Exhale

Chapter 25: The World Is Quiet Here

Merry Christmas ✨

Happy Stranger Things Day 2.0🚨

Roman

Silence fills the room, and Marley sways back and forth. I hurry to her side, giving her a hand.

"It'll all be fine. Things will smooth out, and we'll find a way to handle Vicky." I rub her shoulder and take her to her room.

She opens the door and sits on the bed.

"How's everything with your dad?" I asked about changing the subject.

"Dad's been a little busier than usual the last few days. I didn't get to talk to him tonight. The next time he calls, I'll try then." She turns on her side, and I sit on the floor beside her bed.

"That sucks, I'm sure he'll make it up to you." I smile.

She looks at me for a minute before she says anything.

"You're not mad?" She asks.

I try not to show my own disappointment.

"I know you love Zuri, and maybe you even loved Vicky."

She doesn't deny it, so I continue. "Do I think more boundaries should have been placed, yes, but we can't change whatever happened last year." I sigh, scratching my head.

She rolls over on her back, staring at the ceiling.

"It was bad, Ro, I liked Vi...Vicky was important to me." She fiddles with her covers.

I can't help but squirm that girl doesn't deserve the air she breathes, let alone Marley's care and affection.

"She was so jealous of Zuri. I told her time and time again that she didn't like girls, but Vicky would always pick on her and make her feel unwanted. It didn't help that I'm a big ass pushover." She sighs heavily, sinking into her bed.

I don't say anything, not because I agree, but because I'm speechless. This is too much even for me. Vicky has always been rude and handsy. She's never given me lesbian vibes. But she does have this weird obsession with being an ass to Z.

We sit in silence, mirroring each other's discomfort until the sound of Zuri's door opening startles us. She made some noise in the living room before she opened the front door, closing it shut.

Marley sits up and looks at me. "Good thing you put those bells on the door." She chuckles awkwardly.

"Told you they can be useful," I add. "Stay here and get some rest. I'll go after her." I kiss her hand and turn off her lights.

"Thanks, Ro." She smiles, getting comfortable.

"Goodnight." I close her door behind me, grabbing my jacket and shoes before I leave to find Z.

After a short while, I found her on the rooftop. She's lying on the circular chaise lounge, looking at the cityscape.

She looks up when I get close and scoots over to give me space. I sit beside her, and together we look at the city lights and stars.

"I know it's dumb to ask if you're okay, but are you?" I face her, but she doesn't look up at me.

Instead, she puts her head on my shoulder and slides her arm under mine, interlocking our fingers.

I think she wants me closer. So I let her hand go and slouch us down, wrapping my arm around her. She rests her head on my chest and wraps me with cuddles.

"Thank you." She sighs.

"For what?" She goes quiet, tracking her hand under my jacket. I can't help but stiffen myself, afraid of what she'll do next.

"I don't know." She ponders tracing little infinites on my side with her finger.

"You're mine, I'd do anything for you." I relax, closing my eyes.

She springs up, looking at me curiously. I can't help but chuckle a little, opening one eye.

"So...I am curious."

She furrows her brows.

"What are you thanking me for?" I booped her nose, and her eyes fluttered, she smiled, and her dimples showed for the first time today.

She turned around, facing me fully.

We both go blank, just still staring at each other. Every inch of her is breathtaking. It's like I'm in a trance half of the time. I can't help but pull her closer, but instead of sitting on my lap. She straddles me, and I pull her in even closer, feeling every curve pressed against me.

She wraps her arms around my neck, never breaking eye contact.

"Thank you for..." She shakes her head, blushing.

I grabbed her waist, giving her a little wiggle. She smiled again, and it went straight to my dick this time, making me tense up.

She stares at me, running her hands through my curls. I interlocked my fingers behind her, fighting the urge to rip her clothes off.

She leans forward, burying her face in my neck.

"The world is quiet here." She kisses my cheek with a sigh of relief.

"Thank you." She squeezes me tight, pulling herself closer.

All our problems fade the second she's in my arms. I would build a whole world for this peace.

.

.

See, I can be smutty.

Any Thoughts??

See you, nerds later. Merry Christmas, Happy New Year, AND HAPPY STRANGER THINGS DAY🚨🕹️