You and Me in the Old Jeep - TROYLER AU

Chapter Forty

guys we turned forty wooo

Song of the Chapter: Rhode Island by the Front Bottoms (there's the most amazing trumpet in this song and it's just really incredible guys seriously)

40

Korey must have driven Zoe home at some point in my car, because when I looked out the window at about eight in the evening they were both gone with my convertible. Since by this time Troye and I were watching a black and white movie again, our legs tangled together and the sky exploding into muted tones against the blinds like colorful atom bombs, I didn't care very much. I was caught in a comfortable haze, dazed by the heaven around me.

Troye fell asleep a few minutes in, falling gently to rest his head on my shoulder, his lips slack, and I smiled to myself like an idiot, a grin that never stopped giving. Everything was exactly as it should be, that I knew for certain - I was stupidly happy, the headache that had pounded against my skull for so long changed to a warm softness beneath my skin, a soundless shout of his name echoing in my ears like a beautiful soundtrack.

I was contemplating my infinitely good luck when Troye shifted violently, his body twitching. I patted his shoulder warily, unsure of whether to wake him up or wait for his bad dream to pass, when suddenly he began to tremble, his nails tearing at the fabric of the sofa as a whine slipped from him, and I sat up in alarm.

"Troye!" I exclaimed nervously, my voice wavering as I shook his shoulder more vigorously. 

"Tilly, p-please..." he whimpered, and then jerked neurotically,  kicking out at me and tumbling off the sofa to hit the floor with a bang, his eyes finally flying open wide and finding mine where I stayed frozen, half standing with one hand outstretched to catch him. His breathing was shallow, and for a moment I didn't know what he was going to do, and then tears caught on his lashes and he hugged his thin torso, wrapping his arms around himself, and started to cry.

I replaced his tremoring hands in seconds, pulling him to me as he grabbed fistfuls of my shirt. "I'm sorry, I just -" He swallowed, pushing his forehead into my chest. "I - I woke up and you were gone, and -"

It felt a little like being kicked in the chest, and a lot like a chainsaw in my ribcage. "No, no, that was a dream." I promised, holding him a little tighter as if that would glue him back together. "I'm not leaving, Troye, I promise."

There was no noise but our own breathing until he said, so quietly that I barely heard it, "B-but how can I know that I can trust you?"

Silence in the red-gold-pink sunset lighting; we would have made the most gorgeous watercolor, two boys curled together on the ground while LA set them on fire inside and out. I rested my chin on his shoulder and closed my eyes, breathing in the vanilla-sunshine scent of him, trying to think of what one earth I could tell him to explain why he could.

"Two of my friends beat up Jacob one time," I reflected eventually, and just as I'd hoped Troye giggled a little and lifted his head from my chest. I continued, "Guess they were Team Edward," and he groaned, rolling his eyes and pushing me off of him.

"Shut up Tilly," he muttered, and I leaned forwards and pecked his lips once, our noses brushing lightly and making him smile a little.

"I don't know how to show you," I confided, "But can't we just make this a work in progress?"

WE'RE FINISHING UP QUITE SOON I'M AFRAID

ALSO CHECK OUT 'OF EDEN' MY PHANFIC

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Bbbbbbbbye *wink*