Not like that, just... Sleep,"

I couldn't help but feel slightly disappointed, but respecting her wishes, I moved to the side of her so that she could snuggle into my chest, pulling her knees up so that she formed a ball.

"Good night, Nat," Her voice was vague, and her breathing eventually slowed. As she slept, she pulled me closer to her.

"Good night,"

Author's Note:

I don't even know what I just did, but I am the god of this story, and apparently I called canon.

<3